For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
| Coordinates | N514317 E0115752 (WGS84) Google Maps |
| Elevation | 304 ft |
| Former East Germany (GDR) | District of Halle |
| Federal state | Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt) |
Germany during the Cold War Map
The history of the Cold War airfields: Köthen
During World War II
Use
Luftwaffe airbase.
Overview
Köthen air base on a US map from 1952 - Visible are the buildings of the old air base and the connecting railway.
Source: AMS M841 GSGS 4414, Courtesy Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University
During the Cold War
Use
Soviet airbase.
In the 1950s
Units
Units in 1954
- One fighter regiment (P. O. Box of the technical unit: 22 703),
- One reconaissance regiment MiG-15 (P.O. Box of the technical unit: 78 633);
- A total of 39 MiG-15/MiG-15U were counted at the airfield.
Source: BND/Bundesarchiv B 206/3033
(For the P. O. Box numbers the digits 3 and 5 may be confused, because they are difficult to distinguish in the source document)
(For the P. O. Box numbers the digits 3 and 5 may be confused, because they are difficult to distinguish in the source document)
History
- July 1954
Relocation of the Reconnaissance Regiment (MiG-15) Welzow (PFN 78 633) to Köthen Air Base.
In the 1960s
Overview
Köthen Air Base on a US satellite image from 30 May 1965
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Northern part of the barracks
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Northwestern part
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Barracks
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Western side of the barracks
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Hangars and aircraft - 52 fighter aircraft can be counted in this area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Flight line in the east - Here are additional 15 fighter aircraft. At the eastern edge, a system of aircraft revetments can be seen.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Runway and target circle - An extension of the runway to the west was made narrower
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Object south of the runway
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Southeastern part - There seems to be dump and a radar site here.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Flight line - The grass to the north seems to have been damaged by the jet exhausts.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Hangar
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Aircraft
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Two hangars with parked aircraft
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Eastern flight line - Here, too, the grass is damaged by the exhaust jet.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Radio communication
Call sign: SIMNIK (1967)
History
- February 1966
Observation by the US Military Liaison Mission: "The deployment of an air defense regiment from Zerbst to Koethen was observed" (Source: USMLM 1966) - March 1966
Observation by the US Military Liaison Mission: "A USMLM Air Team brought in the first sightings of (Yak-28P) FIREBAR long-range fighter-interceptor in the forward area, when it observed these aircraft taking off from FINOW, on their way to KOETHEN where they were deployed." (Source: USMLM 1966)
In the 1970s
Situation
Köthen Air Base on a map of the US Department of Defense from 1972 - The blue lines mark the southern allied air corridor from and to Berlin (ONC E-2 (1972), Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin /PCL MC/)
Source: ONC E-2 (1972), Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin
Overview
Köthen on 10 March 1970 - The landscape is snow-covered. In the meantime the airfield has got airplane shelters, including the shelter loop in the southwest (1). The six dots in the north (2) probably belong to an anti-aircraft site. In the northwest there is an allotment site (a).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
SAM site near Dohndorf, approx. 7 km southwest of the airfield - The surface-to-air (SAM) missile site is equipped with S-125 Newa (NATO: SA-3 Goa) missiles.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
This satellite image from 13.08.1973 shows the airfield boundaries well.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
In the 1980s and early 1990s
Overview
Köthen in the early 1990s. - The basic layout of the old air base is still recognizable. However, over the years the airfield had expanded far to the west. ASR/PAR: Location of the surveillance and precision approach radar; RD + number: Taxiway; RSBN: Location of the RSBN radio beacon; RWY: Runway.
Runways
- 09/27: 2500 m x 60 m Concrete
- 09/27: 2500 m x 75 m Grass
Radio beacons
- RSBN
- LOM 27: 350 "RC", 4080 m
- LMM 27: 718 "R", 1150 m
- LOM 09: 350 "GX", 4100 m
- LMM 09: 718 "G", 1000 m
Radio communication
Call sign: SEMELNI
Auf einer Karte mit Wetterstationen, die Anfang der 1990er Jahre in der Flugleitung am Flugplatz Sperenberg hing, war für Köthen der Name SENITNYI eingetragen (= Tarnname der Wetterstation Köthen?)
Standard training routes
"Flüge der LSK/LV der NVA und der LSK der GSSD im Rahmen der Gefechtsausbildung sind entsprechend der Grafik der Flugtage / -nächte auf der Grundlage der "Hauptflugregeln zum Fliegen im Luftraum der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik" auf Standardflugstrecken in den dazu festgelegten Flughöhen durchzuführen. ..." (Quelle: "Verzeichnis der Standardflugstrecken der LSK/LV der NVA und der LSK der GSSD"
As of 1989
203 Köthen, Ballenstedt, Grabow, Ziesar, Köthen
Höhe: 600 - 1850 m (unter dem zeitweiligen Luftverbindungsweg 300 m)
Abfangabschnitt: Ermsleben, Ballenstedt, Grabow, Ziesar
Höhe: 600 - 1850 m (unter dem zeitweiligen Luftverbindungsweg 300 m)
Abfangabschnitt: Ermsleben, Ballenstedt, Grabow, Ziesar
204 Köthen, Nauen, Wolmirstedt, Köthen
Höhe: 4900, 5500 m
Abfangabschnitt: Buschow, Colbitz
Höhe: 4900, 5500 m
Abfangabschnitt: Buschow, Colbitz
205 Köthen, Bitterfeld, Holzdorf, Golssen, Baruth, Schießplatz Heidehof, Markendorf, Schweinitz, Köthen
Höhe: zum Schießplatz 300 m, Rückflug 3650 m (Steigflug über dem Schießplatz)
Höhe: zum Schießplatz 300 m, Rückflug 3650 m (Steigflug über dem Schießplatz)
206 Köthen, Wolfen, Trossin, Schildau, Schießplatz Belgern, Torgau, Köthen
Höhe: zum Schießplatz 300 - 1200 m, Rückflug 4250 - 5500 m (Steigflug über dem Schießplatz)
Höhe: zum Schießplatz 300 - 1200 m, Rückflug 4250 - 5500 m (Steigflug über dem Schießplatz)
207 Köthen, Aschersleben, Erfurt, Ortrand, Köthen
Höhe: 7900, 8550, 11900 - 18000 m
Höheneinnahme: Traverse Sangerhausen minimal 7900 m
Abfangabschnitt: Sangerhausen, Großenhain
Die Linie Altenburg, Hoyerswerder ist nach Süden nicht zu überfliegen
Höhe: 7900, 8550, 11900 - 18000 m
Höheneinnahme: Traverse Sangerhausen minimal 7900 m
Abfangabschnitt: Sangerhausen, Großenhain
Die Linie Altenburg, Hoyerswerder ist nach Süden nicht zu überfliegen
Units
73 GwIAP: MiG-29, MiG-29UB, MiG-23UB (1990)
Real property
The airfield covered an area of 259,65 ha.
Today
Use
General aviation and solar energy park.
Links
- http://lib.byu.edu/collections/german-maps/ - German Maps (Topographische Karte 1:25,000)
- https://flugplatz-koethen.jimdo.com/ - Flugsportverein Köthen
Bibliography
- Ries, Karl; Dierich, Wolfgang: "Fliegerhorste und Einsatzhäfen der Luftwaffe" Motorbuch Verlag Stuttgart, 1993 - Allied map of Kothen airfield.
- /USMLM 1966/:
United States Military Liaison MissionUnited States Military Liaison Mission: "Unit History 1966Unit History 1966" - Freundt, Lutz: "Sowjetische Fliegerkräfte in Deutschland 1945-1994, Band 2" Freundt Eigenverlag, Diepholz 1999 - Description, pictures, aerial pictures from 1953 and 1991.
- Freundt, Lutz (Hrsg.), Büttner, Stefan: "Rote Plätze - Russische Militärflugplätze in Deutschland 1945 - 1994" AeroLit Verlag, 2007 - Description, pictures, aerial pictures from 1953 and 1991.
Related topics
Airfields in the vicinity
- 100°/12km Hinsdorf: Radio-Technical Company 412 (FuTK-412) (Helipad 3170)
- 108°/18km Thurland: Highway Strip (Reuden, Autobahnabschnitt ABA Dessau)
- 052°/20km Dessau: Airfield (Alten, Junkers-Flugzeugwerk)
- 186°/26km Halle (Saale): Nietleben Airfield
- 077°/27km Oranienbaum: Airfield
- 357°/30km Flötz: Agricultural Airfield (Gödnitz, Zerbst)
Categories
Military Airfields GermanyMilitary Airfields in former East GermanyAirfields of the Soviet Forces in GermanyRecommended
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