BRIESEN AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006100010008-8
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Document Release Date: June 19, 2008
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: January 28, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006100010008-8
CLASS IFICATIO E
East Germany
EVALUATIO1'
DATE' OF. CONT
DAT OBTAI NS
'
,Lam)arv 1_()5r1
REFERENCES
This is UNEVALUATED Information
%sIolloxing observations were made at Briesen airfield between 22 and
'29' D46ember 1954=
22'Deoember. After nightfall at 1700, air activity was started by jet
ai#0Wt. The sky was' quite cloudy and there was a moderate wind from
the west. The aircraft took off at intervals of 10 minutes toward
the /reet.'.Theair-route of the flight could not be observed. Thirty
minutes after the take--off of the first plane, a jet bomber coming
frqe,the east landed at the field. Additional aircraft followed at
3ntw!*als of 10 minutes. A total of 10 jet aircraft had taken off by
1825.'By 1850 10 I1-28a had landed. Landings of the aircraft were
recognised by their landing lights, The five aircraft which took off
first had the following position lights:
green lamps on the starboard and port aide, white lamp on the tail.
The other 5 aircraft had a green light on the starboard side,.a red
light on the-port side and a white light on the tail. During the
landing procedure, the following observations were mades At about 6 km
from the runway, 2 searchlights on the landing aircraft flashed up..
`1?bee lamps were fitted between the position lights; the distance
between the 2 lamps were slightly larger than that between the
`headlights of a motorcar. At first, 2 lights pointed almost straight
downward and then. gradually turned onto the flight path. The 2 lights
were usually switched off.after the landing but, on some aircraft, they
were still bruning while the aircraft was taxying on the runway. When
the approaching aircraft was'about 500. to 1,000 meters from the and
of the runway, a green flare was fired from the eastern end of the
runway. Thereupon, 2 red fights on the plane flashed on for about 5
seconds and the, aircraft landed from east to west., The 2 red lights
were apparently fitted in the wings, between the outer position lights
and the landing searchlights, with I lamp each or both the port and
the starboard sides. During the 5 seconds when the 2 red lights
flashed on, the following constellation of lights was observed from
the front: colored lights in one line and the landing searchlights
somewhat dedper;.in details: green starboard light, red light, white
landing searchlight, white landing searchlight, red light, red light
ar.: port side (green on 5 aircraft). During the air activity, the
runway was lighted by red lamps along its southern edge and white lamps
CLASSIFICATION SECRE4,
Approved For Release 2008/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006100010008-8
25X1'
25X1
25X1
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 Approved For Release 2008/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006100010008-8
SECkiET/
along its northern edge. Six red lamps 100 meters apart were at the
eastern extension of'the runway.
25 December. Between~.1000 and 1200, a total of 16 jet bombers took off
and landed toward the west at internals of 5 to 10 minutes? There was
a 10/10 overcast at an altitude of about 1,000 meters, visibility of
4 km and a moderate southwesterly wind. Each aircraft made onevide
oriole over the field which lasted 15 minutes. Two aircraft were
simultaneously aloft. No further air activity was conducted after 1200.
28 December0There was a-closed ceiling. and' alight southwesterly . wind,
At about 1800, air activity was started. Two jet aircraft took off
toward the most at intervals of 5 minutes. After about 50 minutes,~.the
aircraft returned from the east and landed at the field at intervals
of 5 minutes. The same light maneuver was observed as during night
flying activity on 22 December. The two aircraft had the international
position lights: green light..at starboard, red light at port side and
white light at tail; During the.take?-offs and landings, the airfield
was dimly lighted, apparently by 50 percent of the lights available.
29 December There was a 4/10.overoaet at an altitude of 3,000 meters,
visibility of about 15 km and a light southwesterly wind. Flying was
started at 1600. Individual jet bombers took off toward the west at
intervals of ' 5 minutes. A few minutes after the take-off, the aircraft
crossed. over the field at a very high altitude, heading east. They
'landed from the east after a flight time of about 20 minutes. About
90 take-offs-and landings were made up to about 1400. Six to 8 aircraft
were usually-aloft at the came time. The tail. guns ofall landing
aircraft were in a horizons position. One man: was observed in the
tail-gun position. Air activity.discontinued at about 1400. On each of
the days of observation, when no air activity was underway, 25 canvas
-covered Jet bombers were parked in front of the flight control builiing
at the southern taxiway
omment. Briesen airfield ?iastill occupied by a bomber regiment
equipped with*28 X1.286. The observation of green position lights on
the starboard and port'aide of aircraft involved in night flying activity
was apparently correct. The purpose of these green portion lights is not
known. The presence of a seoodd landing searchlight on Il-28 airois t
is reported for the-first time.
Approved For Release 2008/06/19: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006100010008-8