MERSEBURG AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005700510005-1
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Sequence Number: 5
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700510005-1
COUNTRY
EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTE
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PAGES REMARKS.
CLASSIFICATION SECRET
East Germany
Merseburg Airfield
PLACE OBTAINED
REPORT
-DATE PREPARED.
1. The following air activity and aircraft were observed at
Merseburg airfield between 18 October and 3 November 1954:
ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE) 1 - one sketch on ditto
18 October. At 0628, 2 MiG-15s or U-MiG-15s took off and
headed east. The landings of the two aircraft were not observed.
19 to 24 October. No air activity was observed. On 24 October,
17 ;J;iG-15s or U-MiG-15s were parked on the landing field. Thal
alert flight was parked on the dispersal area at the eastern
end of the runway.
26 October. There was no air activity during daytime. At 1809,
a MiG-15 or U-MiG-15 took off heading east. At 1840, a swept-back
jet fighter landed at the field. The flare path and the red
identification beacon with the signal "MS" were in operation.
The searchlight in the approach lane was ndtin operation.
u
28 October. At 1400, 3 MiG-15s or U-MiG-15s individually took
off at intervals of 1 to 11 minutes. Subsequently,, the aircraft
headed east. At about 1420, the aircraft landed at intervals of
1 minute. No more air activity was observed throughout the day.
30 October. Between 1100 and 1400, individual local flights of
3 to 5 minutes duration were made. About 10 take-offs and landings
were made by swept-back jet fighters.
31 October to 2 November. No air activity was observed.
3 November. Between 1210 and 1615, 3 take-offs were made by
Po-2s. A total of 15 MiG-15s or U-MiG-15s were counted on the
landing field. The alert formation of 4 swept-back jet fighters
was parked on the dispersal area at the eastern end. of the runway.'
2. The following observations were made on the radio and radar
installations between 24 October and 3 November:
24 October. A second Kniferest-type set was observed about 100
meters south of the essence flavor extracting factory.
Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700510005-1
ber 1954
 Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700510005-1
31 October. No change was observed on the radio nstallation near
Neuschau. A horse-drawn vehicle with 2 soldiers and loaded with
an open copper boiler with a holding capacity of 20 to 25 liters,
1 bar with bread and a 10-liter container moved to the installation.
The boiler contained rice soup with me=t. The vehicle apparently
surnlied the personnel of the radio installation with food. After
returning from the installation, the vehicle disap:>eared in the
billeting area of the airfield.
3 November. An umbrella-type antenna was observed in the south-
eastern corner of the field about 50 meters northwest of the Kniferest-
type set. A mast about 6 meters high with an unidentified antenna
on top was seen for the first time 20 meters northeast of the
Kniferest-type set. Six radio trucks were parked near the installation.
The two earth bunkers which had been established some time ago near
the Kniferest - type set were over-grown with grass and frequented
by soldiers. It was assumed that the bunkers served as quarters
for the operating personnel. The umbrella-type antenna at the
eastern edge of the landing field was dismantled.2
A temporary barracks building and a wooden shed which wr_js open to
the northwest were observed just northeast of the southeastern
hangar.z
4. Six containers, each about 4 meters long and about 2 meters in
diameter, were stored in the fuel dump west of the hangars on the
southern edge of the field. An opening about 15 cm large was observed
on one side of each container.4 Between 5 October and 3 November.
12 railroad tank cars were shunted on the spur track to the airfield.
Coma=sent. It is believed that Nlerseburg a.irficl;: is still
ed b1T a fighter division headquarters '_nd a fighter regiment.
__Com:ent. The radio installations were rennrted previously.
Comment. The open wood shed End the temporary barracks
building are reported for the first time. or location of new
buildings, see Annex.
omment. It is believed that the 6 fuel containers were
t along by the fighter regiment during its transfer to Dessau
in early October 1954 and, since its return, have not yet placed
Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700510005-1
 Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700510005-1
Buildis at Plerseburirfield
Legend:
i New temporary barracks building
2 New wood shed open to the northwest
3 Hangars
4 Shed
?
Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005700510005-1