Forst Highway Strip, Germany

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Forst: Highway Strip

Autobahnabschnitt ABA, Groß Bademeusel, Preschen Highway Strip

For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
CoordinatesN514107 E0144054 (WGS84) Google Maps
Former East Germany (GDR)District of Cottbus
Federal stateBrandenburg
Map with location of Forst Highway Strip, Germany
Germany during the Cold War Map
The history of the Cold War airfields: Forst

General

A section of the Autobahn between Cottbus and the Polish border (GDR Autobahn A5, today A15) was prepared by the East German National People's Army (NVA) for flight operations and was regularly used for exercises. This Highway Strip had a direct connection to the nearby Preschen Air Base. Radio beacons were set up for the approach from the southeast. By NATO it has been called differently over the years: Forst, Groß Bademeusel, Preschen Highway Strip. Today it is closed.

During the Cold War

Use

Highway strip.

In the 1960s

Overview

Forst Highway Strip, Germany, on a US satellite image 1968
Forst Highway Strip on a US satellite image from 09 August 1968 - 1: Runway, approx. 2330 m long; 2: the southern end lies in the shadow of a cloud; 3: taxiway to Preschen airfield; 4: northern end; 5: Preschen approach lane
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Northern end and bridge
Enlargement northern end - The last 100 meters are a little wider. The Autobahn continues to the north with only one lane for each direction. Directly to the north there is a bridge over which a path leads. From this path there are two accesses to the Autobahn or to the Highway Strip.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Forst Highway Strip, Germany, 1969
At this picture of 03.08.1969 the southern part is better illuminated.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Southern end
Enlargement southern end - 1: Southern end; 2: taxiway to Preschen aerodrome; 3: bridge over motorway; 4: approach lane and site for near radio beacon; 5: Autobahn to Poland with only one lane for each direction
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

In the 1970s

Situation

Forst Highway Strip, East Germany, on a map 1972
On this map from the US Department of Defense from 1972 it is named "Preschen Highway Strip" - It is located directly on the Polish border.
Source: ONC E-2 (1972), Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin

Overview

Preschen Air Base, Forst Highway Strip, Germany, on a US satellite image 1979
Preschen Air Base and Forst Highway Strip on a US satellite image from 16 May 1979 - 1: Preschen Air Base; 2: Forst Highway Strip; 3: Taxiway between the air base and the highway strip; 4: Approach lane and outer marker Preschen; 5: Outer marker highway strip; 6: Middle Marker highway strip; 7: railway siding; 8: Preschen village; 9: Jocksdorf village; 10: Connecting road under construction, possibly because of a bypass of the storage area in the north. In the upper right corner you can see the Neisse river, which forms the border to Poland.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Forst Highway Strip, GDR
Enlargement: Forst Highway Strip - 1: Highway strip, which is wider than the normal autobahn; 2: Taxiway to Preschen Air Base; 3, 4: Radio beacons and other facilities (possibly direction finder) on the Preschen approach path. The car park on the west side of the northern end of the highway strip does not yet exist at this time. The bridge in the north is still there, while in the south no bridge can be seen anymore.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

In the 1980s and early 1990s

Overview

Forst Highway Strip (Gross Bademeusel Highway Strip)

Runways

  • 13/31: 2300 m x 20 m

Radio beacons

  • LOM 31: 238.5 "SN", 4360 m to threshold 31
  • LMM 31: 997 "S", 1150 m to threshold 31

Radio communication

The call sign was SEKTION.

Images

The following pictures were taken in 1990 and show the car park at the northern end.
Route from the car park to the highway strip
Route from the car park to the highway strip
Ramp for 8 aircraft MiG-21 with blast fence, Forst Highway Strip
Ramp for 8 aircraft MiG-21 with blast fence

Today

Use

Closed.

Aerial image 2019

The following aerial photo was taken by Frank B., whom I thank very much!
Aerial image of Autobahn A 15 near Forst, Germany, with former Forst Highway Strip
Aerial view of the former highway strip, looking approximately southeast. - In the foreground the parking lot at the northwestern end.
Source: Frank B.

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