PLOVDIV AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP81-01043R002500230015-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 6
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: November 1, 2013
• Sequence Number: 15
• Publication Date: September 3, 1958
• Content Type: REPORT

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release
50-Yr 2013/11/01: CIA-RDP81-01043R002500230015-9
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws,
Title
X1
18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited by k
3 September 1958
50X1-HUM
Plovdiv airfield is located in the southeastern outskirts of Plovdiv,
and on the northeast side of the PlovdivenAsenargrad hi.ghwazr. It is
bounded 'oy the Plovdiv bicycle racing grounds on the northwest and
by the Aleksandur Stamboliysici. State farm on the southeast. An
irrigation ditch runs from the airfield to the fa.rm. The airfield
extends approximately 1,500 meters along the PlovdivmAsenpvgrad
highway and is 19200 to 3.1)300 meters deep.
and
Planes
The runway is covered with grass and extends from northwest to southeast.
Jets never land here and the planes always take-off and land along the
northwest diagonal of the field. The runway has no dr 'nage system
and after heavy rains the eastern part of the runway is covered with
water and mud which makes it 'pract,ically useless.
50X1-HUM
At the begimniti, of 3.958 the following planes were at the airfield:
30 to 5 BEAST and COACH ipianabelonging to the Attack Bomber
Regiment stationed at the airfield.
Approximately 20 propeller planes of
types.
e. Five to six gliders belongin,to the Dobrovolna Organizatsiya za
Sudeistvie na Otbroa (DOSO
ST
(Note: asnington
NAVY
ribution indicated by "X"; Field distribution by "#".)
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @50-Yr 2013/11/01 :
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @50-Yr. 2013/11/01: CIA-RDP81-01043R002500230015-9
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There aro no 1?0i-ices around the fielde Along the Plovdiv-Asenovgad
higiway at the southwest side of the field there is a thick hedgee
Guards are stationed at the following places on the field:
at One guard at the main entrance on the road from the Plovdiv.
Asenwtrad higlexuay tatt the southwest side of the field. The gate
over the road has two le-rge doors for vehicles and one smaller
door for pedestrian
Guardhouse beside the entrance to the plane repair shop which is
southeast of the main entraae6 double
gate. off Plovalfrilisenovgrad
w
hi aye This egbrairoe as a do
stitetst
guard
The water for the field
buildings, 12 x 6 tors
from the Plain eritran?.
Atta.91...m.t3_,:ker Division
In early tratty. 1958 Plovc
of art at:tacIbober div
of triTO battaliori,2 id
subordinate to the ?ac
th6side tha tack 4ortsl-orie
ae Division Headquartez x 10 meters in s,
vthich is on the 'iwt
tower on the
Three hangars
bombee reginent re
Offices of the attack 'bombe; regiment are located in two two-
,
stay, brick builcisni gs9:,.ICvz 6meter2 in vizi, on the east 'Side
the road. One of these has to. weather statin on the roof
, ?
The barracks? mess halls, dispensary, clubs and 'athletic goundz
of the division and its subsidiary units are located on the vest
sicve of the ro-
The Supply Battalion a.s located, in a one-story lavick building; 120 3c
200 meters in sizes, Ithici2 has a 1.arge inside yard and is -locatod at
the northeastern end of the field.
Declassified in Part -Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/11/01: CIA-RDP81-01043R002500230015-9
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy A proved for Release ? 50-Yr 2013/11/01: CIA-RDP8
,/??, ?
1-01043R002500230015-9
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50X1
The plane repair shop is located in a hangar, 20 x 10 meters in
size, in the southern corner of the field nem the garaee for motor
vehicles. Next? to it is an installation for checking plane engines
and workshops in a building, 12 x 6 nyaters in sizes The repair shop
can handle minor repairs of propeller planes and engines.
The radio installations of the field trite in a onemstory brick building,
8 x I meters in size. Several antennas are on the roof of the builditl-4,
'which is located in the northeast section of the field.
DC60 and TABSO Facilities
The DOSO and TABSO facilities are located around the main entrance to
the airfield as follows:
TABSO offices in a building next to and southeast of the main
entrance? A weather station is on the roof of the building.
DSO hangars with 20 propeller planes aryl rive to six gliders,
northeast of the main entrance along the airfield. road.
e. Restaurant for civilian members of TAITiO and TAM? waiting non
in a building next to and nerthwest of the main entran.ce.
d. Apartment house for airfield personna in a building next to and
nortimest of Tiinqn res?erwrant.
Planned Deactivation of Attack Bober Division
In connection v.iith the overa4 recluction of the Bulgarian Armed Forces
Voich was announced at the beginning of the summer of l958il. Bpsaiii
order was issued at the en4 of June 1958 covering the deactivation of
the Attack Baler Division./ 'which would be ccapletpd..17 15 P4teiaber
3058 and consist of the following:.
a. Deactivation of all Air Force units at Plovdiv airfield. .
b.
transfer to other airfields.
c. Juwiling of all Air Force planes at Plovdiv airfield.
d. Transfer of all Air Force buildings to DOW, TABSO and Vasil
Kolervir AgrIcultural Unkversity in Plovdiv.
Dismissal of all Air Force personnel at Plovdiv airfield or
Conments:
1. TABSO plaaes on:17 transit this field and no planes Istre imminently
based here.
30
The other battalion of the attack bomber regiment is sta4ioned at
Levskigrad Airfield.
Comment: the planned reduction of
the Bulgarian Aimed Forces would not take place because of the
Middle East situation.
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50X1 -HUM
attachment to this report is a sketch 50x1-HUM
of PlaTdiv airfield with an attacned legend.
Distribution of Attachment
AB - Loan
Army - Loan
50X1 -HUM
50X1 -HUM
C-O-N-F-I-D-E N-T-I-A-L
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/11/01 : CIA-RDP81-01043R002500230015-9
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 50-Yr 2013/11/01 : CIA-RDP81-01043R002500230015-9
LEGEND TO SKETCH OF.PLOVDIV:.AIRFIELD
1. Plovdiv-Asenovgrad highway.
2. Plovdiv bicycle racing grounds.
Aleksandur Stamboliyski State Farm.
Irrigation canal.
.1- C.' 1 ? "I
D 01-triadi *ell 0 the gar 1 C1 U.;
6. Hedge.
7. Main entrance; gate with two big doors for vehicles and a
smaller one for pedestrians.
8. Sentry at the main entrance.
9. Decorative water pool.
10. Restaurant for the civilian asseners TA3S0 used also.as
waiting rooms.
? 1], Apartment house used by the personnel staff of the airfield.
12. Of2ices of the TABSO with a weather station on the roof.
13. Area where the Civil Transport planes stop for taking on
passengers.
14. Entrance for the airplane repair shop, with a double gate.
15. Guardhouse.
16. Airplane repair shop (hangar).
17. Workshops of the repair shop.
18. Installation for checking the engines.
19. Entrance for the garage.
20. Garage for motac vehicles.
21. Runway.
22. Playground.
23. Former railroad
24. Old hangar; now
25. Hangar; used by
26. Hangars used by
27. Two-story brick
a weather station on the roof.
28. Two-story brick building used for offices of the Regiment.
29. TrIQ of the Attack Bomber Division.
30. Two-story brick building with dark yellow walls and red tile roof.
The first floor is used for soldierst dining mess and the second
one for pilotst restaurant and club.
? 31. Soldiers' dormitories; two-story brick building.
32. Hospital and medical service; one-story brick building.
33. Nater supply system; well, pump and reservoir.
34. Supply Battalion; one-story brick building with a large inside
yard.
35. Guard House.
36. POLts.
37. Radio installations.
50X1
41.1nre i no fence.
line; now only the embarament exists.
a guard house and garage, for motor vehicl-
es.
the DOSO...
the Attabk Bomber Regiment.
building used for officeb of the Regiment. It has
AA'
Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release @ 50-Yr 2013/11/01: CIA-RDP81-01043R002500230015-9