Szprotawa-Wiechlice Airfield
Szprotawa-Wiechlice Airfield | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Soviet map of the base | |||||||||||
| Summary | |||||||||||
| Operator | formerly Luftwaffe Soviet Air Force | ||||||||||
| Location | Szprotawa, Poland | ||||||||||
| Built | 1936 | ||||||||||
| In use | 1936-1992 | ||||||||||
| Elevation AMSL | 1,450 ft / 442 m | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 51°33′41″N 15°35′18″E / 51.5613°N 15.5884°E | ||||||||||
| Map | |||||||||||
  Szprotawa-Wiechlice Airfield Location of airport in Lubusz Voivodeship  Szprotawa-Wiechlice Airfield Szprotawa-Wiechlice Airfield (Poland) | |||||||||||
| Runways | |||||||||||
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Disused | |||||||||||
Szprotawa-Wiechlice Airfield is a former military air base near the town of Szprotawa in Lubusz Voivodeship, Poland. The airfield was built as Fliegerhorst Sprottau for the Luftwaffe.
History[edit]
1936-1945[edit]
The base was built in on the eastern outskirts of Sprottau, on the site of a former artillery training ground and a prisoner-of-war camp. The base was inaugurated on 1 October 1936. The runway had a concrete surface with paved taxiways. The base had one very large flight hangar, one very large repair hangar, one large hangar and three medium hangars. The base was primarily a training field for twin-engine aircraft. Ergänzungs-Jagdgeschwader 2 was formed at the base in November 1944.[1]
1945-1992[edit]
After World War II, the airport was taken over by Red Army units. The base was significantly enlarged with blocks of flats for soldiers' families, public facilities, aircraft garages, new ballistic warehouses and a special facility with a nuclear bunker.
The Soviet Air Force 18th Fight-Bomber Aviation Regiment (later renamed the 89th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment) equipped with MiG-17s, Su-17s, then Su-24s was based here from May 1955 until July 1992. Soviet forces withdrew from the base in July 1992.[2][3]
1992-present[edit]
With the withdrawal of Soviet troops from Poland, the airport was transformed into a housing estate and an industrial zone.[4]
References[edit]
- ^ Henry L. deZeng IV. "Luftwaffe Airfields 1935–45 Germany pages 619-21" (PDF). Retrieved 31 May 2024.
- ^ "149th Bomber Aviation Division". Soviet Armed Forces 1945-1991. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "89th Bomber Aviation Regiment". Soviet Armed Forces 1945-1991. Retrieved 20 January 2023.
- ^ "OFFER DETAILS 08-102". Szprotawa commune. Retrieved 31 May 2024.
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