FINSTERWALDE AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A006900630008-2
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 21, 2016
• Sequence Number: 8
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006900630008-2
COUNTRY
TOPIC
CLAMF"TtON SECRET
East Germany
Finsterwalde Airfield
EVALUATION I P1 &-W D.
DATE OF CONTENT
DATE OBTAINED
REFERENCES
PAm 2 ENCLOSURES (NO. & )
RED
REPORT
PREPARED 28 April 1955
of the western and of the runway. Between 1600 and 1700 on 14 March, no
ty was ob ar traffic at the field included truck
and sedan 25X1
Air y was discontinued at .
a rue with a rod antenna about 7 meters high was parked south
remained aloft for about 5 minutes.
continuously took off and landed at, intervals of c +? in =iv.,,+__ _..a
1. Air activity
At 1200 on 25 February 1955, air activity was observed at Finsterwalde 25X1
airfield. There was sunny weather and good visibility. Three MiG-15s
made local flights at an altitude of about 1,500 meters. The aircraft
2. Dabern firing range 25X1
Soviet 4ir force troops practiced firing over Dabern firing range on
22 January 1955, for the first time since September 1954. Between 1200
and 1600, MiG-15 aircraft individually approached from the east to the
west. There was clear visibility and a slightly overcast sky. The aircri25X1
came from and returned in the direction of Finsterwalde. They approacheu
the field 4 to 8 times at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,000 meters, dived
down to about 400 meters at an angle of about 45 degrees and gave up to
3 bursts of fire each time. Some aircraft dived down to 100 or 150 meters,
then pulled out of. dive climbed to the former altitude and subsequentl)t25X1
made another approach.
During the noon and afternoon hours on 4. and 12 Februar. , similar
practice flights were made by MiG-15s. Between 1000 and 1635 on 11 March,
there was practice flying by MiG-15s which again came from and departed
in the direction of Finsterwalde. The same practice flights were made
as previously observed. Most of the MiG-15s directly approached the firing
range while other aircraft circled over the field several time before diving.
It seemed that the pilots of the latter aircraft had to become familiar
with the area before beginning firing practices. The following number of
aircraft approached between 1500 and 1635:
3 between 1500 and 1515
2 " 1520 " 1535
3 of 1600 " 1615
1 " 1620 " 1635
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Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006900630008-2
 Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006900630008-2
Each MiG-15 dived 8 times during the periods mentioned.
Between 1000 and 1400 on 12 March, the same practice flights were made
as on 11 March. The weather was favorable. The following approaches and
dives were observed:
3
aircraft approached between 1220 and 1235, each aircraft dived 8 times
1
of with one dive at 1300
1
it "
8 dives between 1312 and 1327
1
it "
4 " 1332 It 1341
At 1400, air activity wad discontinued. At 1600, van-like trukk
occupied by 1 officer and 4 IN wearing black-bordered blue epaulets left
Dabern firing range and moved toward Finsterwalde.
On 14 and 15 March, no practice flights were made. On the latter day,
about 20 soldiers worked on the target mmrkinge on the firing range. The
targets presumably had to be newly arranged because of thaw.
During the practice flights by MiG-15s over Dabern firing range on 12 March,
20 MiG-158 flying in small wedge formations crossed over Dabern area at
an altitude of about 2,000 meters. There were large intervals between the
individual formations. The 20 MiG-15s wwre notlconnected with the aircraft
which practiced firing over the firing range.
3. Motor vehicle column
At about 1300 on 25 February, a column of 19 trucks towing AA guns and 3
sedans parked on the market place in 9onnenwalde. The vehicles were en
route to Fnsterwalde.
(Comment. The reported air activity at Finsterwalde airfield and
over the Dabern firing range was by MiG-15s of the GA Regt Brandin.
Comment. Presumably an AA unit from Finsterwalde airfield.
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
25X1
Approved For Release 2008/04/18: CIA-RDP80-0081 OA006900630008-2