KATOWICE AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001300480007-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 27, 2002
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: April 21, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CLASSIFICATION
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REPORT NO
KAtouidp Airfield
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DIALUATION_
')ATE OF CONTENT
-:)TE OBTAINED
E:RENCES
AGES2
'!OfiARKS
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PLACE OBTNNED.,.,
?rim. to 16 August 1952
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5a16DATE PREPARED___LA__1 1953
ENCLOSURES (NO. &-tYPE)
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Prior to mid-August 1952 the airfield south of Katowice (Q 51/1 57) was 1,200 to
1,500 meters long measured from east to west and 500 to 700 meters measured from
north to south, To the north the installation was bordered by a road connectii4
Ulica Francuzka and Ul.Mureaowska. To the east the field bordered on patchee of
woodlands and a field path paralleled the southern boundary of the installation. The
western boundary was formed by a road which lad to Muchowiec (Q 50 56). 41 conifer
forest was west of this road. The field was equipped with a NBaSW concrete ruaway
about 800 meters long which was constructed in 1949. Buildings available at tae
installation included a single-story administration builUng a brick structura 40 x
60 meters, with lounges and guest rooms on the second floor and an observatioa tower
on its roof; a a hangar, a steel structures 80 x 20 meters; and a wooden hangaar
80 x 9 meters.1
2. The iron hangar housed some biplanes and two-seater monoplanes which were apparently
used for training purposes. They mostly served as tow-planes for gliders which were
parked in the wooden hangar. No other planes were observed at the field. Occesionalll
Douglas type planes made intermediate landings at the installation which hail no
military character. No Polish or Soviet soldiers were seen there.2
A radio installation which apparently belonged to the airfield was observed 3,200
meters east of the installation. On a site measuring about 20n x 80a meters /nd
surrounded by a mire fence 3 meters high. A, single-story brick building 8 meters
square was seen there. Two steel-truss towers each of them about 100 meters high were
standing about 20 meters south of this building. The two towers were about 100
meters apart and interconnected by an antenna with a lead-in extending to tat)
building, The radio towers were fitted with red obstacle lamps.3
I. From .April to late May 19511 source observed extensive construction work. at
Ilierzecies (Q 51/Y 69) airfield. Many concrete mixing machines and wooden f met;
as used for the manufacture of concrete slabs were seen at the field. Lamina
off activities were noticed in the wooded area where single-story temporary
buildings were erected. The work was ?pouted by Polish so2diers. Source learned
that construction work at the field cohtinued until July 1952. No aircraft were seen
at the field,
5. Source repeatedly observed two types of jat planes north of Bytom (Q 51/1 47). One 01
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these types was believed to be a M1G-15 because it had a pronounced swe*-baak
while the other type had no sweep-back at all. Up to 20 aircraft were seen aloft,
Searchlights were seen in operation at night.5
ggginu6, The data on the location and installations of Katowice airfield
rue with previous information.
Comment. These data confirm previous information according to ;kith
the field is occupied by a glider detail of the Polish Lige Lotnicsa. It was
previously known that Polish comearcial aircraft occasionally make inteediate
landings at the field.
Illammea, The radio installation does not belong to the airfield. The size
of the antenna towers indicates that a major broadcasting otation or receiver
is concerned.
The airfield referred to is known under the name of Zendek
tuaeteeld airfield. The installation was improved in 1951 as stated brsource.
4.eeeatit The jet fighters observed, MiG-15s and presumably Yak-15e or
s? may have belonged to the fighter unit believed to be stationed
Zendek airfield. Recent information received from the Zendek-Xrakew arel
indicates that two Polish fighter regiments, which are possibly staticncd in
Krakow and Zendek, are located there.
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