BRAND AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A003800480010-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 19, 2016
• Sequence Number: 10
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2006/11/27: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800480010-7
CLASSIFICATION._.~ 'T/
East Germany
COUNTRY
"OPIC
Brand Airfield,
EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTE
DATE OBTAINED
411'- FERENCES
PAGES-_.-----ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE)_.
REMARKS -
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1. The following air activity and aircraft were observed at Brand airfield
between 15 January and 2 February 1954:
15 ?, ,nuary, - Between 9 aom.~ and 2 r.rm,, individual flights were made by
FiG-~15 or U- iG-15e which ere fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks The aircraft
remained aloft for about 25 minutes. There was dull and rainy weather and
aa8/10 overcast at an altitude of 200 meters. I
21 January. At 8:30 a.m., eight swept-back jet fighters with auxiliary fuel
tanks took off heading toward the west. There was clear and stormy weather
with a 6/10 overcast at an altitude of about 300 meters. Prior to take-off,
the aircraft were parked in groups of twos, about 2('0 meters apart, on the
runway. The last two FiG-15 or i3 tfiG-15s were parked just at the east end
of the runway. The aircraft to the right of the indicidual elements of twos
;e parked at an interval of one wing span and a distance of one aircraft
length from the left aircraft,, The eight aircraft took off almost simultaneously;
a period of about 90 secondai~$a~?a4d'between the take-off run of the first
aircraft-and the moment when the last aircraft became airborne. After lifting
off the ground, the right aircraft of each element which had taken offslightly
after the left aircraft overtook the latter plane and flew lateral in front of
it. At an altitude of about 2,000 meters, .the '1, aircraft formed ,2 lines of 4
aircraft each and, in this formation, repeatedly circled over the airfield.
Shortly afterward, another 4 aircraft without auxiliary fuel tanks took off
and pursued the 8 aircraft. Subsequently, more take-offs were made. The
exact-number of aircraft aloft during this time could not be determined.
there'we' around 2#3 aircraft aloft
which was the regular aircraft strength at the field during this and the
preceding days. While the aircraft were aloft, 14 tanks, including two T-34
tanks, and 2 personnel carriers aseribled south ^.P +1-". ViAlA hnundary, Each
tank was occupied by 1 officer. 1 P?CO and-4 FS'
Each of the armored personnel carters
was occupied by 1 officer, 3 NCOe and 10 1!', the latter armed with submachine
guns. When the tanks attacked the airfield, firing heavily, the aircraft
flying in echelon formation made diving attacks on the tanks and then sub-
sequently would climb again. These low level and diving attacks on.. tanks
were continuously performed until 2 p.m. when the tanks disappeared toward
r.! Agfi1FlCATI(ri SI RET,
P1 ACE OBTAINED
.,.REPORT
25 February 1954
DATE - PREPARED ---?~------??-`-
Approved For Release 2006/11/27: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA003800480010-7
 Approved For Release 2006/11/27: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800480010-7
SECRET/C
the east in the direction of Krausnick. The W wore gas masks During the
air activit
2222 Janua Between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., only individual flights were made-
Contrary to previous landings when t he aircraft approached the runway in
a long gliding flight., on this day, the aircraft approached the field a'.
a steep angle.
and 2lw Jana :r :. No air activity was observed. There was dull weather
nub No aircraft were observed aloft throughout the day.
individual flights were made between 6 p.m. and about midnight.
All the aircraft involved,in flying.had their usual position lights on.
The runway and taxiways were lighted and the end of the runway wasrrarked
by red lights.
Between noon and 3 p.m., only about 12 individual
about 20 minutes duration were made. There was lightly hazy weather
4/10 overcast.
C? Jas Between 10 a.m. and. about midnight, there was intensive air
activity. Individual flights were conducted, with 8 to 10 aircraft being
aloft at the same time. 1
29 JIM MM About 10 a.m., 10 swept-back jet aircraft simultaneously took
off. Prior to the take--off, the aircraft were arranged on the runway as on
21 January. After the take-off, the aircraft assembled in javelin formation,
with the tenth aircraft flying apart and to the right. Around 11 a.m., 12
swept-back jet aircraft, apparently from another airfield, approached the
field and landed. No numbers were identified on the aircraft. A red ring,
however, about 30 cm wide,, was observed around the air intake aperture on
these aircraft. Shortly before 1 p.m., the aircraft again took off, with
10 of the aircraft heading towards the west, while the remaining 2 made
acrobatics over the field. One of the 2 aircraft made an upward roll. 3
34 Jan u ?Y t? br No air activity was observed. The weather usually
was clear.
2 Feba~. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., there was intensive a. ctivity.
At first, individual flights were made, later on, flights in elm ents of
twos and formations of fours were observed. The aircraft which had no
auxiliary fuel tanks remained aloft for up to 30 minutes.
On all the days on which air activity was conducted, 24 liG-15 or B?? iG-l5e
were parked at the field in'addition to the 4 alert aircraft.
2. During the last days of January, Soviet Air Force officers who apparently
were not familiar with the terrain were observed outside of the airfield.
During the second half of January, there was little vehicular traffic,
including sedans
1. o Brand airfield is still occupied by a fighter regiment equipped
w a about 28 h'iG-153. For sketch of arrangement of aircraft on the runway and
flight formation, see Annex.
SFCRETj
Approved For Release 2006/11.127: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800480010-7
 Approved For Release 2006/11/27: CIA-RDP80-00810A003800480010-7
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s0o c e involved tank t o h I~ac Div from
3. god Between 21 and 28 January 1954, exercises were held
a e enta of the a I ecz Army in the Dresden-Koenigsbrueck area.
25X1 It is hdlieved that the landing of the MG-15 formation from another
airfield is connected with this exercise.
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SERA/'
Approved For Release 2006/11/27: CIA-RDP80-00810A003800480010-7,
 Approved For Release 2006/11/27: CIA-RDP80-00810A0038&00480010-7
S NORE'T/
ont of 10 -.>. t On he un :. 9fo e 'a,-cin'
=?: _ U~.::ieoz. ti Er '~cr:i ~r~. d ~'~ i'3 c? u
r l : it 1 o r r i Lion o:~ t ho 110 i rcr :it t to -
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Approved For Release 2006/11/27: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800480010-7