GOTTBUS AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002100010007-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 12, 2002
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: July 10, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

A Ti /07/ 9 CJIq:IRQPp8 00810A002100010007-0
REPORT NO,
EVALUATION
--PLACE OBTAINED_._,
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DATE OF CONTENT ' a ?..- ? T ;~ ej 795 .~.
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PAGES.
REMARKS
/ I
L- DATE PREPARED- 12 -12.1" '222 _.... ~~.-.~._-..
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ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE) 1 _ one sketch on d3
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SOURCE
l,; The following air activity was observed at Cottbus airfield from 4 through
22 May 1953:
.~o local flying by Yak--18s w as observed.
Ma . Aerobatics were made by Zak-a18s and Yak--lies In the afternoon, MiG-15s
practiced take-offs and landings.
6 a , About 2 p.m. six take-offs and landings by MiG-15s were observed within
10 minutes,,
7 NdaZe There was light air activity by MiG-15sa
8 Ma
.X. There was more air activity than on 7 May,,
'raj, MiG-151swere seen flying in elements of two.
13 q,qd :J ay, Yak-lis and MiG--15s practiced take--offs and landings.
1lt 15s, 20 to 22 May. MiG-15s practiced flying. On 22 May, dives by MiG-15s were
observed from a distance,
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2. On I May, there was a review in Cottbus in which three large march columns
participated with a total of 1,350 VPL soldiers and about 20 male and female
parachutists from the "Gesellschaft fuer Sport and Technik". One training glider,
a cutter, 70 motorcycles and semitrailer truck I Iwere also observed,., 25X1
30 Between 20 Nay and 5 June, the following air activity and aircraft were observed
at the field:
2C)Y o About 6:30 p?mo,.two parachute jumps were made over the field,
May. Eighty--si;c to 88 MiG-15s were parked in rows before the hangars and
15 to 20 Yak-lie and 2 Li-2s were observed at the field. A total of 200 air-
craft crates part of them with dismantled sidewalls, were seen. About 3 p.m,,
25X1 UMiG-15s I continuously made local flights.
20 k 'to bxnt, Night flying by L1-2s was repeatedly . observed,
2 June. About 12, a.m., 11-MIG-15s made local flights.,
The rudders on all U-MiG=-l5s observed at the field were painted red and their
wings were marked by s, red stripe. Source made a sketch of these markings.2
4. Between 20 May and 3 June, the following rail fuel shipments were observed arri-
ving at the field.-
2.4 'ta Seven tank cars from LeipzJ.g-Plagwi z-3 with a rapacity of 300 hi each,
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2 with 290 hl each, 1. with 490 hl and 1 with 180 h1a
27 Mayo Three tank cars from Frankfurt/Oder-border i with a capacity of
490 hl#, I with 300 hi and 1 Swi th 286 hi.
might tank cars from Frankfurt/Oder-border 3 with a capacity of
490 hl each,, 2 with 265 hl each, 1 with 300 hlj 1 with 290 hl, and I with
150 kola
50 Between 22 and 30 May the following air activity and aircraft were observed
at the field:
k:2 Maya Between 1} p.m. and 5 p0,a, local flying was practiced by swept-back
jet fighters. The weather "a as dull and there was a low ceiling, Two U-4 iG-15s
were standing at the western end of the run6waya Nearby
2 radio trucks, k trucks r; 1 jeep, I ambulance and a starter carriage were
observed. Plane 0 took off to the east got out of view and landed again
after 20 minutes. Subsequently plane Iitook off and landed again after 25X1
6 minutes, taxied back to the western end of the runway and took off again.
After the third landing the plane was refueled and the pilot exchanged.
Subsequently the plane took off for a 20-minute flight., Seventy swept--back
jet fighters, most of them covered with tarpaulins, and 1 Li.-2 were parked
in front of the hangars. Two jet planes which were not alternately started
and stopped their ongi.nesm
3 Nhyo Intensive flying with jet planes and conventional aircraft was ob-.
served. There was a high cloud base,
24 kil& ?5 Mho There was no air activity, in the morning,
'16? At 9:30 a, maR two conventional trainers with blue propeller hubs
landed at short intervals. At this time 2 UMiG l5s F_ _J 25X1
with red painted rudders and ups--er parts of their rudder assemblies were par-
ked at the western end The the runway: `'he two planes conducted the saga air
activity as on. 22 Nay.
2s ,M a Between noon and 1 p.m., U- liG,:.l5s praoticeeal 25X1
flying. The latter plane had a white rudder assembly, while the rudder asaem-
bli.eas of the other planes were painted redo
. pia,,, U-MiG-15s practiced flying,, The weather was overcast and ti'aeree was
light rain.
?. a>j x P y. No air activity was observed between noon and 12:30 puma
The weather was dull aid there was a low cloud base a
6,, According to an acquaintance of sources, 2 parat;hute jumps were made over the
field on 20 May,,
8. Between 1:30 p.m. and 5:20 p.m. on 8 June take-offs and landings by 6 MiG-15
elf' U-MiG-15 planes with red stripe, 25X1
one their tail units and wings were observed0 About 60 Mir--15s were parked
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25X1A I d ]conme t. The present report confirms part of t o information trr usmittedl
25X1 A .0 Air activity of U?MiG-l5s with p:Ilots
of the "VPL appears to be intensive and wider the supervision of Soviet nstrur-,-
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tors. I
It > ppea theU-NiGa15s which had previously been s. a
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tioned in Fast Germany at various airfields were moved to Cottbus for
initial flight training of VPL pilots,, and that most of the new MG-15s
shipped from the, USSR are not last used in air activity.
25X1 A2,} Comment. For sketch of markings, on the U-MIGG-15s in Cottbus see
Annex ~ .. Y~
25X1A30 PQ i~ptR, The decrease in the number of HiG-15s observed in early
June probably results from the transfer of MiG-15s to Bautzen,,, where aunt
15 M:I4-15s were observed on 4 June 1953.
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, ,,rking.__on U-'iG-15s at Cottbus Airfield
Note, he t3-div.,-15s of the VPL knit in Cottbus
are marked `Jyr a red stripe on the upper and bottom
iiu.es of thej_r. wi . and red ailerons., rudder .snembl es
ahd elevator assemblies,
WR';T
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