Brochocin 2022-12-12
The airport in Brochocin, Łukaszów, Podolany.
Geographic coordinates: 51.191N 15.947E.
Brochocin is located in the Lower Silesian Voivodeship, in the Złotoryja district, in the Zagrodno commune. The former Brochocin – Łukaszów – Podolany airport was founded by the Germans around 1935 as a school and backup airport. In German times, the airport was called Flugplatz Schönfeld-Seifersdorf, and during the Soviet occupation, Aerodrome Brohocin. The airport is located directly on the provincial road No. 328 from Złotoryja to Chojnów, on its eastern side. The airport stretched between Łukaszów and Podolany. It is 19 km from the airport to Legnica. And the next former Soviet airport in Krzywa is 26 km away.
In German times, the airport had extensive facilities. At the airport there were three large steel and brick hangars and two wooden hangars. In front of the hangars there were concrete squares that have survived to this day. There were several wooden barracks on a brick foundation, for various purposes. There was a fuel depot and a bomb depot. On the take-off field, a ground RWY with a length of 1,300 m and a width of 300 m was designated, in the direction of 10/28. The entire field of ascents has been meliorated. There were drains and drainage ditches. The total area of the airport was about 300 hectares. At the longest point, the airport was 2,200 m long, and at its widest point, it was 1,500 m. There is now a forest on the northern side of the take-off field and all the facilities are located there. In 1935, there was no forest. The airport area was not fenced, but was guarded by sentries who had small concrete bunkers at their disposal to protect them from rain or hostile attack. The staff and pilots of the airport lived in houses in the villages. There was also a school for young pilots. There were farms next to the airport that raised sheep, and the sheep "mowed" the grass in the take-off field.
At the airport, training and single-engine fighter aircraft were based, including: Heinkel He 45, Heinkel He 70, Messerschmitt Bf 109, Focke-Wulf Fw 190A. The twin-engined Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Fw 58s were also based here temporarily. In February 1945, the airport was partially destroyed. One of the large hangars was completely destroyed.
After World War II, the airport was occupied by the Red Army and was treated as a backup airport. In 1951, US intelligence records show that out of several hangars, only one was destroyed and not rebuilt. From aerial photos, 48 single-engine fighter and attack aircraft were counted. It was probably the Iliuszyn Il-10 and Yakovlev Yak-9 aircraft. It is known that there was also a field unit in the strength of a battalion from the garrison in Legnica. The airport belonged to PGWAR, i.e. the northern Group of Forces of the Soviet Army, the actual occupier of Poland.
On June 6, 1992, when the airport was handed over to the Polish authorities, it turned out that the total area of the airport was 1,463 hectares. There were a dozen buildings on the site: residential, barracks, fuel depot with underground tanks and others. The Soviets also gave away several houses in the villages of Łukaszów and Podolany.
The area of 1,463 hectares transferred by the Soviets to the authorities in Poland on June 6, 1992 remains unclear. The area with facilities and a runway to the road is about 220 hectares. Even if you include the entire area between public roads, it is only 330 hectares. Therefore, it should be assumed that other areas were also assigned to this object, for additional or future activities of the Soviet army in Poland.
Podolany was called Schönfeld in Germanic times. In the village, which is currently inhabited by about 200 inhabitants, there is a palace of former owners. Address Podolany 15, 59-500 Podolany. In the village, almost all houses are new. Just like in the village of Łukaszów. The former landing field of the airport is now farmland.
Currently (2022), the back-up area of the airport is occupied by Austin Powder Polska (USA). There were three deficiencies in the plant. The entire company area is fenced.
Austin Powder Polska (USA) is a manufacturer of explosives and a company providing blasting services. Austin Powder helped pave the way that contributed to the development of the USA: building canals, railroads and highways, and providing energy resources. The company has been producing explosives since 1833. The company prides itself on being competitive and wants to help build Poland. The company manufactures a full range of industrial explosives and accessories and provides engineering and blasting services to customers around the world. It also provides services to clients in opencast and underground mining plants, in construction and in special works.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman