PRAGUE-RUZYNE AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A001900120004-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 12
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2002
• Sequence Number: 4
• Publication Date: August 10, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Czechoslovakia
SECRET
SECURITY INFORMATION
SUBJECT PragueRuzyne Airfield
25X1A
DATE OF INFO.
25X1X
SOURCE:
This Document contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States, within the mean-
ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as
amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents
to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited.
REPORT NO.
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO.
REFERENCES
1. The Prague Ruzyne Civilian Airfield 5005N-1416) was referred to by
mechanics as the "house of prostitution on wheels" (Bonako-bordel na
koleckaoh . This airfield wa located 11 km. west of Prague. A new
section oint No. 4, Annex of the highway was 500 to 700 m. east of
the field. About three kilometers southeast of the field was a coniferous
forest containing the Hvezda castle. There were three ponds, three to five
kilometers southwest of the airfield. The surrounding terrain was level on
the north, south, and west, slightly sloping on the southeast toward Ruzyne,
and there was considerable slope east and northeast toward a valley. The
field was 370 m. above sea level.
2. As far as obstructions are concerned, there were no hills in the vicinity of
the airfield. Power lines, however, and five-meter-high deciduous trees
were along the highway joint No. 5, Annex 7 and about five kilometers
northeast of the airfield was a 40 to 50 m. high chimney of an Army
hospital. No other buildings, except those on the airfield proper, were
in the near vicinity of the airfield. Other obstructions were: ILS
transmitter antenna in the corner of runways 22 and 26(about 100 m. from
the runways) although the transmitter itself was no longer used; about 200 m.
southwest from the airfield was an antenna, 7 m. high; about 500 m. northeast
from runway 22 was an antenna, 10 m. high; about 400 m. northwest from runway
22 was an antenna, 10 m. high; new antenna, 5 m. high, 300 m. from beginning
of runway #22; new antenna, 5 m. high, about 4 km. from runway #22.
STATE x ARMY
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10 August 1953
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The Prague-Ruzyne Airfield was rectangular; it extended 1,800 a.
north and south, and 1,500 m. east and west, with possible exten-
sibility to the northwest. The airfield surface was level; the
space between runways was grassy and was used as an auxiliary
.takeoff and landing space for smaller aircraft. The drainage system
worked very well; each side of the runway had a sewer system with
openings (30 x 10 cm.) 25 in. apart. There was a 300 m. prolongation
of runway 22 floint No. 1, Annex. 7 constructed during 1952; It was
finished in January 1953. The new part of the runway was not in:use
and would not be for a long time, because the concrete surface was
not sufficiently dry. There were two taxi strips flee Annex C,
Point No. 17.
Point # A. Taxi Stri : about 20 m. wide, 600 m. long; asphalt;
good condition. It led to intersection of runways from
aircraft parking 4nnex CO Point No. ,.
Point # B. Taxi Stri. : 20 m. wide, 200 m. long; asphalt; good
condition; it led from parking point /Annex C, Point
No. J7 to Runway No. 22.
Airfield had no hardstands. There were no revetments on the air-
field. Parking point L ,nex C, Point No. 37 was concrete. It was
the passenger boarding point. Aircraft pa king points L1nex C,
Point No. 7 were temporary, and made of concrete.
Flying in winter was at times impossible because of poor visibil-
ity (low clouds) and the fact that aircraft had poor instruments.
Aircraft were grounded in winter on the average of 20 days. In
fall and spring, flying was poor due to morning fogs; the weather 25X1X
usually cleared up by noon. Snow from runways was cleared off
mechanically by a large truck-like mobile unit with rotating blades
in front; snow was blown out from the sides of the truck.
this truck came from Russia.
I I
The following technical facilities were used at the field:
a. Radio was in the control tower, L.Anne% C, Point No. 17 and in
the main building on second floor. The airfield used:
VHF - very high frequency
Rtm
VHF DF - very high frequency direction finding
EF RT -high frequency radio telephony
HP WT - high frequency wireless telegraph
HP DF - high frequency direction finding
? WT - medium frequency wireless telegraph
MF DF - medium frequency direction finding
Rbn. - radio beacon
Rng. - radio range
SBA - standard beam approach - SBA - Lorenz
ILS - instrument landing system
Rozhlas - broadcast
b. Telephones were in most of airfield's installations. The
telegraph station was on the first floor of the main building,
flan-6z. C, Point No . 17.
C. Electric power was supplied from Prague, but if for some reason
it was discontinued, the airfield had its.own mobile electric
power unit.
d. The weather station was located on second floor of main building
ffn~m . C, Point No. 17.
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e. Signaling devices and other landing aids:
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(1)
(5)
Runway lights: Runway No. 22, Linnex B, Point No. V,
had white lights, except for the four last ones on either
end of the runway, which were orange; lights were 100 m.
apart.
Runway No. 26 Annex 7 had white lights.
r
Runway No. 22 had four green boundary lights.
Approach lights were 14 m. from the center of runway
No. 22; on the left hand side was a row of 20 yellow
lights, 50 m. apart. Three meters to the left from the
left rim of Runway No. 22 and 60 m. from its beginning,
was one green light; 520 m. from Runway No. 22 was a row
of 11 lights, and at 870 m. distance, another row of 7
lights, 25 m. apart, perpendicular to the first row, with
20 yellow lights forming a letter "T".
At the beginning of each runway was a mobile unit
(Karavana) which gave landing signals to smaller aircraft
not equipped with radio : red light meant "Stop"; green
light meant "Clearance"; white light meant, "Return to
your home base".
(6) Another landing aid was the rocket pistol; it used the same co d9t,
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as above flee 9, e ~ 5,v.
f. Aircraft repair facilities were in each hangar with space avail 25X1X
able for minor repairs as well as for changing of engines. No
new technical devices were under construction or improvement
0
6? Airfields ground electronic equipment used for aircraft landings
only included:
a. Lorenz - transmitter only; located at and of Runway No. 22.
b. Inner Marker - located 300 m. from start of Runway No. 22;
iron beacon, five meters high.
c. Outer Marker - located three kilometers from start of Runway
No. 22; similar to inner marker, referred to as "predzvest"
presage.
d. Locator B - 300 m. from start of Runway # 22.
Locator PR - 4.i km. from start of Runway # 22.
7. Electronic equipment used in civilian aircraft was as follows:
DC-3's: Liaison - receiver-transmitter
Two command transmitters
Three command receivers
FUG-10: Transmitter for letdown in reserve
Receiver for radio beacon
Receiver for Lorenz
Some VHF receiver-transmitters
IL-12 : Receiver-transmitter; copy of Bendix (Conveyor DC-4,
automatic training frequency, which was copied from the
Liaison , manufactured in Russia). Same wave length as
liaison set
VHF. A/G GjA American origin
Radio beacon
Lorenz - receiver only (German or American origin)
FUG-10 - in reserve (transmitter was German made)
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RSI - receiver-transmitter or UBM origin)
not very reliable; therefore, not used often
VHF - receiver-transmitter
Lorenz
Radio beacon
8. Definition and utilization of electronic equipment at the field
is as follows:
a. Liaison- used for telegraph and voice in flight only (G/A and
A/G); long wave length
b. Command: QGH, for landing; 322 frequency; used between air-
field and plane for instruction purposes; 32 - 25 ke. frequency;
short wave length; receiver-transmitter.
c. PUG-10: for landing and while in flight; short and long wave
length telegraph.
d. Radio beacon: ground: a radio compass receiver in aircraft
was used as receiver for landing; it was normally used in
flight between radio beacons.
e. Lorenz: letdown only; receiver, 33.3 me.
f. VHF: used mostly at night because other sets faded out;
receiver-transmitter; A/G G/A voice. Used for emergency
landings; seldom used because of shortage of tubes.
9. Radio equipment used in landing included:
MDFzPrague 333 OKL - medium frequency direction finder; frequency
333 kc.; call sign OKL
MDF Prague 322 OKL - medium frequency direction finder; frequency
322; call sign OKL
SBA OM 38 me. - standard beam approach; call signals OM-38 me.
SBA IM 38 me. - standard beam approach; call signs, IM
SBA LOG 33.3 me. - standard beam approach; call signs, LOC-33.3 me.
The following equipment was used in three methods of approach:
.(1)': SBA QFU'22 (Lorenz): standard beam approach, Runway No. 22:
RNG Prague 310 PG - radio range Prague; frequency 310 (call
letters PG)
MDF Prague 322 OKL - medium frequency direction finder;
frequency 322;call sign OKL
RBn Prague 372 PA - radio beacon Prague; frequency 372
MDF Prague 333 OKL - medium frequency direction finder;
frequencyy 333;call signs OKL
SBA OM 38 me. -.standard beam approach; call signals OM-38 me.
SBA IM 38 me. - standard beam approach; call signals IM-38 me.
SBA LOC 33.3 me. - standard beam approach; call signals LOC
RBn Prague 365 OKL
(2): Second method:
MDF QFU 22 - medium frequency direction finder; runway No. 22
RNG Prague 310 PG - radio range Prague; frequency 310; call
letters PG
MDF Prague 322 OKL - medium frequency direction finder; Prague,
frequency 322'eall sign OKL
RBn Prague 37~ PA
MDF Prague 333 OKL - medium frequency Prague; frequency 333;
call signs OKL
RBn Prague 365 OKL
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(3): Third method:
PG QFU` 08 (MIMO osu)
RNG Prague 310 PG - radio range Prague; frequency 310joall
letters Pa
pIDF Prague 322 OKL - medium direction finder; frequency 322;
call signs OKL
RBn Prague 732 PA
MDF Prague 333 OKL - medium direction finder; Prague frequency
333 0KL
RBN Prague 365 OKL 25X1 X
10. Water pumps and water hydrants were scattered throughout airfield.
f'or additionalinforrnation on supply see
unable to give any information on weapons and amun on. 75~1
11. The following numbers refer to buildings shown of the25X1X'
airfield fAi .ex :
Point # 5. New-Building: built in Fall 1952; brick, was three-
Storied, 100 x 100 x 20 m.; straight roof, ,roof cover
unknown? The building was painted dark green; it
housed: aircraft repair shop in south part; in north
part were the Ministry of Transportation., Airlines'
Council on first floor, main administrative office and
airfield director's office on second and office of
the Cadre Referent (kadrovy referents on third.
# 6. Complex of Several New Buildings: under construction in
area un er construction was 200 m. long and
200 m. wide; buildings were brick (roofs not yet
finished). one of the buildings was to be a power house
supplying steam for heating purposes to all installations
on the airfield other buildings were to.be billets for
aircraft mechanics and other help on airfield.
# 7. ThraHan:ars:
ar : stuccoed brick; 120 x 30 x 16 m.; single
ffiryl s ed?t a roof; divided into three parts; on both
sides were parking spaces with parking capacity for
about 10 DC-3's. In the middle of the hangar were offices.
Hangar was painted dark green. Concrete aprons were in
font of all hangars.
H ar B: same construction as Hangar A; located about
loo m. south of Hangar A.
Uzzar C: same oopetruction as Hangar A; located about
I. from Hangar B. 25X1A'
# 8. Aero-taxi Han ar: Lfor Aero taxi details see
25X1 X _/ , u t in fall 1952 a er
hangar was connected or just adjacent to, another building
e
hed
-.a
~
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,l=ocated about 1 0 m. east of Poin No. '~B. I
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# 9. SNB Hangar (Sbor Narodni Bezpecnosti): state police
hangar- It was brick, had a shed-type tar paper roof of
60 x 30 x 16 m.; parking capacity; about five DC-3's.
25X1X one Junker-52, one LI-2, three
ra o e, two a s, about five Sokol's, five Fischer
Storch's and one C-106. All aircraft were used solely
by SNB members and their pilots to transport SNB people
to various places. Offices were in south end of hangar.
Hangar was located about 50 m. south of hangar fioint No. V.
This SNB group had no connection with the Czechoslovak
Airlines, it operated separately; it had its own repair
shop in the hangar, but used most of the runways in case
of need.
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# 10. Workshops: in garages; brick 5imensions unknown shed-type roof,
anted-cark green, parking capacity of 15 trucks and passenger
cars. _
SECRET/SECURITY INFORMATION
# 11. Control Tower: on top of administration building. It was 20 m.
xT' g, square, 4 in. long, 4 in. wide; was equipped with red warning
light and a reflector with yellow and white lights for parking
aids.
12. Billets: consisted of several brick buildings, shed-type roofs
cover unknown7; painted dark green. In them lived about 20
families; single mechanics, single ground crew members, and three
single pilots. In front of billets were tennis court and flower
gardens.
# 13. Billets: wood; 60 x 10 x 4 in., shed-type tar paper roof; single
sorry; painted dark green. It housed about 10 airmen who studied
meteorology. They wore blue uniforms, blue shoulder boards, and
oversee, caps with Czechoslovak arms (lion).
# A. Administration and Terminal Buildin : white, shiny stone; flat-
roo e ; L-shaped; wo-s orte . control tower Point No. N7.
was on top. This was the only white installation on the air r
25X1X but this building was to be painted dark green
15.
#
16.
#
17.
#
18.
wood and were 30 x 10 x 5 m.; shed-type tar paper roof. eople
from Point No. 12 parked their cars and motorcycles there
# 19. Buildin : wood; same dimensions and constructional details as
ME 0. 117 housed airfield's kitchen in north part, and assembly
hall for polical meetings and instructions in the south part.
There was no hospital on the airfield. An aid station was located in a
hangar,!oint No. 7 7, and had one dentist, one physician, and several
nurses. The dentist was so bad that nobody dared to see him twice. The
main storage lace for various aircraft parts was in middle of a hangar
L'oint No. 7B7; every hangar also had a small storage place.
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for camouflage purposes. The buildings longer wing was about 60 in.
long, 20 m. wide, 11 in. high; shorter wing was about 40 m. long,
20 m. wide, 11 m. high. The main entrance for passengers was at
the north end- entrance for emplo ees on west side of short wing;
three exits to parked aircraft Joint No. 37. This building had
a passenger's waiting room, a spatch of ce (for Czechoslovakia
only), a restaurant, a postoffice, latrines, briefing room for
crew members, meteorological office, radio service, vice-director's
office, and other offices. ffther administrative offices were in
Point No. 5
Foreign Service Buildd.n s was of wood, single-storied, shed-type
tar paper o lx 0 x 10 m.; painted dark green. It was
1 cated about 20 in. west of Administration and Terminal Building
Dint No. 14 and housed passport control office, 8TB :Rice
Stat%i ea ecnosti) Secret Police, foreign money exchange
bank, restaurant, airfield's movie theater, where crew members
or passengers attended movies. (Showings were continuous, and were
mostly of old American cowboy and various documentary films.)
Test Buildings brick, ' 30 x 30 x 10 m., single-storied; shed-type 25X1X
'far paper roof; painted dark green. but heard
that new engines were tested there.
Building: brick; two-storied; 15 x 15 x 15 tn., shed-type roof;
pa n e dark green. It was located at main entrance of airfield
and housed guards and their families on second floor and guard
office on first.
Garages: located at east side of main entrance. They were of
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12. The following points refer to transportation facilities at the
field :exC
Point # 20. Main Entrance: for vehicles and pedestrians; about
seven me ers wide; iron gate; guarded by one military
guard in a black uniform, with a pistol; guard office
Point No. 117-
# 21. Fence; mesh wire with two rows of barbed wire on top;
mounled on 80 em. high concrete foundation.
# 22. Road: ,came as Point No. 5, Annex. g.
13. As far as defense installations and practices are concerned, there
were no special warning devices on the airfield. When a siren was
.heard, it meant that all runways had to be cleared of all vehicles
and pedestrians because an aircraft was going to land. In order to
camouflage buildings, all installations xcep those at Point No. 14
were painted dark green in the fall of 1952. heard that in25X1
the near future even Point No. 14, together wit all runways, would
be painted dark green There were no air raid shelters on the
airfield. For antia rcraft gun positions,
14. The airfield's militia (Zavodni Milice) had black uniforms, were 25X1A
armed with pistols during the day and machine guns at ni ht; they 25X1X
guarded Installations (mainly aircraft). the number
of guards.) four trained dogs accompany ng certain of
the guards. Military guards wore green uniforms with maroon shoulder
boards, maroon garrison caps. 'People referred to caps as "kraboshka".
Officers and enlisted men belonged to this militia and armed with
rifles, guarded the airfield day and night. four women
guards, who were older women in black uniforms arm: with pistols;
they guarded the main entrance r/'-Annex C, Point No. 227, and others25X1X
were at north entrance. Women guards were on the airfield only
during the day.
15. SNB personnel stationed at the field 5"Paragraph 7, Point No. 9
:Annex 27 included:
a. (Fnu) ELIAS, staff captain, commander-in-chief; 30 years old;
dark hair; bad teeth; 165 cm. tall; an ardent Communist.
b. Miroslav NEDVED, a flying engineer; senior Lt.; 27 years old;
175 cm. tall; round faoe; dark hair; fanatic Communist; disliked
Josef PASA, pilot; former military pilot; 27 years old; 185 cm.
tall; stout; dark brown hair.
d. Zdenek WAGNER, flying engineer; 30 years old; 180 cm. tall;
convinced Communist.
.40oteo For information on administration and ersonnel of the
Prague-Euzyne Civilian Airfield
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Annexet's
A. Overlay on GSGS 4416 Sheet T-8 Kiadno
25X1 B. [---]Sketch of Runways on Prae-Ruzyne Airfield
C. Sketch of Prague-Ruzyne Airfield
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Annex , A:
Overlay on GSGS 4416 Sheet T-8 Kladno
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Annex_ , A: (CONT'D) 25X1A
Point # I. Ruzyne005N-l4197: southwest part of Prague.
#
2.
#
3.
#
4.
#
5.
Civilian Airfield Prague-Ruzyne.
Point where highway ,Point No. V had been terminated
/as indicated by Point No. g in order to make room for a
300.m. prolongation of Runway 22. the con- 25X1X
struction of new highway section cos a re ous amount
of money and the 300 m. runway prolongation was not of
much value.
New section of highway !oint No. 7 on a 2 - 4 m. high fill;
20 m. wide, 2 - 3 Sao. long. Concrete and cobblestone at
intersection with highway ,/goint No. V. Ditches on sides;
construction completed in Winter 195 .
Highway Prague - Kladno )009N-1406 : 20 a. wide, of
deciduous trees along highway.
o e, co es one on curves, w sidewalks for pedes-
trians. There were power lines and five.meter high
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Annex B
0
Sketch of Runways on Prague - Ruzyne Airfield
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B: (CONTID)
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LEGEND
Point # I. Runway: 04 - 22; 1950 x 60 x 1,000 m.; asphalt south from
pf HE o of intersection of all runways, then concrete for
950 m.; very good condition.
# 2. Runway: 08 - 26, QDM 082 - 262; 1,688 m. a 40 m.; asphalt
03 'r 1,388 m..; concrete for 300 m.; good condition.
3. Runwa : 13 - 31, QDM 127 - 307; 1,620 x 40 m.; asphalt for
T, m.; concrete for 526 m.; good condition. Runway 31
was built in 1950, and'possibly extended further to the north-
west.
Runwa : 17 - 35, QDM 172 -. 352; 1,450 x 40 m.; asphalt for
m. and rassy for 500 m Za-i indicated by dotted line on
the sketch ; in good condition.
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Annex ',, C a
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