FINOW AIRFIELD

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A002600700001-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
S
Document Page Count: 
6
Document Creation Date: 
December 14, 2016
Document Release Date: 
May 23, 2002
Sequence Number: 
1
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
September 24, 1953
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
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PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A002600700001-5.pdf360.21 KB
Body: 
COUNTRY-. Topic- DATE OBTAINED.. REFERENCES- PACES REMARKS SOURCE REPORT NO. 25X1A PLACE OBTAINED 25X1- 27 July to 30 August 1953 25 1 ENCLOSURES (No. a TYPE) 25X1X 25X1X 25X1 Aprl,ftl%as 02Y07/22_CIA-RQP80-0~QA0026D07000 'ff SECURITY INr0Rs,ATI0PI beween 27 July and 30 August 1953: The following air activity and aircraft were observed at Finow airfield 2/ Jul a At a.m., an air raid siren was sounded at the field. Thereupon at least 50.t'iG-15s continuously. took off and landed between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. 28 jul,L. Between 8 pm. and midnight, a MiG-15 flew in circle over the field towing an air sleeve, which was in the bean of searchlights, which was attacked by another fiG-15. At the same tine, part of the personnel stationed at the field took up positions on the airfield boundaries apparently for an exercise designed to test the defense of the field against attacking troops. 1 July, E~etween 6 p.m. and midnight, ;iG-]-5s practiced take-off a and landings. ,2.August. There was no flying. 8 Lixgust. Sixty to 70 aircraft3most of which were riG-15s, were parked at the northern edge of the field. At-the same time 4 11G-15s and a radio truck were parked along the eastern edges of the field. _August. At 10 a.m., about 350 air force men and a military band were lined up east of the Finow-Biesenthal road, while an `officer was making a speech, probably in connection with the Soviet Air 'Force Day. 25X1. 25X1 CLASSIFICATION SFCR.u1' 24 September 1953 IrE PREPARED.- -- - ?-? Approved For'Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-00.81OA002600700001-5 Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 SECRET, 25X1 25X1X 0 47 Au usl g Between 9 p.m. and midnight, there was air activity by MGe-15s, which included practice firing at an air sleeve. The sleeve target was towed by a 1?1G-15 and was cought in the bear's of two searchlights. 0 Aurrust,,. No flying was observed during the daytime. Sixty to 70.1`iG-15s were parked at the northern edge of the field. The aircraft of the alert flight F- I ?_.. On 8 Aurist. several semi-underground temporary wooden buildings, eaoh 8 x 5 x 2 meters, were observed in the bomb dip just west of the F.inow-- Piesenthal road and south of the railroad line. previously, about 12 stacks of bombs had been observed there. 2 3. Two radio installations located in wooden buildings were observed side- by-side on the former Spechthausener Strasse in Finowfurt. About 150 meters north of kilometer, marker 6.6 on the r'inow Finowfurt road a concrete bunker housing a signal or radio installation was observed in the open field. From the bunker, a line extended to the Finowfurt post office. A headquarters probably belonging to the airfiele was housed in the former Finowfurt estatem3 On 23 and 30 August, the AA gun emplacement near kilometer marker 1.3 just west of the Finow.-fliesenthal road was vacated. The underground bunkers of the emplacement were empty. 4 5. The following air activity and aircraft were observed at the field between 1 and 2- Aurust: 1 A;u ust. Between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m,, 11iG-15s made about 10 flights in elements of twos, Visibility was good, 25X1 fust a There was no flying during the daytime. Between 10 p.m. and 2_4u 2:30 a.m., the noise of flying jet fighters was heard. There was a 10/10 overcast and good visibility.- 3 Au st_, Eetw e? 6 a.rri. and 8 p.m., '":iG-i5s or U~-MG-15s practiced flying in formations of twos and fours. The weather was hazy. Between 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., 2 MG-15s were parked at the eastern end of the .runways 4 YiG-15s at the site of the alert flight and about 15 1iG-15s and 4 Yak-lls at the northern edge of the field. It was probably that a naift of the aircraft were tern raril at another airfield. A Asst. In the morning, only 2 biplanes coming from the northern airfield were seen aloft over Finow. Between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., one formation of 11 and one of 10 MiG-15s was observed aloft over the field, and 6 .i uglast~ Between a .r-,. and 8 p.m., about 20 YUG-15s practiced flying in formations of twos and fours. The weather was hazy. SECRET Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 25X1A 25X1 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 25X1A 7u ust. Fetes en 6 a.m. and 7 p.m., 2 Yak-.lls made individual flights and riG-15s were observed in formations of fours, At 5:30 p.m,, 25 ?,U-15s took of, assembled in formation and headed in a northwesterly direction. As of 7 p.m, the formation had not yet returned to the field, August. Between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., there was intensive air activity by JAG-15s flying In formations of twos and fours. At 12:30 p.m.., 31 ?iG-15s were parked at the eastern end of the runway. 4 IiG-15a at the site of the alert flight and about 12 h1iG-15s and 6 Yak-lie at the norther edge of the field. At the sane time 11G-15s or - i observed aloft. 25X1 A railroad car loaded with stone chipp ngs was observed on the spur track. at the eastern edge of the field and was being unloaded ,by air force soldiers. A Petween 3 porn. and midnight, about 10 1,iG-15s with position lights burning practiced formation flying in elements of twos. 11 Augt, There was intensive air activity by 1tiG-15s, Formations of twos and fours were seen. The weather was fair.' 12 A stugt,, i?etween 8 a.m. and 7 p.m., ?4IG.15s made about 100 flights in formations of twos and fours, Weather was fair and visibility good. 13 AL ust. Between-2 a.m. and 9 a.m., night flying was conducted by biplanes from Finow--Nord airfield. Petween 8 a.m. and 7 p.m.,, MG-15s made individual local flights and formation flights in 1LAug at. NU-15s practiced flying as on the preceding day.\Two Yak-lie made a formation flight.. %; In the morning, 6 biplanes from Finow-?word airfield practiced flying. 16 Au st, At 5:30 p.rr.., about 45 MiG-15s and 10 Yak-Ile were observed were parked at the site of the alert flight. 23_Wto_28__Aunast$ Three days during this period formation flights by two and four ?tiG-~1s were observed. On one night between 23 and.28 August, there was flying which included practice firing by jet fighters at an air sleeve being towed in the beams of searchlights. 2 6 During the reported period, the AA gun emplacement in the southeastern corner of the field was camouflaged by bushes so that no Tins could be observed. Some soldiers with red-bordered black epaulets were seen at the en placement, 4 7. After 22 August, many officers and FJ- were seen in the restaurants and on the streets of Finow. =R BT. at the northern edge of the field, while 4 ?`G-15s 25X1 25X1 C 25X1 25X1 Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 25X1C Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 25X1A 25X1 C 25X1X 9. The following air activity and aircraft were observed at the field between 1 and 28 August: August. At 2 pamo9 50 to 60 MiG.-15s were observed at the field from its eastern edge. There was no flying. Weather was 5/1 overcast and visibility 6 Auvus#. , At 2 p.m,, 52 ' I/IG-15 4 were counted at the field, land_ T7 AuZust, About 60 PIG-15s and 6 Po-2s were parked at the feld. 2LAA-11MLS-Is After 9:30 p,m., there wat firing at an air sleeve with tracer ammunition by MUG-158, The sleeve target was being towed by a conventional type aircraft, The Finow-Biesenthal road was blocked during firing prac`,ices,, ?,au At noon, no air activity was observed About 7 towing searchlights moved to the western portion of the landing fitwo eld. Subsequently local night flying was conducted by M1G-15s with the search- lights being in operation. 2, uZust. At 2 a.m., -firing at an air sleeve was practiced by ;'iG-15s, 1 10. In the extension of the runway, at a point about 300 meters east of the Finow-Piesentha1 road, source saw a wooden cabin with. a lamp facing toward the east. Lines led to the cabin. .1 11. On 15 and 17 August, about 30 soldiers were doing construction work on five aircraft revetments in the northeastern and southeastern corners of the field The aircraft revetments which faced the runway consisted of earth walls about 4 meters high, 6 12, Just east of the Finolu Piesenthal road,, a spur track, about 2 1o long, led along National Highway No 2 into an area about 500 meters long. This area was surrounded by a board fence and was guarded by air force personnel which also occupied a watch tower seen there. 2 25X1 13. 25X1X 14, On 4 August, about 40 .1_`iG-15s,coiling in for a landing from the direction of Finow,~were observed at Eberswalde.. 15.. During the first half of August,, intensive. air activity by swept-back jet fighters was observed at. Freienwa;lde, On 12 August f"oir formations of four jet fighters each were seen aloft at t low altitude over the town. The air- craft headed toward Finow, 1 SF.CR L,-T, Approved For Release 2002/07/22: CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 SECRETg 25X1A 26 25X1 C 25X1 C 25X1A 25X1 A 2. or:r. ent,~ This inforration refers to the arinunition dump located northeast of the field, near the road to Biesenthal between the town of Finow and the airfield. This installation ha:.been reported previously. 25X1A 3. The radio installations in Finowfurth on the road to Cor~r~et. -~.....~ Finow are reported for the first t:Lre, The installation east of the runway is probably an inner low frequency beacon. 25X1 A 4 DQor)rzent. According to previous infori ationp the hA gun ez placemeft consists of six 37-i= AA guns. 25X1A 25X1A 6. Comment . Thirty to. 35 aircraft revetment: are believed to be avaz able at Finow airfield. SECRET. Approved For Release 2002/07/22 : CIA-RDP80-0081OA002600700001-5 25X1 25X1 C 25X1