CHEMICAL WARFARE EQUIPMENT AND TRAINING

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00046R000500320008-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 11
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 17, 2009
• Sequence Number: 8
• Publication Date: October 26, 1955
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
This material contains information affecting the National Defense of the United States within the meaning of the Espionage Laws, Title
18, U.S.C. Sees. 703 and 704, the transmission or revelation of which in any manner to an unauthorised person is prohibited by law,
C-O-N-P-I-D-E-N T-I-A-L
COUNTRY Cmechoelorrakia
DATE OF INFO,
PLACE ACQUIRED
DATE ACQUIRED
Chemical Warfare Equipment
and Training
REPORT
DATE DISTR.
NO. OF PAGES
REQUIREMENT
REFERENCES
26 October 1955
11
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ARMY review completed.
C-O-N F-I-D-E-N-T-I4.L
STATE
Fx-
i&
AIR FBI A!C
(Nalsi Washington dl,trlbutlon Indicated by "PI Field distribution by "#".)
INFORMATION ^ t ^ ^ ^
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CONFIDENTIAL
COUNTRY Czeahoslovokia
SUBJECT Chemical Warfare Equipment and Training
DATE OF INFORMATION
PLACE ACQUIRED
THII It UNIVALUATIO INFORMATION
NQUIP T
Allured NeCaeeheeleyA k Ga^ hta.le
REPORT
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DATE DISTR. 26 8:t. 1955
NO. OF PAGES 10
REFERENCES:
All of the units stationed at miada Airfie ?re
issued the alma mat sk in or ebo t September, when it
being worn durin
h
g
e monthly oheeioal alert ( e o y oplaoh).1
2. Pacepiece: The facepiece was light brown (tan), had a smooth
finish and was hood type with two plain glass eyeppieces. The
exterior outlet valve was black antic reotan alas w#,th plastic
bars to protect th
di
h
e
ap
ragm
.' .. ___--
two centimeteri hush. 1 -r% cm w d
e
ho
se connected to the racepiece, but Ilid c t_..
the interior of the connection was 1
e. the
eyepiece would fog in cold weather but alwarea when a r was in-
haled.
.991MAXPLA
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containing paper poison gas detecting blocks were stored in one
of the wooden boxes containing the chemical warfare combat alert
equipment (See page 7) .
lg. Gas Detecting Powder: Once during'regular warfare training at
Miada Airfield shown a container about 50 to 60 em.
.1ong, which was circular in shape and approximately 20 cm. In
diameter. About 10 am. of the lower end of this container were
shaped into a funnel. This funnel had openings patterned after
an ordinary water can sprinkler to dispense the enclosed powder.
The entire container was painted OD and was Drovided with -a webbed
handle at the toff
The powder stored in this 25X1
container was rose in color be wean oran a and red) and, as
the instructor explained, it would be sprinkled on a suspected
contaminated area by one of the members of the chemical warfare 25X1
anad. Upon contact with poison gas it would change into an
u own but different color. One such container was enolos d
In oat of the wooden boxes containing the chemical warfare combat
alert equipment.
20, Chemical Warfare First-Aid Kiti Members of unit were 25X1
not issued any chemical warfare first-aid kits but during one
chemical warfare class, Lt. Oiglan mentioned that every man
would be Issued one upon arrival at Xlada Air;iesd. This ship-
MJ&M& YAK
ablr3alioed 25X1
Storage of Chem eat Warfare Items
At Battalion Supply Area:
Beside the five wooden boxes containing "combat alert"equip-
sent the following items stored in their battalion 25X1
sheaLool warfare supply area on an open shelf: about 00 new
gas milks same type as those issued to all Xlada Airfield
personnel) and about 400 - 500 filters; a silver-eolered metal
container (cylindrically skated) equip ed with one web handle
on each side, In this container was what appeared 25X1
to be a ready mixed Lime and about five s'llver-colored sylind-
rioal metal cans w out an aription and of about a five
liter capacity. these Gans contained material
for decontamination of weapons.
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Next to the chemical warfare supply room, in an open shed,
were stored approximately 40 to 50 metal drums, approximately
60 on. tall and 30 on* in diameter. These drums we a reddish-
brown in color. The had small an an tbW2zh8-12T.= it
sides*
ig.Lan e on one occasion at they contained 25X1
smoke so d (kyialinv dymova).
o. Approximately once a month, five or six Messerschaidt 109 25X1
airplanes of the 6th Fi hter Regiment, Mleda Airfield, practiced
screening their Airfiel firing range, aoaonly referred to
as "leteoka atrelnioeft
The smoke screenin
i
l
.
exerc
se
asted,
usually, halt a day, when airplanes
predetermined
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members of chemical squad of the 22nd Airfield Battalion
to service these planes with the smoke acid. The remake said
was carried in cigar-shaped containers underneath the wings.4
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'The .nine:. of the mask - was marked undbr the chin, the figgres being,
within a.circle on the left side. The sizes were 1.5, 2, 3 and ,
1.5.,.being the smallest and 4 the largest. The face also had.a
alight. nose : protrusion and a .raised portion for , the ear.
Hoses The hose was of corrugated black rubber and one meter long.
The,.end which coupled to the canister had a female coupling with
raised portions for tightening the, connection. The coupling was
.,made ot.dark-oolored strong plastic. The hose connected to the
facepisee with a steel band. Its diameter was 3.5 one
4. Canisters The canister was round, of dark green metal (tin),
,approximately 10 cm, high and 13 cm. in diameter. The inlet
opining was on the bottom of the canister and was-sealed with
tape when not in use. The outlet opening in the to of the
canister was unscrewed from the hose and cover with a as
The service life of the canister was not known
canister had a. mechanical filter consisting of tubes of silver,
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different tube function 25X1
had seen the bisected model in the classroom and know that air
J essed through the tubes, but the actual flow of air was uown1
he instructor stated during Instruction that the canister was
made i~o where in 0sseehOslovakia- (exact location unknown .. 25X1
would filter ore biological particles, according o the instructor.
Gas Mask Carriers The sorrier was ray-green in color and made of
strong, treated waterproof linen. It an 13 wide, 20 no
long,' and 25 em* high. The material was stiffened cm. sloth strong
enough to keep its shape similar to the ease of the U'8 telen
phone. The carrier had two large compartments for carrying the
Res piece and canister, the canister compartment bein slightl
larger, Two canisters could be carried in this compartments The
other large compartment was for the facepieee and hose` There
was also space in the carrier for a protective cape, The cover
was flexible and equipped with a snap to secure it The carrying
stre was five centimeters wide with ends sewn to the carrier. Its
length was adjusted by means of a buckle, The waist strip was 1.5
cm. wide and consisted of two pieces tied together to keep the
carrier close to the side. (For a sketch of the new pro-
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.)
tective mask carrier, see Enclosure
Protective Care
When the new gas masks were issued in September 1954
IN of
,
battalion were also issued new oroteative canna f"lasts"tr.1 : -tha
some TWet krn1.s arvioie was or t>rse standard issue type, which 25X1
unused.)
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had also been issued earlier at Dolny Eubin, and appeared
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q. The protective cape was made from a stiff, impregnated, paper-like
-material,very black green in colors fire resistant (oddolma ohfi).
but ..smelling like paraffin., It was a flat sheet about 2 w..1..5 a.
9."'
in size which could be folded-, into a small pucka a about too nano
.nine as the carrier but only one inch-thick. instructor
RPol% Kub in stated that it would protect the wearer from a
ame-rower at distances of 50 a. or more*
During basic training in Dolny Kubin, pilot cadets were.taught
.,.how. to roll and,get under the cape. They were also told that
if neee.sss y they oo*ld tear it in half and wrap their legs with
it to walk through an area gassed with dew gas#
i~oao~ataain&tion duct
rubber decontamination suits twice at Nlada, during
regular chemical warfare weekly instruction glass. One such suit
wa,s.first donned by the instructor himself, Lt. Oiglan. This he
donned over hi regular uniform trousers nd shirt. Later three
to four other selected from the class (not members of the
chemical squad had to pu them on and try to walk in them a
distance of about 15 at We page Yi, for a sketch of the suits),
These rubber suits were one-piece types, Including boots. Rubber
cloys of fire finer type reaching up to the glbow were put on
s? Drat lyre Draw strings were provi ad at the turtle neck
to about seven centimeters hi h), at the end of the sleewa,
around ? he waist and above the ankles. In bask of the suit there
was an opining from the neck down to about the waist. The upper
half of this opening was provided with buttons, while the lower
half had open-eye hooks for laeee. The entire length of the
epenin , reek to waist, was overt pped by a rubber flap. =ve
^an had to be assisted in donninsjhis rubber suit.
.11.
c stimated 1 s weight at about four kilograms. It was made
of grey-blue rubber about two to three millimeters thick, with a
g07 canvas lining. 0 did not believe it was treated with any
special chemical, sines it did not hays any peculiar odor is it.
Ni did: not notice any possible additional liters or other special
equipment as part of theme suits.
.12. The regular gas mask was used with these rubber suits.
Decontamination Truck
In .the summer of 1954 a now decontamination truck was assigned
VoOks would hold approximately-3,00 to 4,000 liters of some fiuid
This truck, according to Lt. Ciglan, was to be o orate .am
maintained by their chemical-warfare squad". It had three axles`,
two rear and one front. The two rear.exles.had dual wheels. The
body consisted of drivers cab, puss, hose and two tanks. Its
t were s also OD in color
the truck according to Lt. Cig an it, was o
e need for deeon sa na ono terrain.
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14. During one"of the chemical warfare, classes, Lt. Ciglan.mentioned
that they .: -i ere ' going to have one demonstration on the use of this
new truck .in the fall of 1 a
Chemical:. Warfare. "Combat Alert" Sauiflment
.approxia tit 150 x 60 x 30 cm. The contents were indicated
ba the top of these boxes b printed letters of red paint. The
boxes themselves were kept in the unit's chemical warfare area.
_ ~~?wr...w..~ ..w- ~vwr.ww Or7~1111 iH j1woulb Was is
about, fire tar 9- wooden unpainted box.af iaoh of which was
an_o?portunity to see the o9ntents of three of these
~- ..w w.~- n. n i tl ? ? 1~ ?Nt~ 'M
everohe at ~tladt Airfield and extra protee ve capes.. Us
second box contained four rubber s its for use during
?eoatas~ioatien
of :galls as as well as about 40 chemical fl s (ehemiske
pals orgy) ems to mark off a contaminated area. 1 ?
b It bed number of rubber suits per unit was unknown
The thirU box contained paper gas detector blocks on
for decontamination of weapons and terrain.
final Flags (Ohsmt ara'aarft..1
ITS
J. starts of these flags were
made of thick wire rodo o inted red an4 pointed on the lower end
as an aid to posting. They were about 50 cm, long. It was
possible to insert one "chemical flag staff on top of a .,her,
in case an . area with a lot,: of-'busheh _~tml asa~, wa 1n
order to make the flags more visible. Th~a s attached to
these wire staffs were made of st ff canvas and were approximately
15 x 15 0ms in sine. (bee page 10)* They were of two colors,
red and yellow each one having a Grossed skull and bones in black
P~'~ meted an thm
Only red flags were used in t e
desanstraion The purpose of thil demonstration
was to familiarise troops in the employment of chemical flags"
with instructions to stay out of an area thus marked. No particular
type of war gas wa^ mentioned.
Other Eauinment Items
18. Paper Gas Detectors: The chemical squads, according to the
chemical warfare instructor at Mlada Airfield, generally had
had several aids in detecting contaminated areas. These were
detecting paper blocks (deteoni bloky) and dot Tcting-powder
(deteoni rasek , The oke
papers presumably litmus
were pieces of paper
approx e y x cm. in size, About 30 pieces of such paper
were bound in a booklet, from which they were torn out as nioded.
This paper would change color upon contact with poison gas, and
with the aid of a chart poison agents would be identified according
to the color it chan ed to. The were in two ae arses colors
red and blue.
The blocks
111
O ie detector paper were stored in a wooden box painted grey
and approximately 40 x 30 x 15 cm. In size. The box was also
equipped with a carrying strap to enable a member of the chemical
squad to carry it suspended in front of his chest. Two such boxes
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22. At Billet Areas:
The, airmen at Mlada Airfield stored their assigned protective
aa;sks.in the weapons racks located in the hallway of their billets.
and near the squad rooms. Everyone kept his assigned SRO as well
as hisgas nick in these racks. The masks were onl placed on the
open-rack shelf' underneath the individual's weapon (dame plates
being provided), while the BMG's were secured and looked by means
of a long rod running through the trigger guards. A Qt-hour guard
of these racks was maintained by the company Cq, who had his desk
'located at one end of the hallway.
TRAINING
- -
23~? Classroom Trainings 12 hours of chemical warfare training
or week during basine. Mining while stationed at Doluy bin from
Osbobor to Deosaber l9 The as mask was carried twwiee a week
during basic training hours. The instructor was the chemical officer
of the staff. Approximately two-thirds of the time was spent on
shtkioal agents, pprotieotire measures and as mask drill. Chemical
swats were identified by color, odor, and physical effee s The
other third was Mst an araatlsal MR k in the field. 0heaisel
walpfare olaaaeg never included eiriltans,
slither at aolny u n nor at any other subsequent assignments
and, losabions.
2e.. Exercises and Deaonstratignss Open-air chemical ozero *Its were
held both at .Dole Min November 1959) and at Mlada A ust 195+0.
Aesording to the instructor phosgene gas was used. In both
exercises five out of 30 individuals were hospitalized from three
to tive days and everyone complained of headaches. Old 9eraan gam
marks ware used in the exorcise. The phosgene gas was disseminated
b burning from a container appre2ikatcl I9 an hi i? a ill
6 9
dim*eter 04d. dark green colors The disseminatio
n OF phoat"a 25X1
gas was started b li hting with a match the ignitor with, which the
sonteiner was equ of and which was located ea, the top severs 25X1
Within 10 seconds ke started to massas an
st strroundiA areas 25X1
p r a a spray a o- rsvim
of liui. Limo and water were aged
er spraying a pith a ra a we
the soil No gas chamber exercises were held
25. Theory of Gases:
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ow ng classes of war gases.
least.two chemical agents:
Tear San (slzotvorny)
Choking gas (dusivy):
Phosgene
Dipho egene
there were the
each class had at
Uses and Charaeteristie:s
Spoke dark yellow when coming from
container but white when dispersed.
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. s -gas (dynovy)
Lung;.irritants (drozuivy)
Foiaon, gas (otravny)
Nerve gas (nervovy)
At dada Airfield
R60
Used for cover -and concealment. Dark
red used for identification.
Carbon monoxide was one type*
other parta of the body* No statements
were made during training as to which
powers, including Czechoslovakia,
possessed this gas.
fe pally brain tissues and paralyzed
he Wrain but it could also affect
recalled that nerve- -gas affected
the 22nd Airfiel Battalion at 25X1
klads :ALrf eld from stobor 1953 to aoeesber l S*, shemisal training
was .coeds ed by the unit ehesi al warfare s
service , Lt.
O is
never made any references to special chemical war are
toupees he say hive attended, but x Illiffift sent
chnto*S eogrse he had attended
25X1
*r. Periodic Training:
a. tai 7a Oh sat warfare training was sondusted before work
d
r
o
y from 0510 to 0900 hours except on laturdays and Sunda3r s.
WV At throgh one of the to loving eaereises1 marching with
4,40=04 as musk, donning and removing the gas casks dry
irS SMQ with gas milk on, or the use of the protective gape
( plaeska) .
Week1~r : Aside from the daily 45 minute chemical warfave
tra.ini to
25X1
_VAzrQ or s a em ea rani was devo od:to idinti~g
she :sal agents, first aid and self first aide the other .
third.a were devoted to field problems and protective mask
drill (time for putting mask on was 12 seconds). All instruction
was attended only by litary personnel.
Monthl i Ones a month, a class lasting about three hours was 25X1
conducted on decontamination of weapons and terrain. For
deeontastaa.tion of weapons, a white, vaseline-tyyppe grease of
unknown composition, which ease in five-liter metal containers
was applied to weapons with a brush. Then it was wiped off
with rage, which were subsequently buried* After the weapons
were wiped off, an oily liquid was anfllied with a b ah-
Liamonsirallon personnel wore rubber apron and
28. Chemical, Warfare Alerts:
A.. From July 1950 a
oheaiesi alert ahemisky poplash) was held at Nlada Airfield
approximately once a month. This exercise was not carried out
on a certain designated date but irregularly, When such a
chemical Pert was called, (originating headquarters unknown
, the-various sections where Made Airfield personnel
worked, or were quartered, were notified by telephone.
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..:. _ 8
b. The alert generally began at 0815 hovers and ended at noon..
Everyone including pilots and officers was obliged to wear
mask over his face and carry on normal duties, in-
the use of telephones. The proper wear of protective
ass a Was checked by the battalion commander, one of the Air-
-field staff officers and the regimental and battalion political
officers.
a. The CW "combat alert" supplies were loaded into a Skoda three-
000 capacity, two-axle, truck. There was a designated`truek
which poked up the chemical warfare supplies, and its assigned
driver member of the Transportation unitt) always a-410matiaally
drove it to the chemical warfare supply area during combat
alert" exercises.
d. After loading of the truck, the unit chemical officer and his
assistant, with the members of the chemical squad mounted the
truck carrying their field equipment and joined tie other trucks
which comprised the "combat alert" convey.
a. About 20 vehicles made up the convoy. Each unit stationed at
M
"
"
lade Airfield held their
combat alert
separately, on different
days, never in conjunction with some other unit. in the majority
of oases, Skoda three-ton capacity, two-axle trucks were used.
Drivers of these vehicles were member of unit's
trans-
portation section.
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29? Decontamination Exercise:
Generally only one of the following weapons were used in weapons,
demonstrating decontamination: a pistol, NO LKG or a RIG.
These weapons were assigned to unit.6 Training methods 25X1
Mire is follows. first the chemical warfare instructor would
demonstrate the procedure for decontaminating the weapon used in
demonstration. After that, several IN were called out individually
to repeat the entire process. This exercise was carried out only
to familiarise EK with the procedure] but in actual combat
according to Lt. Ciglan, there would be a designated location some
where in a rear area where contaminated weapons would be deson-
taninated by a special crew not further defined.
30. Gas Chamber Exercises#
unit went through a gas chamber exercise (pl ova kotoi+al 25X1
some c in August 195. There was a ermanent as ombar i?aated
at their airfield. It was a wooden buildi , approximately 7 a 5 m.
airfield, size and located near the wooded area wh
ah nartly surrounded th!
from conversation with 25X1
n v ua s had to remain a certain
length of time in the gas chamber with protective masks donned.
Time limit for this was unknown He heard that all
airfield units went through the some exercise during August 1954, 25X1
Ri..# UX-WiC0 lVGU4L .
31. Chemical Warfare Squad:
The 22nd Airfield Battalion had an eight-man chemical warfare squad,
.the'membere of which received an additional one to two hours of
,chemical warfare training each week. This was given personally by
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the chemical warfare officer and consisted of a repetition of
maaterial 4wered during the normal weekly chemical warfare
instruction for all personnel.
Enclosures Alleged New Czechoslovak Gas Mask and Gas Mark Carrier
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Q : Thin "smoke acid" was probably ferroxe 25X1
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10
of the Chemioe
Rubber Deoontamination Suit
metal container used for dia-
seminatio of war-gas detecting
ponder. ?The bottom opening was
provided with a separate clamp-
on type metal cover, and was
Covered when not in use,)
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