WELZOW AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005100150006-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 26, 2007
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: November 26, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/08/05: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005100150006-6
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
This material contains information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
Ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
SECRET/- U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Departure of Jet Flying School
1. The personnel and equipment of the jet flying school left Welzow airfield
between 15 and 17 July 1951+. A total of six rail transports were used for the
move. The first train arrived empty on , 15 July at about 0800 hours, and
Left the same night with its complement. The make-up of each train was roughly
the same, namely 12-11+ passenger cars, and sufficient flat cars for 10-11+ tank
trucks and an unspecified number of trucks. A total of 32 tank trucks and eight
trailers were actually observed to leave, but this is not thought to be the full
total. It was particularly noted that all equipment, including ambulances, was
moved. In addition, there were cars for benches and household goods such as
curtains.
2. An average of 400 personnel were estimated to be aboard each transport, making
a total of approximately 2,1+00. This figure does not include families.
3. One of the transports went to Jtterbog, one to Brandis near Leipzig, and one
somewhere in the neighborhood of Rostock. The destinations of the other rail
transports are not known. None returned to the USSR.
Arrival of IL 28's
1+. The fi were not observed, but the last arrivals were on 22 July
1+.
by air in the IL-28's and LI-2''s.
Aircraft
5. 32 IL-28's were seen to land at 10-minute intervals. Six LI-2's also landed.
Only two of the LI-2's were visible on 4 August. There were no U-IL 28's
amongst the aircraft. All the aircraft had auxiliary tanks. No possible
changes in appearance could be observed. It was specifically noticed that the
aerials were exactly the sar.: as those of the IL-28's at this airfield till July 1953.
S-ECIMT711T ir-1 -V ONLY
STATE ARMY X NAVY X A I r `J~ X F6' AEC
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Other members of the new unit came -by rail and
26 November 1954
7 7/ DTRECT
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7. Flying Activity
The first flying activity took place on 3 August, when IL-28's carried out
local flying from 0845 to 1800 hours.
8. Previous
Air crews later seen at the railway station looked at the station clock and after
commenting on the time difference to each other, advanced their watches by some
two hours.
9. Personnel
About 14 of the 32 crews appeared to be more experienced having at least 2 rows of
decorations and an average-age appearance of over 30. In at least one instance, a
senior lieutenant of one of these crews checked bad public behavior of two junior
officers from other crews who accepted the rebuff meekly and with deference. The
general standard of turn-out, however, was very poor, with clothing very ragged,
with canvas footwear and generally dirtier appearance than is customary amongst
those stationed in East Germany for any length of time.
10. Radio/Radar
No radar has been observed. There is a radio van with an "X"-shaped aerial dug in,
and the usual beacons. During flying on 3 August 1954 HL (Dot Dot Dot Dot ?Dot Dash
Dot Dot) were heard on the medium frequencies of ordinary radios.
11. Bomb Dump
There is a bomb depot at the northern corner of the airfield inside the angle formed
by the railway- lines Senftenberg to Neu Petershain and ~tlzow to Nep. Petershain.
There are earth-covered mounds inside this compound which are approximately 8 in. in
height, 15 m. in length by 15 m. in width. The dump is surrounded by six circular
barbed-wire fences guarded by sentries and are illuminated at night.
Bearing and Morale
12. Although discipline is efficiently enforced by some of the more experienced officers,
others of the offiggrs and airmen run very wild. A drunken seniorlieutenant at a
dance removed his jacket, containing personal documents, and was later unable to
find it. All ranks are now forbidden to leave the airfield at night.
13. Small groups of the newly arrived families go from shop to shop buying up every-
thing they can see. Shoes with high heels are the best sellers.
14. Theft is rife. One unfortunate housewife, returning from a shopping expedition
after the arrival of the new unit, found that every movable. object had been removed
from her house. Police were able to trace a trail of minor objects of clothing right
up to the barbed wire of the airfield.
15. Schooling
Children of the Soviet forces in Welzow receive their schooling there until the age
of ten. TArr then go to school in Cottbus.
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16. Security
Security checks include small patrols in civilian clothes.
SECRET - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
Approved For Release 2007/08/05: CIA-RDP80-00810A005100150006-6