The following list contains the aeronautical radio beacons that were active in Berlin in 1958/59. All information is outdated and may not be used for navigational purposes.
The situation in Berlin was characterised by the division into four sectors and by the special access with the three air corridors and the Berlin control zone. Western Allied aircraft thus had a relatively wide airspace at their disposal. However, they had to reckon with hostilities of the Soviets up to the shooting down of the aircraft even at minimal deviations (but even without deviations there were repeated arbitrary attacks by Soviet aircraft). Precise navigation was therefore essential for survival, but the radio beacons necessary for this were limited to the area of the three western sectors.
At the same time, new navigation systems were introduced. And the British used different technology than the Americans. These factors led to a wide range of types that were used in limited spaces at the time:
- Non-directional beacon (NDB)
- Range
- Visual-Aural Range
- VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR)
- Tactical Air Naviation (TACAN)
- Eureka
- BABS
- Instrument Landing System (ILS)
Radio beacons 1959

Enlargement: Berlin - In addition to the airfields of the Western Allies at Gatow, Tegel and Tempelhof, also the fields at Dallgow and Schönefeld in the Soviet occupation zone (GDR) are marked. The position of the radio beacons Schönefeld AB and A is probably wrong, because according to GDR sources from this time they were located northeast of the field - see below. . The dotted circle marks Berlin control zone, in which Western Allied aircraft can move freely up to an altitude of 10,000 feet. The shaded areas on the left are the three air corridors to Berlin. (Source: DoD)
Explanations

Abbreviations
approx. | approximately | |
civ | civil | civil operator |
GP | Glide path | Glide path transmitter |
ILS | Instrument Landing System | (Approach and landing aid) |
IM | Inner Marker | Marker beacon just in front the runway |
kHz | Kilohertz | (Unit for frequency) |
L | Locator | Non-directional beacon for the approach |
LLZ | Localizer | Localizer transmitter |
LMM | Locator Middle Marker | Combination of Middle Marker and Locator |
LOM | Locator Outer Marker | Combination of Outer Marker and Locator |
m | Meter | (Unit for length) |
MHz | Megahertz | (Unit for frequency) |
mil | military | military operator |
MM | Middle Marker | Marker beacon |
NDB | Non-directional beacon | Non-directional beacon on long or medium waves |
NM | Nautical Miles | (Unit for length) |
OM | Outer Marker | Marker beacon |
PRMG | ПРМГ Посадочная радиомаячная группа | Soviet / russian military instrument landing system |
RSBN | РСБН Rадиотехническая система ближней навигации | Soviet / russian military radio navigation system |
SBA | Standard Beam Approach | Approach system, Lorenz system, predecessor of the ILS |
THR | Threshold | Runway threshold (most often with number of runway) |
transf. | transformed | Coordinates were converted from a different reference system, therefore there may be deviations. |
VAR | Visual-Aural Rnange | |
VOR | VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range | |
W | Watt | (Unit for power) |
WGS84 | World Geodetic System 1984 | (geospatial reference system, GPS coordinates) |
Operator
RAF | Royal Air Force |
USAFE | US Air Force Europe |
USBER | US Mission Berlin |
Directory
For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
Berlin: RAF Gatow Airfield (Kladow)
Berlin Gatow: Eureka (RAF)
GW, 233T/218R MHz
Berlin Gatow: NDB (RAF)
N522756 E0130920 (WGS84, transf.)
Google MapsGW, 370.5 kHz
Operated H24. Maintenance period 1500-1600 daily except Tuesdays.
Berlin: Tegel Airport
Berlin Tegel: Tegel West NDB (USBER)
N523307 E0131351 (WGS84, transf.), 083°/1.86 NM to THR 08
Google MapsRW, 448 kHz, 50 W
Operated H24.
Spandau/Haselhorst, Rhenaniastraße.
Berlin Tegel: Tegel East NDB (USBER)
N523359 E0132242 (WGS84, transf.), 263°/2.72 NM to THR 26
Google MapsGL, 321.5 kHz, 50 W
Operated H24.
Provinzstraße,
Berlin: Tempelhof Airport (Berlin Tempelhof Central Airport TCA)
Berlin Tempelhof: TACAN (USAFE)
DDB, CH 85
At field.
Runway 09R:
Berlin Tempelhof: LLZ 09R (USBER)
N522816 E0132508 (WGS84, transf.)
Google MapsDBR, 110.9
Operated H24.
Berlin Tempelhof: Rubens NDB (USBER)
N522810 E0132040 (WGS84, transf.), 090°/1.8 NM to THR 09R
Google Mapsdot-dash, 75
Operated H24.
Schöneberg, Rubensstraße
Berlin Tempelhof: Helmholtz NDB (USBER)
N522805 E0131741 (WGS84, transf.), 090°/3.6 NM to THR 09R
Google MapsDBR, 347 kHz, 25 W
Operated H24.
Dahlem, area of Schweinfurthstraße/Hellriegelstraße
Runway 27L:
Berlin Tempelhof: LLZ 27L (USBER)
N522813 E0132322 (WGS84, transf.)
Google MapsDLB, 109.5
Operated H24.
Berlin Tempelhof: GP (USBER)
N522814 E0132446 (WGS84, transf.)
Google Maps332.6 MHz
Glide path angle 4°. Operated H24.
Berlin Tempelhof: Planter NDB/OM (USBER)
N522819 E0132809 (WGS84, transf.), 270°/2.0 NM to THR 27L
Google MapsNDB: DIP, 327 kHz, 50 W
Outer Marker: Dashes, 75 MHz
Operated H24.
Neukölln, Dammweg
The radio beacon was only approx. 100 m away from the border (later Berlin Wall) to the Soviet Sector. Thus the maximum possible distance to Tempelhof Airport in this approach direction was exhausted, which here was 2 nautical miles. But usually such beacons are set up at a distance of 3 to 5 nautical miles. The name "Planter" probably comes from the nearby Plänterwald, which was, however, already in the Soviet sector.
Berlin Tempelhof: MM (USBER)
N522821 E0132538 (WGS84, transf.), 270°/0.37 NM to THR 27L
Google Maps75 MHz
Operated H24.
Garden: NDB (USBER)
N523132 E0132158 (WGS84, transf.), 159°/3.4 NM to Berlin Tempelhof ARP
Google MapsDIH, 398 kHz
Operated H24.
Moabit, Invalidenstraße.
Grunewald: Range/Z Marker (USAFE)
N522730 E0131417 (WGS84, transf.), 084°/5.6 NM to THR 09R
Google MapsRange: DIB, 279 kHz
Z Marker: 75 MHz
The four predefined courses to the Range were 053°A, 143°N, 233°A and 323°N.
The operator of this facility in unclear. Some sources say USBER, others USAFE.
Havel: VAR (USBER)
N522749 E0130836 (WGS84, transf.), 091°/9.8 NM to Berlin Tempelhof
Google MapsDIB, 110.1
The four predefined courses to the Range were: 051°, 231° (visual) and 141°, 321° (aural), A-keying to the west, N-keying to the east, yellow indication to the north, blue indication to the south. Operated H24.
Gatow/Kladow
Havel: VOR (USBER)
N522740 E0130834 (WGS84, transf.), 089°/9.9 NM to Berlin Tempelhof
Google MapsDDB, 114.1 MHz
Operated H24.
Gatow/Kladow
For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!
Kilo: NDB/Fan Marker (USBER)
N522416 E0130823 (WGS84, transf.)
Google MapsNDB: RZ, 398 kHz, 25 W
Fan Marker: 3 Dashes, 75 MHz
Operated H24.
Wannsee, Stölpchenweg.
The operator of this facility in unclear. Some sources say USBER, others USAFE.
Lübars: RNG (USBER)
N523649 E0132148 (WGS84, transf.), 170°/8.9 NM to Berlin Tempelhof
Google MapsDLS, 418, 100 W
The four predefined courses to the Range were: 047°A-137°N-227°A-317°N. Operated H24.
Lübars, Alter Bernauer Heerweg.
Berlin: Schönefeld Airport (Zentralflughafen Berlin-Schönefeld, SXF)
Schoenefeld Airport is located outside Berlin, but the two radio beacons AB and A for former runway 23 were located on Berlin territory. In this approach direction there was also an Inner Marker shortly before the runway, but outside of Berlin, so it is not listed here.
Runway 23:
Schönefeld: LOMN522426 E0133411 (WGS84, approx.)
Google MapsLocator: AB, 211 kHz
Outer Marker: 75 MHz
Bohnsdorf, Buntzelberg
Schönefeld: LMMN522327 E0133218 (WGS84)
Google MapsLocator: A, 436 kHz
Middle Marker: 75 MHz
Bohnsdorf, in the area between today's Ludwig-Prandtl-Straße and Melitta-Schiller-Straße.
Spandau: VAR (USBER)
N523336 E0131001 (WGS84, transf.), 121°/10.4 NM to Berlin-Tempelhof
Google MapsDIL, 109.1
The four predefined courses to the Range were: 302°, 122° (visual) and 030°, 212° (aural); A-keying to the west, N-keying to the east, yellow indication to the south, blue indication to the north. Operated H24.
Radelandstraße.
For historical information only, do not use for navigation or aviation purposes!