Liepāja: Airfield

Liepaja East, Лиепая, Lidosta Liepāja, Grobinja

For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!

Coordinates	N563103 E0210551 (WGS84) Google Maps
Location indicator	EVLA

The history of the Cold War airfields: Liepāja

General

Liepāja is located in the soutwest of Latvia. The airfield is in east of the city. During the Cold War, Liepāja was first an air base of the Soviet Air Force and later an airport. Today, it is operated as a regional airport.

During the Cold War

Use

The airfield was initially used for military purposes and was later converted into an airport.

Units

Occupation by Soviet units (courtesy of "Unter dem Radar"):

March/April 1951 - 1958/1960: HQ of a Fighter Division of the Red-Banner Baltic Fleet with two Fighter Regiments (Baltic Fleet) (La-11, MiG-15, MiG-17)

In the 1950s

History

October 1957
US agencies count on the airfield about 60 to 65 MiG fighter and 1 transport aircraft, probably Li-2 CAB. (Source: CIA)

In the 1960s

History

1966
The US National Photographic Interpretation Center discovers on a satellite image: Ground support equipment, similar to that observed at the Tallin probable long range SAM launch complex (SA-5 Gammon at Keila Joa) is parked in a secured open storage area at Liepaja airfield east. This equipment consists of 30 covered launchers, 60 probable missile dollies, and approximately 120 vans/vehicles/pieces of equipment. A radar similar to those observed at Leningrad, Tallin, Cherepovets und Sary-Shagan is observed adjacent to the parked launchers and appears to be connected to a nearby van. (Source: CIA)
US satellite image from 1966 - The picture is northbound and shows the barracks area in the north of the airfield. There are the launchers, vans, (unidentified) vehicles and the radar.
Source: CIA