Ruhland: Highway Strip

Autobahnabschnitt ABA

For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
CoordinatesN512559 E0134930 (WGS84) Google Maps
Former East Germany (GDR)District of Cottbus
Federal stateBrandenburg
Airfield Id2028
Map with location of Ruhland Highway Strip, Germany
Germany during the Cold War Map
The history of the Cold War airfields: Ruhland

Location of airfield

Former GDR Autobahn A4, today A13, between the exits Ruhland and Ortrand.

During the Cold War

Use

Highway strip. It had the East German Forces airfield ID 2028.

History

  • 1985
    At the meeting of the East German National Defense Council on November 11th, 1985, it was noted: The completion of the highway strip was planned for 1981, but was done not until 1983. It is unsuitable for military use, because:
    - Missing load-bearing capacity of the safety shoulders and unpaved ramps
    - Missing obstacle clearance (deforestation). (Source: National Defense Council / Bundesarchiv)
  • 1988
    Observation by the US Military Liaison Mission: "At the Ruhland Highway Strip, the parking areas and taxiways are being widened and improved ... These oibservations suggest the Soviets and East Germans have not abandoned the use of auxiliary airfields, but in fact are making improvements at these strips for safer operations." (Source: USMLM Unit History 1988)

In the 1960s

Overview

Ruhland Highway Strip, East Germany, on a US satellite image 1968
Ruhland Highway Strip on a US satellite image from 09 May 1968 - The section is straight and the central reservation is concreted. However, the parking lots and the clearing, which were added later, are still missing.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey
Ruhland motorway emergency landing strip, GDR 1968
Enlargement: At the ends as here in the northeast the transition from the normal to the continuous central strip is recognizable.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

In the 1970s

Situation

Ruhland on a US map 1972
Ruhland on a map of the US Department of Defense from 1972
Source: US DoD

Overview

Satellite image from 16 May 1979
Satellite image from 16 May 1979 - Compared to the picture from 1968 the edges are now cleared. The function of the bright lane in the north is not known.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

In the 1980s and early 1990s

Overview

Satellite picture 1980
Satellite picture from 26 July 1980
Source: U.S. Geological Survey

Runways

  • 03/21: 2000 m Concrete

Images

Highway strip in 1988 - Source: /USMLM 1988/
Blast fence at the autobahn parking (1994)

Today

Use

Closed.

Links

Bibliography

  • United States Military Liaison Mission: "Unit History 1988"

Recommended

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