Cottbus Airfield

Germany

For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
CoordinatesN514606 E0141737 (WGS84) Google Maps
Elevation 67 m
Former East Germany (GDR)District of Cottbus
Federal stateBrandenburg
Location indicatorETCB (198x), EDPC, ETHT
Airfield Id2060
Map with location of Cottbus Air Base
Germany during the Cold War Map

Location of airfield

North-western city limits of Cottbus, Ernst-Heilmann-Weg

During the 1920s/1930s

Use

Airport until 1933, thereafter military airfield.

Operator

Municipality of Cottbus, Cottbus.

Administrator

Municipality of Cottbus (property management), inspector Schierbaum, Cottbus.

Transport companies / Airlines

Deutsche Luft Hansa A. G., flight control Cottbus, wire address: Lufthansa Cottbus.

Situation

Map of Cottbus airfield, Germany, 1929
The airfield on a map in the aviation manual in 1929

Overview

Cottbus airfield, Germany, 1929
Airfield map 1929
Aerial view 1929
Aerial view, approx. 1929 - Looking west

Airfield characteristics at daytime

On the movement area white landing circle with smoke stove. Landing sign is always deployed; windsock available. In the east red-white masts of the Spreewaldbahn railway; at the hangar gate and on the hangar roof the inscription "Cottbus", on the roof also large north arrow. Runway boundary marked by red and white signs and red flags.

Airfield characteristics at night

No permanent night lighting. On request at the police station landing lights of green, white and red fires in series parallel to the wind direction. Land from green to white to red, to the right of the row. Cottbus station, 2.2 km south-east of the landing field, is always clearly visible.

Runways

Good sod. Shortest rolling length 600 m in east-west direction.

Hangars

1 aircraft hangar 35 x 25 m. Door width 33 x 7 m.

Workshops

Includes equipment for major repairs, welding equipment etc., spare parts for BMW engines and special tools for Siemens engines available.

Fuel equipment

For 5000 l petrol and benzene each. Standard fuel of Deutsche Luft Hansa always in stock.

Railway siding

Available for loading aircraft and engines.

First aid in the case of accidents

Stretcher and bandages available. Accident watch and ambulance can be reached at any time by telephone. Nearest doctor in Cottbus (2.5 km away).

Customs, post office, passport

Auxiliary post office with telephone available. Passport check through police station.

Accommodation of passengers

In town.

Connections

No shuttle service. Taxi cabs on call at any time. Small train station nearby.

Timetable

Summer 1928

The timetable for summer of 1928 shows the following scheduled flights:
(Days: 1=Monday ... 7=Sunday)
158: Cottbus - Halle/Leipzig (Schkeuditz)
  • Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.:
    123456– | Cottbus 08:00 - 09:15 Halle/Leipzig
  • Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.:
    123456– | Halle/Leipzig 15:55 - 17:10 Cottbus
160: Breslau (Gandau) - Riesengebirge/Hirschberg - Görlitz - Cottbus - Berlin (Tempelhof)
  • Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.:
    123456– | Breslau 06:00 - 06:45 Riesengebirge/Hirschberg 06:55 - 07:25 Görlitz 07:35 - 08:15 Cottbus 08:25 - 09:15 Berlin
  • Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.:
    123456– | Berlin 15:55 - 16:45 Cottbus 16:55 - 17:35 Görlitz 17:45 - 18:15 Riesengebirge/Hirschberg 18:25 - 19:10 Breslau
Departures and arrivals by time
DaysTimeDep/ArrRouteOperatorAircraft typeto/from
123456–08:00Dep158Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.Halle/Leipzig
123456–08:15Arr160Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.Breslau - Riesengebirge/Hirschberg - Görlitz
123456–08:25Dep160Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.Berlin
123456–16:45Arr160Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.Berlin
123456–16:55Dep160Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.Görlitz - Riesengebirge/Hirschberg - Breslau
123456–17:10Arr158Deutsche Luft Hansa A.G.Halle/Leipzig

During World War II

Use

Luftwaffe airbase (Fliegerhorst).

Situation

Cottbus Air Base in World War II on a map 194x
Cottbus Air Base in World War II on a US map from 194x - (McMaster University Library Digital Archive, License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 CC BY-NC 2.5 CA /MULDA/)
Source: McMaster University Library Digital Archive, License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 CC BY-NC 2.5 CA

During the Cold War

Use

Former East German Airforce base, used by Fighter Wing 1 (JG-1) until 1982, when relocating to Holzdorf . Thereafter home for Combat Helicopter Wing 3 (KHG-3) of former East German Army.

In the 1960s

Overview

Cottbus Air Base, Germany, on a US satellite image 1968
Cottbus Air Base on a US satellite image from 09 May 1968 - The eastern part of the field is covered by a cloud. In the north-west and south-east numerous aircraft boxes are visible.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Northwestern part of Cottbus Airfield
Enlargement: Northwest
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Aerodrome Cottbus: Northern part
Enlargement: North
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

In the 1970s

Situation

Cottbus Air Base on a map 1972
Cottbus Air Base on a map of the US Department of Defense from 1972
Source: ONC E-2 (1972), Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin

Overview

Cottbus Air Base, Germany, on a US satellite image 1970
Cottbus Air Base on a US satellite image from 25 November 1970
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Western end of the runway
Western end of the runway
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Northwestern dispersal area
Northwestern dispersal area
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Apron
Apron
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Southeastern dispersal area
Southeastern dispersal area
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Radio beacons

Data for the 1970s:
  • LOM 26: 321 "MR"
  • LMM 26: 639 "M"

Units

1970er: JG-1

In the 1980s and early 1990s

Runways

Data for the year 1990:
  • 08/26: 2360 m x 60 m Concrete/Bitumen
  • 08/26: 2200 m x 35 m Grass south of the hard surfaced runway
Die Höhen der Schwellen über NN betrugen: Schwelle Ost 65 m und Schwelle West 69 m.

Radio beacons

Data for the year 1990:
  • LOM 26: 505.5 "MR", 4400 m to threshold 26
  • LMM 26: 1030.5 "M", 1020 m to threshold 26
  • LOM 08: 495 "RM", 3480 m to threshold 08
  • LMM 08: 1030.5 "R", 880 m to threshold 08
Die Kennungen wurden wie im Warschauer Pakt üblich aus dem ersten und letzten Buchstaben des Rufzeichens (MONTUR) abgeleitet.

Radio communication

The call sign of was MONTUR.

Telephone

Stabsnetz S1 9445. Call sign was "Glasfaser" (1990).

Maps

Maps from the "Directory 012" (Verzeichnis 012), containing aeronautical information about military airfields of the former East Germany National People's Army (NVA) and Border Troops (GT). The document was classified as "secret".
Airways
Location in relation to airways.. The reporting point KOBUS on airway A4 was immediately east of the Cottbus airfield.
Departure routes
Departure routes from the airfield to airway A4 in northern and southern direction.
NDB approach 258
NDB approach ("OSP") in main landing direction 258°
NDB approach 078
NDB approach ("OSP") in secondary landing direction 078°
Cottbus Air Base map
Air base map. The field was in the northwestern corner of the city of Cottbus.

Units

1990: KHG-3: Mi-8TB, Mi-24D (PF 13050)
HSFA-103: Mi-2, Mi-9 (PF 13042)
VFK-1: An-2, Z-43 (PF 44117)

Real property

The airfield had the former East German National People's Army installation id 06/006.

Installations

Railway siding from the south.

Today

Use

After reunification used by a German Army helicopter unit. Now closed. Aviation museum.

Images

The following pictures were taken at the "Day of the open memorial" in 2005. Courtesy of Wolfgang Heidenreich.
In front of the tower building
In front of the tower building
Entry to the tower
Entry to the tower
Hangar and tower
Hangar and tower
Hangar
Hangar
Tower building
Tower building
Ramp
Ramp

Links

Bibliography

  • Ries, Karl; Dierich, Wolfgang: "Fliegerhorste und Einsatzhäfen der Luftwaffe" Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, 1993 - u.a. Alliierte Planskizze aus dem 2. Weltkrieg

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