1. MANEUVERS IN THE SOFIA AREA 2. AIRCRAFT AT THE VRAZHDEBNA AIRFIELD

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R015300360001-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 22, 2016
• Document Release Date: February 14, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: December 4, 1952
• Content Type: REPORT

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/14: CIA-RDP82-00457R015300360001-6 0CP
FEB 1952 51-4AA
ipw
CLASSIFICATION
COUNTRY Bulgaria
SUBJECT
DATE OF
INFO.
PLACE
ACQUIRED
SECRET/CONTROL U,S0 OFFICIALS ONLY
SECURITY INFOR :TION
INFORMATION
4
ERr
1a Maneuvers in the Sofia Area
2. Aircraft at the Vrazhdebna Airfield
THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS INFORMATION AFFECTING THE NATIONAL DEFENSE
OF THE UNITED STATES, WITHIN THE MEANING OF TITLE 18, SECTIONS 793
AND 794, OF THE U.S. CODE, AS AMENDED. ITS TRANSMISSION OR REVE-
LATION OF ITS CONTENTS TO OR RECEIPT BY AN UNAUTHORIZED PERSON IS
3? On Saturday, 1 November 1952, there were definite signs that the maneuvers
which started in Tr_i.d-October in the Vakarel (N1j233 E2343) area, southeast
of Sofia, and which involved the recall of an estimated 10,000 to 36,000
reservists from the Sofia area, had been concluded,
2. On the afternoon of 1. November :9529 approximately 30 flat=cars loaded with
military equipment were observed standing on the siding at Gara Kostenets
Banya (N4218 E2352). These flat cars were loaded as follows.,
ao Approximately 10 cars each carrying two tractors requisitioned from
the MTS (Mashino Traktorna Stantsiya9 Machine Tractor Station);
b0 Five cars each carrying two light field guns of prewar make; and
co The remainder, loaded with horse-drawn transport.
Each railway car had a number of troops wearing black service insignia.
3. On 1 November 1952, a large tent camp was observed in the area between
Zvenichevo (N4211 E2414) and Pazardzhik (N4211 E21.19), on both sides of
the Maritsa River. This camp was allegedly occupied by at least 1,000
troops. A considerable number of civilian horse-dram vehicles were
observed moving between Pazardzhik and the camp site and carrying soidiers?
personal equipment.
40
On 2 November 19529 motor transport and unidentified artillery columns
were observed moving between Ikhtiman (N4226 E2348), and Novi Khan
(N4236 E2336)0
CLASSIFICATION
Ell
SECRET/CONTROL U0S0 OFFICIALS ONLY
REPORT
CD NO.
DATE DISTR. .)4 December 1952
NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.
(LISTED BELOW)
SUPPLEMENT TO
REPORT NO.
THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
II
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/14: CIA-RDP82-00457R015300360001-6
DO NOT CIRCULATE
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/14: CIA-RDP82-00457R015300360001-6
SECRET/CONTROL ?= U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY
O On 26 October l9 2, over 20 aircraft,,, most of them YAK-9s, were observed
parked in front of the Bulgarian Air Force buildings or. the northern
boundary of the Sofia Vrazhdebra Airfield. These aircraft were parked
lase together and covered with camouflage netting. On ? November 11
on.ly approximately six planes were observed at this :.ocatior e
SECRET/CONTROL - U . S a OFFICIALS ONLY
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/02/14: CIA-RDP82-00457R015300360001-6