For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
| Coordinates | N565516 E0235815 (WGS84) Google Maps |
| Location indicator | EVRA |
The history of the Cold War airfields: Riga
General
The capital Riga is located in the center of Latvia. The airport is in the west of the city. During the Cold War, there was an air base of the Soviet Air Force and later it had been converted to the airport of Riga.
During the Cold War
Situation
Riga West Airport on a map of the US Department of Defense from 1973 - (ONC D-3 (1973), Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas at Austin /PCL MC/)
Units
Occupation by Soviet units (courtesy of "Unter dem Radar"):
- November 1947 - October 1961: Mining and Torpedo Training Regiment (Il-28, Il-28T)
- 1951 - 1961: Fighter Training Regiment (MiG-17P and others)
- June 1956 - 1961: Fighter Training Regiment (MiG-17)
- November 1947 - 1957: ein Fighter Training Regiment (Yak-25, MiG-19, MiG-15UTI)
- December 1961 - December 1972: Guards Mining and Torpedo Regiment (Il-28T)
- December 1972 - October 1975: independend Guards Anti-Submarine Regiment (Il-28T, Il-38)
- December 1975 - December 1992: indepemdend Anti-Submarine Squadron (Il-38)
- ??? - 1988: Parts of an independend composite Squadron (Li-2, Il-14, An-2, Tu-134A, An-12, An-24B, An-26)
- 1988 - 1994: both parts together
History
- October 1957
US agencies count at the airfield approx. 25 Il-28, approx. 30 fighter aircraft, possibly MiG-15 or MiG-17 and 4 transport aircraft, possibly Li-2. (Source: CIA) - July 1965
On satellite images, the CIA counted 12 light planes at the airfield. (Source: CIA) - October/November 1965
On satellite images, the CIA counted at least 18 probable light straight-wing aircraft at the field. (Source: CIA)
Today
Use
Airport of Riga.
Airfields in the vicinity
- 040°/9km Riga: Airfield: Spilve (Spilves lidosta, Rīgas gaisa osta, Riga Central, Рига Спилве)
- 057°/16km Riga: Seaplane Base (Rīga)
- 105°/16km Riga: Airfield: Rumbula (Rīga, Šķirotava, Рига Аэродром Румбула)
- 213°/33km Jelgava: Airfield (Jelgava lidlauks, Аэродром Елгава)
- 273°/45km Tukums: Air Base (Аэродром Тукумс)
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