MILITARY AIRFIELD NEAR ZATEC

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006600560005-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Sequence Number: 5
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
1k .
CI.. SWFICATION CONFIDENT
COUNTY Czechoslovakia
TOPIC
Military Airfield Near ZateC
EVALUATION_i
DATE OF CONTENT
DATE OBTAINED-- LDATE P* 1 3Q March 1955
REFERENCES
PAGES 4 ENCLOSURES (NO. & TYPE) `~ - sketch, with legend on ditto
REMARKS This is UNEVALUATED Information
25X1
1. The military ai7f1M1t# 1406*4 about 4 km.north of Zatee (50 19 N/ 13 32 E),
was bordered by W-, of tvr(50 17 N/13 25 E) - Loin (50 21 N/l3 48 E)
road to the nor*, tir l -2949,x (Most) (50 31 N - 13 38 E) road to
the west, and the Stankovice (50 21 N/ 13 34 N) Bitoseves (50 22 N/13 38 E)
(Wittosess) road to the southeast. It.ertended to the south to about 100
meters from the Hutna Brook. A barbed-wire fence about 2 meters high ran
along the northern side of the field and a portion of the southeastern
side.-No other fences were seen. Warning plates about 50 meters apart and
bearing the red insca't tias At try area off limits, step on
request" on a white 1iMkIpss two around the installations.
Parking was prohibieei i! t zss along the field, which were
permanently controlled by double s' Parts of the road along the
southeastern field border were ell tly i s tidy ,the level of the
field. Later on, the view from the Lent ,,i ad was also obstructed
by trees and bushes planted along the fisk border which was
about 5 km.longgand south of this read.. diftWA had been destroyed
during World War II and reconstruction did not start until 1950.
8onstruction was still under way in July 1954.
2. The landing field was covered srath sod. Its weetera section was graded,
sown with a clover-like herb, and subs queently rolled. There was apparently
a drainage system consisting of some ditches which flowed into a pond in
the southeastern section of the field. 2
No taxiways could be seen from the surrounding roads where the view was
obstructed by buildings. The runway extended from east to west and had
an estimated length of at least 2.5 km.and a width of 200 meters. The
surface of the runway seemed to be 1eyel. When thGrunway was lighted or
covered with rain, it seemed that t wift eenor'ete strip in the middle
was divided into 2 strips by a dark I
Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
 Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
with grass, which was 10 to 15 meters wide.3 At the western end of
the runway, a section about 80 meters long where the aircraft
presumably turned after landing, there was no grass center strip.4
At the eastern end of the runway was a small hill with a large
searchlight on top which illuminated the entire runway at night. 5
On both sides of the runway were lamps which radiated a sharp blue
light on the runway. During tight landings, all lights on the airfield
were switched off except for the runway lights, the searehlight,,and some
red obstacle lights on the surrounding buildings. 6
3.
The airfield was illuminated by bar-shaped lights on wooden masts
along the Louny-Chomutov road, inside of the airfield boundary. These
lamps,which radiated their light upwards,were only occasionally in
operation. No flight obstacles such as telephone or lid plea wed
placed in the vicinity of the field. All cables seemed to IN# d.
In 1952, a cable was laid about 1 meter underground near that inteiwet
of the Chomutov-Louny and Stankovice-Bitozeves roads.
A hangar, about 70 x 25 meters, was-located at the northeastern end of
the runway. It had a vaulted roof with camouflage paint and gray walls.
Another hangar which was considerably larger was located south of the
western end of the runway. This hangar seemed to be twice as large as
the first one. Its roof was also vaulted. East of this hangar was a
third hangar wits a vt5`d roofs which was also larger than the first
one but slightly smaller than the second In addition to these 3
hangars an underground' tagar was allege
elevation which could not be seen from
morning in May 1953, it was observed fro
about 200 jet aircraft were parked on about two th
:der a slight
about 0630 on a
Louny road that
a of the runway.
The aircraft were painted reddish brown, apparently a protective coating
of paint. Air activity was not intensified. On the evening of the ease
day, at about 2000, the aircraft were no longer seen on the runway-
?w-underground dispersal area for air
capacity of the military airfield
"Stufe I" (stage I). This designatio
in Slovakia with the same installati
5. Two large wooden barracks, at least 60 meters long., were located along
the Louny-Chomutov road opposite the airfield. A large number of soldiers
wearing blue air force uniforms were-repeatedly seen there. The two
buildings had an estimated capacity of about 500 men. Trucks occupied
by EM were seen leaving the former castle in Postoloprty (50 21 N/13 42 E),
and proceeding toward the field. The castle was guarded by an air-force
soldier. Additional buildings, presumably workshops, were located south
of the Chomutov-Louny road in the northeastern section of the field.
Since the doors of the buildings were located on the side facing the
airfield, no detailed observations could be made. One of the buildings
had a ramp where railroad cars and trucks were unloade,. Soldiers wearing
coveralls and handling crates were repeatedly seen ne -k a o her
workshops which presumably also housed storerooms. Faw'141`
tank cars were seen on a standard-gauge track which
Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
 Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
CONFIDENTIAL
6. Three or 4 trucks mounting machine tools, presumably mobile workshops,
were repeatedly seen at the eastern end of the runway near the aircraft
parked there. Soldiers were seen working on these vehicles."
There was a small motor vehicle repair shop for the vehicles at the
field. Three concrete aprons near the repair shop served as parking
place for the vehicles.
7.
8. In July 1954, 4 buildings were under construction on the northern edge
of the field. About 400 soldiers wearing khaki uniforms were employed
at the construction site. They daily arrived by track from Postol?prty,
where they were quartered in a former hotel. The new buildings
presumably housed the administrative offs which had previously been
apparently quartered in 2 wooden barrac~ ide of the field.
9. An occupied guardhouse and a two-leaf g by 2 sentries
wearing blue air-force uniforms and armed hine guns were
at the main entrance to the field. Additions dbouses were at the
southwestern side and in the northeastern cornet where no fence existed.
.An old building in the northwestern corner served as kenne]o and was
occupied by about 20 dogs that accompanied the double sentries on?the
roads arouhd the field. Four large earth bagkoss which partially
projected beyond the surface were located approxi i11y in the middle
of the northern edge of the field. The utiliz&*M of these bunkers was
not known. 12
aircraft were regularly parked at tKe eastern end of
to 8 prime movers were seen near the parked aircraft. Theses
movers towed the aircraft in elements of two to the take-off point
where they took off simultaneously. After t}a tsoff by 2 aiiroraft,
the next 2 planes were towed to the t ee-off point tQ#k off
although the other aircraft were still tt. Tbs
made in elements of two aircraft which topes grog
but at the same tim All of the aircraft were of
apparently MiG-15s
3.
There were apparently 2 refueling points at the field. In 1953, 10 to
15 large fuel containers, each about 3 meters in diameter, were stored
along the northern side of the runway. After some time, the containers
disappeared and presumably were dug in on the field.
Comment. The reported location of Zatec airfield has previously
been confirmed. For layout sketch of airfield, see Annex.
Comment. Additional drainage pipes flow into the Chomutovka
Raver north of the field.
Comment. The reported length of the runway is correct, while
the width is overrated. The taxiway parallel to the runway was
probably confused with the runway.
CONFIDENTIAL'
Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
 Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
Comment. The same concrete apron was also located at the
eastern edge of the field. The two aprons are not located along the
runway but along the northern taxiway which extends toward the
runway.
omment. The searchlight is presumably located slightly toward
7.
the side of the runway and is not in line with the runway.
Comment. These observations are believed to be correct.
Comment. According to other reports, the western hangars
are located north of the runway and the eastern hangar south of the
runway.
Comment. Similar installations have been described in unconfirmed
statements. It is possible that the. installationa'6onfused with newly
established revetments.
Comment. This observation cannot be explained. It is believed
that 80 to 90 MiG-15s belonging to 2 or 3 fighter regiments were
stationed at the field.
Comment. Similar unconfirmed observations were made at Kosice
Barka (48 41 N/21 16 E) airfield.
Comment. This information h been received several times.
c`ommen't. The statements on the buildings at Zatec atrf"te
partially agree with previous rep_ . Most of the buildings have
been reported several times.
CONFIDENTIAL - 1L.;s.- T c nit y
Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
 Zatec Airfield
Approved For Release 2008/04/17: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006600560005-6
P~. l
:TES L:: /( Fill
25X1
aT