Gorzów Wielkopolski 2023-03-30
The airport in Gorzów Wielkopolski?
Gorzów Wielkopolski is a city in Poland in the Lubuskie Voivodeship, in the Gorzów County. Gorzów Wielkopolski received city rights in 1257. The area of the city is 85.72 km2. In 2022, the city’s population was 118,011. The city lies on the Warta River. Gorzów Wielkopolski is located on a strongly undulating terrain, with a height of 19 – 105 m above sea level and among numerous oxbow lakes of the Warta River and its tributaries.
From Gorzów Wielkopolski the distance is to: Kostrzyn nad Odrą 48 km. Zielona Góra – Babimost airport 87 km. Szczecin 101 km. Zielona Gora 105 km. Szczecin – Goleniów airport 117 km. Poznan 128 km. Warsaw 430 km. It is relatively far from Gorzów Wielkopolski to three airports (Ławica, Babimost, Goleniów); 87 – 128 km. The main provincial authorities are in Zielona Góra, which is relatively far away (105 km).
Airports in Gorzów Wielkopolski.
The city of Gorzów Wielkopolski does not have its own airport. The main reason is the large German interference in the affairs of Gorzów Wielkopolski. An attempt to build an airport for medical aviation and a local flying club in Wojcieszyce (north of the city) was blocked by the Provincial Administrative Court.
Lipki Wielkie airport.
Geographic coordinates: 52.715N 15.511E. Elevation 41 m.
In Lipki Wielkie, by the provincial road No. 158, on the edge of the forests – Puszcza Notecka, there is an airport belonging to the State Forests. It is 22 km from Gorzów Wielkopolski to the airport in the east direction. The airport was founded in 1989. The owner of the airport is the Karwin Forest Inspectorate. The airport has a hard, asphalt runway, 760 m long. Two or three PZL M-18 Dromader aircraft are stationed at the airport.
There are two private airstrips near the city limits. The first one is in the town of Ulim, 7 km away from the city center, to the south. Geographic coordinates: 52.693N 15.217E. The second – Landing Ground Różanki – Szklarnia, 8 km from the city center, in the north-east direction. Geographic coordinates: 52.772N 15.307E.
There is a heliport next to the provincial hospital, which was launched in the 1970s. In the period 2013 – 2014, the landing site was completely rebuilt. The heliport received lighting.
Army in Gorzów Wielkopolski.
Already in the 18th century, the city became a Prussian military garrison. In 1783, four squadrons (about 500 cavalrymen) were stationed here. In total there were 900 – 1,000 people. A Protestant garrison church was built, new barracks together with blocks of flats for the cadre and their families. In 1804, a primary school for the children of officers was opened. During the Seven Years’ War (1756 – 1763), the city had to support the Muscovite army, and at the beginning of the 19th century, the inhabitants paid contributions to Napoleon’s army. In the mid-nineteenth century, Protestants, Orthodox and Jews lived in the city, and each of these social groups had its own temple.
In the period 1945 – 1998, many different military units were stationed in the city – the Polish Army. Poland’s accession to NATO on March 12, 1999 resulted in the liquidation of many units, while others changed their stationing locations.
In Gorzów Wielkopolski there was the 12th Kołobrzeski Mechanized Regiment (JW 2870). The unit was stationed in Gorzów Wielkopolski from 1950 as an Infantry Regiment. Soon the regiment was enlarged by a company of T-34 tanks. In 1962, the Infantry Regiment was reformed into the Mechanized Regiment. At that time, the unit had about 2,500 soldiers. The staff of the unit with their families lived mainly in the Staszica housing estate. The soldiers of the unit took an active part in; removing rubble from the city, building a provincial hospital and repairing roads. Soldiers were also involved in harvesting, potato digging, fruit picking and drainage works. In the 1980s, soldiers took an active part in the liquidation of natural disasters; fires and floods. In 1996, the Regiment was transformed into the 4th Gorzów Mechanized Brigade, which meant a reduction in the number of active duty soldiers. In 1998, the unit was finally disbanded.
During the service, the Regiment was equipped with T-34, T-54 and T-55 tanks. But the basic equipment was SKOT (Medium Wheeled Armored Transporter) armored vehicles. SKOT vehicles were armed with 14.5 mm KPWT heavy machine guns. In the 90s, the 4th Gorzów Mechanized Brigade was equipped; BWP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, T-55AM Merida tanks, 2S1 Goździk self-propelled howitzers, ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns, BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance vehicles.
In the 1970s, the 12th Kołobrzeg Mechanized Regiment consisted of; three mechanized battalions armed with SKOT vehicles, one T-55 medium tank battalion, one battery of 120 mm mortars, one battery of 122 mm howitzers, two batteries of anti-aircraft machine guns, communications company, reconnaissance company, sapper company, supply company, repair company, platoon chemical, infirmary, security and traffic regulation platoon. The Polish Army in Gorzów Wielkopolski had a garrison orchestra.
The 3rd Reserve Infantry Regiment was a Polish military unit operating in the period 1944 – 1945. The unit was part of the 1st Army of the Polish Army. The unit took an active part in the Second World War and covered the trail; Sumy, Lublin, Wola Karczewska, Złotów, Gorzów Wielkopolski. The regiment was disbanded on June 29, 1945.
The 4th Lusatian Sapper Brigade (JW 1641) was a Polish military unit formed in 1944. The unit was part of the 2nd Army of the Polish Army. After World War II, the unit was stationed in Gorzów Wielkopolski, from June 1947. Subunits created on the basis of this unit, for many years, demined areas in various parts of Poland.
The barracks in Gorzów Wielkopolski were located on Zygalskiego Street. Currently, the former barracks houses, among others; District Office, Police Station, Communications Department of the City Hall. For the needs of the army stationed in Gorzów Wielkopolski, a small training ground was created in the vicinity of the village; Marwice, Santocko, Chwalęcin. The training ground served mainly as a tactical square and unexploded ordnance found there was disarmed.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman