MERSEBURG AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005900500008-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 25, 2008
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 10, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/02/25: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA005900500008-7
COUNTRY-
TOPIC
CLASSIFICATION
Past Germany
r:erseburg Airfield
EVALUATION
DATE OF CONTENT
'ATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
4
E AG ,TS
REMAOKS
PLACE OBTAINED)
REPORII
ATE PREPARED
10 January 1955
ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE) 2 - two sketches on ditto
This is UNEVALUATED Information
1. The fcllowing air activity and aircraft were observed at Merseburg
airfield between 4 November and 8 December 1954%
4 to 10 havember. No air activity was observed.
11 November, Between 0830 and 1500, individual local flights were
made by MG-158. or U-LiiG-15s.
12 Nove mber_ One liG-i5 or U-MiG-15 took off at 1730 and landed
at 1755-
13 November. Local flights were made by swept-back jet fighters
between 1010 and 1325-
14 to 15 November. There was no air activity. Sixteen L1iG-15s or
U-MIG-15e were counted on the landing field.
16 November. A MG-15 cfr U-MiG-15 coming from the east landed at
1232. Three swept-back jet fighters
individually landed at 1355. The take-offs by these aircraft were not
observed.
off at 1205 and landed at 1302. The aircraft were fitted with
auxiliary fuel tanKs and practiced flying in formation.
17 November. ."wo MG-158 or U-iiliG-158
18 to 26 ?avemb_ No air activity was observed.
made aerobatics. It took off at 1115, 1230, 1335 and 1455 and
remained aloft for 40 to 45 minutes. After the take-off, the
aircraft climbed steeply to an altitude of about 5,000 meters
aid practiced loops and rolls at this height. During each flight,
u loops and 3 rolls, the latter repeated 5 or 6 times, were amide.
The loops had an estimated diameter of 1,000 meters. ",'h1le performing
23 1iovember. Between 1115 and 1540, a U-UG-15
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rolls, the aircraft did not lose altitude. During the remaining
: ?:. ;ht time, turns were made. Upon completion of aerobatics over
the field, the aircraft landed from the east towards the nest.
2 `:ove.`iber. 1 total. of 21 !i0-15s or U--Liu-15s were counted on
t'r,e landin- field.
?:overiber. air activity as observed.
3~ I: veinber. _',etween 1600 and 1645, 3 take-offs and 3 landings
were Male by .'1iG-l s or U-4'4iG--15s.
1 ce;: e' :. i 1-15 or laaded at 1520.
Lo additional air activity was observed.
2 cer.,i;e.r. There was no air activity.
1ecer7:bcr.. Air activity started at 1545 when the lighting
facilities were s::itched on. Local flihts of 7 to 10 minutes
duration :?,ere made. The aircraft took off at intervals of 10
to 25 ;mi r_utes. At the :iea?innir g of air activity, 3 aircraft
:vcre seen. A .otal of 26 take-offs an
landings were o served. f ter the landing, the aircraft a din
si.+itched on their landing lights while taxying back to the take-off
poir?,.t. she searchii;hts located in the f" ins; lane flashed up
-;,,her, a 1 iU-15 or U-tiiG-l5 approached. The intervals between the
individual Signals of the red beacon light transmitting the
Totters !. d were determined by means of a stopwatch. There was a
t:._e a .erval of 8 seconds between the last point of the 9 and the
first dash of the subsequent L.
,; too December. No air activity was observed.
iiece.. ben. xn element of 2 :AG-15 or U-91"-15 landed at 1555.
Phe aircraft approached flying in a right stager formation and
witn an interval of 71 to 80 meters. They landed in this formation.
ilcerrher 11o air activity was observed. .~ total of 19
or U- -15s were counted on the landin;c field. One of these
aircraft was a two-seater which was parked near
the fuel dump west of the southern hangar. The other 1 aircraft,
namely one group of 14 and one ;roui?) of 4 ere parked without any
,at 'ern on the dispersal area of the alert formation at the
southern edge of the l~_nding fields Just south of the eastern end
of the .runv;ay. . The noses or the aircraft pointed to the west. No
aircraft b.ere seen in the open hangars or. in the revetments. 1
charng e was observed oi the sir e-oast radio insta:lation in
the flying lane. ., truck, mounting a
searchlight was observed at the foot of the mast. The umbrella-
s ape antenna w%s no lon seen east of the AA gun ec,;.lacement,
in line with uerichtsrain . Only a r:idio Lruck was parked at the
st?o. The Token-type radar set was still located at the northern
ed`;e a s.he field south r,i the Muth tree-:.ursery. The umbrella-
type antenna previously observed in tan northwestern corner of
the field north othy: runway was removed. Only a low wooden
.u lui:lv was seen there. On 2 December,. a last -rit?. an unidentified
25X1
25X1
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antenna was observed between the target range and the fuel dump.
,n umbrella-type antenna was observed in the southeastern corner
of t'ie field 200 meters east of the southeastern hangar. The
_ni."crest-type set on the earth bunker was replaced by a Jurbo-
type radar set. Northeast of this set in the southeaster: corner
of the field there was still a Fishnet-type set. ;~ radio installation
of 5 masts, each 8 to 10 meters high, was located just :zest oC the
fli,;ht control to.,er. The type of bracing could not be determined.
It as observed that the 5 masts were braced by several juy wires in
the sw..e manner and that the antenna systems ar~-re not of a
conspicuous type. Four masts were arranged in a square and the
fifth mast was apparently located in the middle of the squaw. A
sin..le mast about 15 meters high and braced by 4 guy wires each
at 2 points was located next to the main guardhouse. :"hile looking
through trio housin area from the south an umbrella-type antenna
12 to 15 meters high ryas observed for tiie :irst tile. ":his antenna
could not be seen from any other airection because the view was
blocked by roofs. The umbrella-type antenna east of the vinegar
factory was still observed. 2
3. Tice foilo.aing observations were made in the housing area:
r;c personnel chan,,es could be determined. Previously observed
crso::nel tere again repeatedly seen. .. building at the edge of
tie area, which had previously been occupied by civilians, had
to ie vacated. It was included into the field area whe., the fence
as newly laid. It was expected that the building would be occuppied
by dependents of the air force troops. On 3 i)ecembez, 200 to 3J0
scldisrs were drilli.ng on the athletic field in the housing area.
h soldiers stood in groups, mostly in double rows and were
re-'eivi;:g basic training. They were armed with carbines. .a group
of 5 or o officers standing nearby a..darently supervised the
exercise. It was partioulary noteworthy that while the sub-
lieutenants were giving orc:ers the.., were also suaohing . 3
On C, Dece:abet-, a new two-story building? presumably housing
culture rooms, was observed in the housing area north of the
athletic field at the southeastern side of the branch road. A
te. pporary building had been newly constructed east of the
southeastern h::.z;ar. 4
the following railroad tank cars moved to the rield:
6 at 14' C on 12 November., 3 on 15 -.ovenber, 2 on 23 November, and
3 on 27 November. Two tank cars tare shunted to the airfield on
Dcace;r,t;er. 'hree apparently new fuel containers, each about
4 :eters long and about 1,.75 meters in diatetar, lay on the
ground in the fuel dump. 5
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Comment. It is believed tl+at u. rseburg airfield is still
occu;::ied by a fighter division headquarters and a fighter regiment.
U to 21 or U-L iG-15s were counted on the landing field.
...-ter 11 I:ovember, air activity ?r :as resumed and included practice
Li-hts during daytime and at ni;;ht, aerobatics, elements of two
etc.
or.::,ent. The irforsi..tion that a ::niferest-tyke radar set
in the southeastern corner of the field was replaced by a Jumbo-
tye radar set is received for the first time.
'oc ent. The recruits who arrived in the fall in connection
with he c%,rsourel exchange program receive military basic
trainirj at the field.
G r .eur nt. The construction of a now culture house and a
tempo ary building at the field is reported for the first time.
For location sketceL of cu; ture house, see . nex 1. For location
of new temporary building, hangars and radar sets, see ramnex 2.
Co:: rnent. Six fuel containers which .ie. a not yet dug in
:,c;a-P previously observed in the fuel dump.
Co went . Except for true
which have previously been observed in i.iersebur~,
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Loy;.; t' on 3'_ , tch of ;vulture 'iou;-, at #1orUebur Air :ield
:,G rcC~rl ~L~
'.3. new structure
+til C `~':.c 3ld
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Annex 2
Merseburg Airfield
Legend:
1 Umbrella-type antenna
2 Dumbo-type )~ ' :. ,,
3 Fishnet-type radar set
4 New temporary building
5 & ingars
& Barracks for quartering purposes
7 Open shed for wood
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T areeb*rg Airfield
1 Umbrella-type antenna-
2 Dumbo-tpe
3 Fi3linet-type radar set
4 New temporary building
5 II :n^~~rG
6 Barracks for quartering purposes
7 Open shed for wood
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Annex# 2