Rothenburg/Oberlausitz: Air Base

Görlitz

For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
CoordinatesN512152 E0145704 (WGS84) Google Maps
Elevation 517 ft
Former East Germany (GDR)District of Dresden
Federal stateSachsen (Saxony)
Location indicatorETRO (1990), EDBR (200x)
Airfield Id2115
Map with location of Rothenburg/Oberlausitz Air Base, Germany
Germany during the Cold War Map
The history of the Cold War airfields: Rothenburg/Oberlausitz
Rothenburg was a military airfield of the former National People's Army (Nationale Volksarmee, NVA) of the GDR. For many years, the Pilot Training Wing 15 (Fliegerausbildungsgeschwader 15, FAG-15) with the honorary name "Heinz Kapelle" was stationed here, which carried out the training on aircraft MiG-21. Presumably due to the maximum distance to the west, the field was also used to deliver new Soviet aircraft types to the NVA. Since German reunification, the airport has been used for general aviation.

Location of airfield

3 km north of Rothenburg/OL.

During the Cold War

Use

East German Airforce base.

In the 1970s

Situation

Rothenburg on a map of the US Department of Defense from 1972 - The airfield is located directly on the border with Poland

Overview

Rothenburg/Oberlausitz Air Base, Germany, on a US satellite image 1970
Rothenburg/Oberlausitz Air Base on a US satellite image from 26 November 1970 - 1: inner radio beacon south; 2: inner radio beacon north; Places: Bremenhain, Lodenau, Neusorge, Rothenburg
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Rothenburg airfield, 1975
Thursday 26 June 1975 - On this picture the earth brake surfaces are well visible as bright areas on both sides of the runway (1 and 2). They are intended to stop an aircraft that has rolled over the end of the runway. At a distance of about 1000 m there are the two innder marking points (3 and 4). In the forest southwest there is a depot (5).
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

In the 1980s and early 1990s

Overview

Rothenburg in Verzeichnis 012
Rothenburg air base on a map in the East German National People's Army "Directory 012" (Verzeichnis 012, formerly "Top Secret") from about 1989/1990. - Hand-drawn maps were quite common in the Eastern bloc. The map shows the nearby villages Neusorge, Bremenhain and Lodenau, the airfield with concrete and grass runway und the taxiways. On the right side is Poland.
Source: NVA LSK/LV

Runways

  • 18/36: 2500 m x 76 m Concrete
  • 18/36: 2500 m x 100 m Grass

Radio beacons

  • LOM36: 668 "OR", 4150m to THR36
  • LMM36: 326 "O", 1020m to THR36
  • LOM18: 709 "RO", 3710m to THR18
  • LMM18: 326 "R", 1000m to THR18

Radio communication

The radio call sign of the airfield was OPER.

Units

1990: FAG-15 "Heinz Kapelle" (MiG-21SPS, MiG-21SPS-K, MiG-21U, MiG-21US, MiG-21UM)

Today

Use

General aviation airfield, solar park.

Aerial image 2019

The following aerial photo was taken by Frank B., whom I thank very much!
Aerial view Rothenburg airfield, Germany, 2019
Aerial picture from 2019 - The viewing direction is approximately southeast.
Source: Frank B.
Rothenburg airfield
Enlargement: Northern part with parking pads (bottom left)
Runway threshold 17
Enlargement: Runway threshold 17
Rothenburg Oberlausitz runway
Enlargement: Runway

Videos

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