1. KOETHEN AIRFIELD 2. RADAR INSTALLATION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A002800570008-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 11, 2013
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: November 25, 1953
• Content Type: REPORT

cnv" HUM
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA002800570008-4
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
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.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFORMATION
COUNTRY
East Germany
SUBJECT I..Koethen Airfield- `_t;
2. Radar Installation
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
1. Aircraft Count
12 September: 13 MIG-15's
15 September: 12 MIG-15's
21 September: 9 MIG-15's
24-30 September:" 18 MIG-15's
"50X1-HUM
2. Flying Activity
a,,., 12 September: 2 p.m. Two MIG-15's took off, flew in formation
to the firing range near Aken and fired
several bursts at ground targets. Returned
to land at 7:30 p.m.
2:45p.m. Four MIG-15's took off, and practiced
strafing on the Aken range, returning
to land at 3:16 p.m.
3:36p.m. Three MIG-15's took off and carried out
air-to-ground firing at the Aken range,
returning to land at 4:05 p.m.
4:40p.m. Six MIG-15's took off at 30-second inter-
vals and carried out formation flying at a
height of between 4000 and 5000 meters in
the Koethen area. They landed singly at
5:10 P.M.
b. 15 September : 3 :13 p .m.
Eight MIG-15's took off at 20-second inter-
vals, joined in formation over the airfield
and flew away in the direction of Halle; they
were not seen to return.
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
1 X FBI
25 November 1953
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA002800570008-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA002800570008-4
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
c. 16 September: Between 9 p.m. Single MIG-15`s took off at regular
17 September: and 1 a.m. intervals and carried out night flying
circuits, landing after between ten
and twelve minutes.
d. 18 September: 9:30 to 11:59 p.m. Night flying by single MIG-15's took place
during strong winds and heavy rain.
e. 21 September: 8 p.m. to l.a.m. Night flying took place. At 8 p.m., two
MIG-15's took off in formation and flew
for 30 minutes; after landing,the air-
craft remained grounded for 20 minutes
before taking off again in formation
and flying for. between 30 and 35 minutes.
During this flying three searchlights
mounted on trucks illuminated the
runway .
f. 26 September:'"' 2 p.m. Two MIG-15's took off and circled above
Koethen at a height of about 1500 meters,
landing again at 2:35 p.m. These
aircraft were fitted with tip tanks.
g. 28 September 10 a.m. Nine MIG-15's took off at 30-second in-
tervals, joined in above the airfield,
and circled at a height of about 1000
meters. They landed at 10:50 a.m.
These aircraft were fitted with tip
tanks.
11:20 a.m. Six MIG-15's took off at 30-second inter-
vals and joined in formation over the area
between Koethen and Halle and landed at
12:10 p.m.
2 p.m. Nine MIG-15's took off at 30-second in-
tervals and joined in formation over the
airfield. Meanwhile, one MIG-15 towing
a target took off and flew to a height
of 1000 meters. At this height the
aircraft released its target, and while
the target was fallingto the ground, the
nine MIG-15's attacked it with machine gun
fire. All aircraft were able to attack
the target before it reached the ground.
By 2:35 p.m. all aircraft had returned.
The target was fitted with stiffening
rings, thus remaining sufficiently in-
flated while in the air.
3. Personnel
on the airfield; the remaining 200 who ar are
sum ltenburg and Merseburg airfields."
f the airforce officers- i.e., pilots very few "old oe.en personne
7remained on the field, the majority of operational pilots being from Altenburg
and Merseburg.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA002800570008-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA002800570008-4
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4. Assembly of Aircraft
these new aircraft the
-new,aircraft' had~been of a more modern type than those arriving ?curren 50X1-HUM
field had been "made up of old sections". These used aircraft, probably overhauled,
were in contrast to the crated MIG-15's which had been arriving at Koethen airfield
up to a year ago. 50X1-HUM
during the past 12 months all the cratea a cr t arriving at oe en air-
6. Radar
Attached is a sketch showing a radar installation erected on the airfield during
the period of observation. This installation has been erected alongside the
knife-rest radar. During this period the knife-rest radar was observed while
MIG-15's were in flight above and around the airfield, but was not seen to re-
volve or move. During flying and non-flying periods the knife-rest remained
stationary, pointing WNW to ESE
Attachment: Sketch of radar installation.
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA002800570008-4
 Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-00810A002800570008-4
SECRET/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
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Appendix A
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2013/06/11: CIA-RDP80-00810A002800570008-4