CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY HANOI/GIA LAM AIRFIELD, NORTH VIETNAM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: NGA Records (Formerly NIMA)
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 28, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2011
• Sequence Number: 1
• Publication Date: March 11, 1969
• Content Type: PHOTO

Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
(c) NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHIC INTERPRETATION CENTER
1 -1
11 MARCH 1969
PAGE 1
CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITY
HANOI/GIA LAM AIRFIELD, NORTH VIETNAM
2102N 10553E
1. SIGNIFICANCE:
THIS BRIEFING BOARD DEPICTS THE WIDENING OF THE NNE/SSW RUNWAY AT HANOI/
GIA LAM AIRFIELD AND CONTINUING CONSTRUCTION ON A POSSIBLE EXTENSION OR OVERRUN
AT THE SSW END OF THIS RUNWAY.
2. LOCATION:
3. BACKGROUND:
PHOTOGRAPHY SUBSEQUENT TO THE LIMITED BOMBING HALT OF 1 APRIL 1968 HAS
REVEALED A MAJOR EFFORT ON THE PART OF THE NORTH VIETNAMESE TO REPAIR AND IMPROVE
THEIR AIRFIELDS. COLLATERAL REPORTS IN LATE 1968 REVEALED THE NORTH VIETNAMESE
WERE PREPARING TO ENLARGE THE FACILITIES AT HANOI/GIA LAM AIRFIELD, THE COUNTRY'S
MAJOR CIVIL AIRPORT. GIA LAM WAS NEVER STRUCK DURING THE BOMBING PERIOD.
4. MISSION READOUT:
REVEALS WIDEN- 25X1
ING OF THE NNE/SSW RUNWAY, WITH CONSTRUCTION CONTINUING ON THE POSSIBLE EXTENSION
OR OVERRUN AT THE SSW END OT THIS RUNWAY. A NEWLY IDENTIFIED POSSIBLE CONCRETE
BATCHING PLANT (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) IS LOCATED BEHIND THE LARGE HANGAR, AND ADJACENT
TO THE TAXIWAY.
THE NNE/SSW RUNWAY IS BEING WIDENED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET TO A NEW WIDTH OF
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing boards (s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date of issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Imagery Exploitation
Group NPIC.
GROUP I EXCLUDED FROM
AUTOMATIC DOWNGRADING
AND DECLASSIFICATION
NO FOREIGN D SSEM47
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
ATTACHMENT TO M-5973
11 MARCH 1969
PAGE 2
APPROXIMATELY 140 FEET. CONCRETE SURFACING ACTIVITY, IN VARIOUS STAGES, IS
OBSERVED AT BOTH ENDS OF THE RUNWAY. LABORERS ARE IN THE PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING
CONCRETE FORMS, EMPLOYING THE CHECKER-BOARD PATTERN, AT THE NNE END (SEE INSET)
OF THE RUNWAY. GRADING AND LEVELING ACTIVITY (NOT SHOWN ON GRAPHIC) IS IN
PROGRESS BETWEEN THE PORTIONS THAT ARE BEING SURFACED. CONSTRUCTION CONTINUES ON
THE POSSIBLE EXTENSION OR OVERRUN (SEE INSET) AT THE SSW END OF THE MAIN RUNWAY
WITH THE INSTALLATION OF PIPE SECTIONS OBSERVED.
A PROBABLE CONCRETE BATCHING PLANT (SEE INSET) APPEARS TO BE UNDER
CONSTRUCTION WITH NUMEROUS PILES OF AGGREGATE, AND SEVERAL PIECES OF CONSTRUCTION
EQUIPMENT OBSERVED IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA.
THE MAIN RUNWAY IS APPARENTLY BEING USED AS CONSTRUCTION PROGRESSES ON THE
NEW ADDITION.
AOB: 1 COOT 3 CAB 1 HOUND
1 COKE 1 CAB FUSELAGE
2 CRATE 1 COLT
5. REMARKS:
COLLATERAL REPORTS HAVE INDICATED THAT THE WIDENING OF THE MAIN NGRTH-SOUTH
RUNWAY IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN MAY 1969. WORK HAS BEEN SUSPENDED ON THE
EXTENSION OF THE MAIN RUNWAY SINCE EARLY THIS YEAR, POSSIBLY AWAITING COMPLETION OF
THE DRAINAGE SYSTEM.
THESE IMPROVEMENTS WILL IMPROVE THE AIRPORT'S CAPABILITY FOR HANDLING LARGER,
WIDE WHEEL BASED AIRCRAFT. THE WORK IS ALSO CONSISTENT WITH THE TREND OF REPAIRING
AND IMPROVING AIRFIELDS THROUGHOUT NORTH VIETNAM WHICH HAS BEEN NOTED SINCE APRIL 1968.
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing boards (s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date of issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Imagery Exploitation
Group NPIC.
SECRET
NO FOREIGD? DISSE
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
 Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
SECRET
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
MAP REF: AMS L7014 SHEET 6151 II 2ND EDITION 1:50,000
These notes have been prepared for briefing purposes only and should not be used for detailed analytical work. Their use
should be restricted to the particular briefing boards (s) they were prepared for and must be considered valid only for the re-
porting period as indicated by the date of issue. For information concerning these notes contact Chief, Imagery Exploitation
Group NPIC.
SE CRFT
NO FOREIGN DISSEM
Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2011/09/12 : CIA-RDP83-01074R000300460001-7
ATTACHMENT TO M-5973 25X1
11 MARCH 1969
PAGE 3