CONSTRUCTION OF NEW AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005700420010-5
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: December 6, 2007
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: January 7, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2007/12/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700420010-5
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT Construction of New Airfield
at Kamenets
DATE OF INFO.
PLACE ACQIM1I
This is UNEVALUATED
Information
THE 1OUACE VVALUA110Nf IN INNS Wow AN 5 1I1Mt.
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Location and Description of Airfield
roads paralleling the main runway. Between the taxi strips camouflage stalls
(he-rd-stands)-which hold one aircraft are being constructed. The eamoulflage
stalls are 8-10 meters high and approximately 15 meters long. They are
constructed of earth, with grass growing on top. Beside each camouflage stall
tunnels are being excavated. The tunnels are 5-6 meters long, 14 meters wide,
1. In the Spring of 1953 construction was begun on an airfield between Ksi*enets
(N 43-20, E 25-01) and Letnitsa (N 43-18, E 25-04), Pleven Okoliya. The air-
field is one kilometer south of Kamenets and one kilometer north of Letnitsa.
The old Kamenete-Letnitsa highway, which bisected the new airfield, has been
closed and a newly-constructed highway passesapnroximately one kilometer north-
east of the airfield. A railroad line leading into the north side of the air-
field from the Letnitsa railway station has also been'built. A concrete road,
60-70 meters wide, parallels both sides of the main runway.
2. The new airfield is approximately three kilometers long and from one to one and
one-half kilometers wide,.and lies in an east-west direction. The mairr; runway
is three kilometers long and 120 meters wide. 25X1
3. Concrete taxi strips connect the main runway at intervals with the concrete
4.
doors at each end-of--the tunnels.
Construction Runway and Txi trip Beds
Sand, pebble and cement are used in the construction of the runway and taxi-
strip beds. First, the beds are excavated to a depth of 40-45 centimeters.
Twenty centimeters of coarse sand are put into the bed, followed by 20-25 25X1
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DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAAli
7 Janluary 1955
Approved For Release 2007/12/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700420010-5
 Approved For Release 2007/12/06: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700420010-5
5.
centimeters of cement mixed with sand and pebble. The cement is poured in
blocks of three square meters and the space between the blocks is filled with
asphalt.
Airfield Buildings
Barracks and other buildings are being constructed along the north side of the
airfield. These buildings are constructed of brick.
Sguinment Used Con tion of =g
ld
6. The following equipment is being used in construction of the airfield:
a. 10-12 concrete mixing machines;
b. 50-60 machines for moulding concrete blocks (stampers);
c. 6-7 buildosers (earth movers or szoavatore);
d. 36 Opel Blits and Densult trucks of 3} ton carrying capacity;
e. 1 Astrofiat truck of 5 ton oarryinw capacity;
f. 1 ZIS track of 44 ton carrying capacity;
g. 4 Tatra trucks of 12 ton carrying capacity;
h. 3 rollerA; and
i. a narrow--gunge railway with 12 cars for transporting construction supplies
and equipment.
Construction Personnel
7. Only Trudovaks are being used in construction of the airfield. In October
1953, there were between 3,500 and 4,000 Trudovaks employed there, plus an
unknown number of technical experts and engineers attached to the Trudovaka and
Air Force. There were no civilian engineers or technicians. Informant ddes
not know whether the USSR has anything to do with the construction of the
airfield, but no Soviet personnel were observed during the period of infofrmant'e
employment at the field.
Work Schedule
8. The Trudovaks work in two shifts, each shift being from 8 to 10 or even 16
hours. Informant's unit, which was charged with unloading cement. pebble and
similar supplies, worked not more than 8 hours per day. The Trudovaks are
given only one day's leave each 15 days, thus there is always one shift
working each Sunday.
Security
The airfield construction area is controlled by Trudovak guards 24 hours a day.
Peasants anc other unauthorised personnel, even shepherds, are not permitted
in the area.
Schedule and Progress of Ctien
10. According to original plans the airfield was scheduled for completion in
the auto mn of 1954. As of October 1953, 14 kilometers of the main runway had
been completed, together with the taxi-strips along that portion of the runway.
Also at that time, construction bad began on the barracks and other buildings
along the north aide of the runway.
Trudovak bfni s l