THE AIRFIELD AT CRAIOVA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00247A001500310003-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: December 27, 2016
• Document Release Date: January 9, 2014
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: August 10, 1964
• Content Type: REPORT

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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/09: CIA-RDP80-00247A001500310003-7
5EUREI
FOIEGI'l !ESN
COUNTRY
SUBJECT
: Rumania
: The Airfield at Craiova
1. The Craiova airfield was situated about four or five kilometers from
town on the northern side of the Bucharest-Craiova highway. It had
been used by the Rumanian Air Force and by the headquarters and sub-
ordinate units of a jet aircraft division (divizie reactiva). The
601st Services Battalion and the 277th Regiment were stationed at
Craiova.
2. The field's only takeoff-landing runway was that parallel to and
about 600-700 meters from the highway. This concrete runway was
about 60 meters wide and about 2000 meters long; it was not long
enough for use by MIG-19s. A tali strip (prista de roda), about
30 meters wide, was parallel to the main runway, and a parking apron
capable of accommodating 40 aircraft was situated beside the runway.
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3. The fuel depot was situated at the southeastern end of the runways
in a fenced area, which was approached by a spur line for unloading
fuel supplies. Although the storage tanks were sunk into the
ground and covered with earth, they were recognizable. Fbur or five
two-inch pipes led from the depot to the eastern end of the taxi
strip, alloying four aircraft to be refueled simultaneously. Two
cistern trucks were also used for refueling aircraft.
4. The field's ammunition dump was situated about 800 meters north of
the runways in a fenced, wooded area, which contained a number of
bunkers and buildings surrounded by earth revetments. Trucks trans-
ported the ammunition from the dump to the hangars, where the air-
craft were armed. A wall used for shooting practice from aircraft
was situated about 600 meters from the eastern end of the runways.
5. The field's radar equipment was mounted on three trucks stationed
between the runways and the ammunition dump. The field was not
equipped for blind landings. Radio communication between ground
and air was controlled from a Zebra truck) which was permanently
stationed between the takeoff runway and the taxi strip. A second
van beside the Zebra truck was used as a briefing room for pilots.
6. The runway was illuminated on both sides by low, white landing
lights, which were five or six meters apart. These lights were
electrical) but had formerly been operated by gas. There were three
white floodlights at each end of the runway, of which two were by
the takeoff and one was by the training runway. The field's lighting
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syatem also included a revolving red and blue lamp on top of a
water tower, which was beside the southern edge of the runway. This
revolving lamp was used only during landings.
7. Aircraft were kept on alert for emergencies (celula de alarma) in an
area at the western end of the runways. The pilots of these aircraft
slept in a small building about 60-80 meters from the planes, which
were uncovered in almost all weather conditions. The emergency
pilots were expected to reach an altitude of 11.000 meters within four
minutes after the alarm had been sounded.
8. The following legend is to the attached diagram of Craiova airfield:
1. To Craiova.
2. To Bucharest.
3. Married officers' quarters, multistory buildings.
4. Guard room and jail.
5. Battalion (divizion) headquarters, the tallest building in
the area.
6. Clinic and infirmary.
7. Canteeias.
8. Quartermaster's offices, stores, and transport offices.
9. Emergency pilots' room.
10. Emergency aircraft area.
11. Floodlights for lighting the runways.
12. Taxi strip.
13. Takeoff-landing runway.
14. Parking apron.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/09: CIA-RDP80-00247A001500310003-7
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15. Hangars.
16. Sentry room, entrance for vehicles.
17. Water tower with revolving tdua and red lamp.
18. FUel depot.
19. Railroad spur line into the fuel depot.
20. Aircraft target practice area.
21. Radar trucks.
22. Ammunition dump.
23. Zebra ground/air radio communications truck and pilots'
briefing room.
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/01/09: CIA-RDP80-00247A001500310003-7