Hradčany Airport (in CzechLetiště Hradčany, often Letiště Ralsko) is a former military airport within the area of Ralsko in Liberec Region, northern Czech Republic. Built toward the end of World War II for the Luftwaffe, it was expanded after the war. In 1968 the Soviet Army took control and set up a large air base here. However, after the Soviets left in 1991, the airport was abandoned and it is now neglected and damaged.
The area was used for military training during Austria-Hungary and during the First Republic of Czechoslovakia. Since 1938 the area was controlled by the Wehrmacht and used for training. In March 1945 the Wehrmacht built a field airport next to village Hradčany (Kummer).[1] By April 1945 Stab and II./SG 2 of Luftwaffe's Schlachtgeschwader 2 were based here, while its I./SG 2 was in Austria, and III./SG 2 near Prague. The airport was also used by a wing of Messerschmitt Me 262 at the end of the war, and later damaged by American bombing.
After the war, German speaking inhabitants were expelled. On 30 October 1946 the Czechoslovak Army closed up the area and established military base, later known as Military District Ralsko (Vojenský újezd Ralsko). In 1968, during the initial phases of Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia, Soviet planes shipped military materiel through the airport. The whole base was handed over to the newly established Central Group of Forces of the Soviet Armed Forces. To host the Soviet 236th bomber-fighter squadron and part of the 131st air division the airport runway was expanded to 2,800 meters (width 60 m, one of the largest in Central Europe) and completely covered with concrete. Over forty hardened hangars hosted about 44 Mig-21 fighters and Mi-24 helicopters. Fuel tanks had capacity over 37,000 m³.[2]
Between 1945 and 1968 the Czechoslovak Air Force operated several regiments from Hradčany airfield:[3]
46 Bomber Division (46 letecké bombardovací divize) between 1951 and 1955.
24 Bomber Regiment (24. letecký bombardovací pluk) between 1952 and 1954.
25 Bomber Regiment (25. letecký bombardovací pluk) between 1952 and 1954.
17 Fighter Regiment (17. stíhací letecký pluk) between 1955 and 1964.
26 Fighter Regiment (26. stíhací letecký pluk) between 1956 and 1958.
30 Fighter-Bomber Regiment (30. stíhací bombardovací letecký pluk) between 1958 and 1959.
2 Fighter-Bomber Regiment (2 stíhací bombardovací letecký pluk) between 1964 and 1968.
Aircraft operated from the airfield included Arado Ar-96Bs, AS-11s, and MiG-15 (MiG-15, MiG-15bisR and MiG-15UTI).
Former airportedit
After the fall of the communist party from power in 1989, withdrawal of Soviet troops was negotiated in February 1990. The last soldier left the district in May 1991. The district lost its military status in the same year, was open to the public and on 1 January 1992 the village of Ralsko (area of 170 km2, town since 2006) was established by joining of nine villages together. Between 1993 and 2004 the area was extensively cleaned up from chemical contamination and searched for unexploded ammunition.
Soon after the airport was handed over to Czech authorities several projects has been proposed: setting up large cargo terminal here, to use it by Rolls-Royce for engine tests, to attract a low-cost carrier or create a Czech Scout base for huge events such as a jamboree.[4] Due to unwillingness and inability of the authorities none of the plans has materialized. The state was unable even to provide protection of existing structures and these became target of vandals and looters and were completely devastated during the 1990s.
The airport is now (without official certification) used by ultralight clubs, for unorganized car races and for rave parties. Newer plans propose to turn the location into a recreational area.
Notesedit
^"Short info about the former village Hradčany" (in Czech).
^ (in Czech). Archived from the original on 2007-09-28.
^Abandoned & Little-Known Airfields: Czech Republic: Hradcany 2013-01-20 at the Wayback Machine, accessed March 2012
^"Na místě ruské střelnice v Ralsku chce poslanec Farský skautskou rezervaci". 30 October 2018.
Literatureedit
Ladislav Lahoda: Průvodce bývalým vojenským prostorem Ralsko (Guide through former military district Ralsko), 2000, selfpublished. Shortened version online (PDF).
External linksedit
Short information about the airport (in Czech)
Article about recent state of the airport: part 1, part 2, collection of (in Czech)
February 23, 2024
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Hradcany Airport in Czech Letiste Hradcany often Letiste Ralsko is a former military airport within the area of Ralsko in Liberec Region northern Czech Republic Built toward the end of World War II for the Luftwaffe it was expanded after the war In 1968 the Soviet Army took control and set up a large air base here However after the Soviets left in 1991 the airport was abandoned and it is now neglected and damaged Hradcany AirportLetiste HradcanyHangars of the baseIATA noneICAO LKHRSummaryAirport typeMilitaryLocationRalsko Ceska Lipa District Elevation AMSL912 ft 278 mCoordinates50 37 14 N 14 44 17 E 50 62056 N 14 73806 E 50 62056 14 73806MapHradcany AirportLocation of airport in Czech RepublicShow map of Czech RepublicHradcany AirportHradcany Airport Europe Show map of EuropeRunwaysDirection Length Surfaceft m09L 27R 9 186 2 800 Concrete09R 27L Grass Contents 1 History 2 Former airport 3 Notes 4 Literature 5 External linksHistory editThe area was used for military training during Austria Hungary and during the First Republic of Czechoslovakia Since 1938 the area was controlled by the Wehrmacht and used for training In March 1945 the Wehrmacht built a field airport next to village Hradcany Kummer 1 By April 1945 Stab and II SG 2 of Luftwaffe s Schlachtgeschwader 2 were based here while its I SG 2 was in Austria and III SG 2 near Prague The airport was also used by a wing of Messerschmitt Me 262 at the end of the war and later damaged by American bombing After the war German speaking inhabitants were expelled On 30 October 1946 the Czechoslovak Army closed up the area and established military base later known as Military District Ralsko Vojensky ujezd Ralsko In 1968 during the initial phases of Soviet occupation of Czechoslovakia Soviet planes shipped military materiel through the airport The whole base was handed over to the newly established Central Group of Forces of the Soviet Armed Forces To host the Soviet 236th bomber fighter squadron and part of the 131st air division the airport runway was expanded to 2 800 meters width 60 m one of the largest in Central Europe and completely covered with concrete Over forty hardened hangars hosted about 44 Mig 21 fighters and Mi 24 helicopters Fuel tanks had capacity over 37 000 m 2 Between 1945 and 1968 the Czechoslovak Air Force operated several regiments from Hradcany airfield 3 46 Bomber Division 46 letecke bombardovaci divize between 1951 and 1955 24 Bomber Regiment 24 letecky bombardovaci pluk between 1952 and 1954 25 Bomber Regiment 25 letecky bombardovaci pluk between 1952 and 1954 17 Fighter Regiment 17 stihaci letecky pluk between 1955 and 1964 26 Fighter Regiment 26 stihaci letecky pluk between 1956 and 1958 30 Fighter Bomber Regiment 30 stihaci bombardovaci letecky pluk between 1958 and 1959 2 Fighter Bomber Regiment 2 stihaci bombardovaci letecky pluk between 1964 and 1968 Aircraft operated from the airfield included Arado Ar 96Bs AS 11s and MiG 15 MiG 15 MiG 15bisR and MiG 15UTI Former airport editAfter the fall of the communist party from power in 1989 withdrawal of Soviet troops was negotiated in February 1990 The last soldier left the district in May 1991 The district lost its military status in the same year was open to the public and on 1 January 1992 the village of Ralsko area of 170 km2 town since 2006 was established by joining of nine villages together Between 1993 and 2004 the area was extensively cleaned up from chemical contamination and searched for unexploded ammunition Soon after the airport was handed over to Czech authorities several projects has been proposed setting up large cargo terminal here to use it by Rolls Royce for engine tests to attract a low cost carrier or create a Czech Scout base for huge events such as a jamboree 4 Due to unwillingness and inability of the authorities none of the plans has materialized The state was unable even to provide protection of existing structures and these became target of vandals and looters and were completely devastated during the 1990s The airport is now without official certification used by ultralight clubs for unorganized car races and for rave parties Newer plans propose to turn the location into a recreational area Notes edit Short info about the former village Hradcany in Czech Vojensky vycvikovy prostor Ralsko a letiste v Hradcanech in Czech Archived from the original on 2007 09 28 Abandoned amp Little Known Airfields Czech Republic Hradcany Archived 2013 01 20 at the Wayback Machine accessed March 2012 Na miste ruske strelnice v Ralsku chce poslanec Farsky skautskou rezervaci 30 October 2018 Literature editLadislav Lahoda Pruvodce byvalym vojenskym prostorem Ralsko Guide through former military district Ralsko 2000 selfpublished Shortened version online PDF External links editShort information about the airport in Czech Article about recent state of the airport part 1 part 2 collection of photos in Czech Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hradcany Air Base amp oldid 1205970428, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
