For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
| Coordinates | N494353 E0132008 (WGS84) Google Maps |
| Location indicator | LKPB |
The history of the Cold War airfields: Plzeň
During World War II
Use
Plzeň, airport, later Luftwaffe airfield.
Situation
Plzen Bory Airfield in World War II on a US map from 1944
Source: McMaster University Library Digital Archive, License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 2.5 CC BY-NC 2.5 CA
During the Cold War
Use
Helicopter base of the Czechoslovak People's Army.
In the 1950s
Overview
Aerial pictures from 1956
Source: kontaminace.cenia.cz Obtained according to the license terms for non-commercial use.
The shelter which is visible near the center of the picture still exists today - see pictures below
Hangars
Aircraft on the apron
Southeastern part
In the 1970s
Overview
Plzeň Bory Heliport on a US satellite image from 16 May 1979
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
In the 1980s and early 1990s
Radio communication
According to western signals intelligence (SIGINT), the airfield was also called "Navigacni Punkt 540" by the Czechoslovak Air Force (previously "Navigacni Punkt 552").
The call sign of the airfield was LOTOS (1990).
Units
11. VRP Mi-24D, V, Mi-17 (1990). In 1992, the helicopters moved to Dobrany.
Installations
In the south were hangars which could have been probably built before 1945.
Today
Use
Airfield is closed and has been converted to an industrial park.
Images
Pictures from 2016.
The area is fully transformed into an industrial zone. Only a few relics of the former airfield can be found.
Univerzitni Street - The pathway of this street corresponds exactly to the former taxiway.
Teslova Street - On the airfield, this street passed along the backside of the big hangars.
Historic building? - This ruin is at the southern part of "Teslova"
Historic building? - This building must have been at the rear side of the biggest hangar.
Shelter - At the western end of Univerzitni
Shelter
Shelter
Area at the western end of Univerzitnis
Sources
- https://www.usgs.gov/ - USGS U.S. Geological Survey
Links
- http://www.vrtulnik.cz/ww2/protektorat-plzen2.htm - Letiště Bory
Airfields in the vicinity
- 216°/8km Líně: Air Base (Letiště Dobřany Líně, Plzeň)
- 223°/15km Stod: Airfield (Letiště Stod)
- 082°/18km Rokycany: Airfield (Letiště Rokycany)
- 290°/23km Erpužice: Airfield (Letiště Erpužice, Stříbro)
- 026°/31km Kralovice: Airfield (Letiště Kralovice, Kožlany)
Categories
Air Bases CzechiaRecommended
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