Debrzno 2008-03-18.
Debrzno airport.
Geographic coordinates: 53.524N 17.261E. Elevation 155 m.
History of the city of Debrzno.
Debrzno is a city located in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, in the Wieluń County. The city is the seat of the urban-rural commune of Debrzno.
Traces indicate that there was a Piast settlement here already in the 12th century. In the 13th century, there was already a wooden and earth defensive castle in the settlement. The first written records come from the first half of the 14th century, when the Piast Princes of Pomerania ruled in these areas. Unfortunately, in 1312, the Człuchów Land together with Debrzno fell illegally under the rule of the Teutonic Order. In foreign documents, the town of Debrzno is mentioned in 1345, and in 1354, the city obtained a location privilege under Western law, modeled on Chełm law. The Teutonic Knights changed the name of the city to Fredeland because they were unable to pronounce the name Debrzno. The city developed slowly but systematically. This was facilitated by the location on important communication routes. When the Teutonic Knights took over Gdańsk Pomerania, a defensive brick and stone castle was built near Debrzno. One of the administrators of the castle was Ludwik of Nakło, as mentioned by scarce historical sources. In the 15th century, Debrzno returned to Poland thanks to Casimir IV Jagiellon. This situation lasted until the first partition of Poland, when Debrzno became part of the Prussian partition. The Polish nobility lost all their offices, but did not lose their estates. Now agricultural products could reach the West without any problems. Thanks to this, in addition to the further development of agriculture, other branches of the economy, such as brewing and distilling, developed. Trade in grain and malt flourished.
An important railway road connecting Berlin with Królewiec was marked near Debrzno, specifically the Piła-Chojnice section. In 1945, Debrzno returned to the borders of the Republic of Poland for the second time and we believe that it will be permanent. In the period 1974-1998, Debrzno belonged to the Słupsk Voivodeship.
Currently (2009) Debrzno is a small town, located on the sidelines, in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Człuchów County, on the border of the Pomeranian and Greater Poland Voivodeships and near the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The town is located on the Debrzynka River and on the provincial road No. 188, between Złotów and Człuchów. According to the 2004 census, the population of Debrzno was 5,251 people. Unfortunately, the commune has a high percentage of unemployed people, after the liquidated State Agricultural Farms (State Agricultural Farm) and the liquidated Military Aviation Regiment. Despite the difficulties, the city is developing thanks to cooperation, among others, with the Swedish Municipality of Huddinge. Agritourism is developing in the commune. The inhabitants are tough people and they know that a lot depends on them. That is why they established the "Associations for the Development of the City and Commune of Debrzno".
To the south of Debrzno, 2 km away, is the village of Wieś Debrzno. This town is already within the borders of the Greater Poland Voivodeship and the airport is practically located next to it. The airport is located in the Greater Poland Voivodeship, in the Złotów poviat, Lipka commune.
Railway trail near Debrzno airport.
Near the airport there is an important railway line No. 203, which connects Kostrzyn with Tczew (343 km). Specifically, this is the Piła – Chojnice section (95 km). The construction of the trail began in 1842. For the Prussians it was an important route that connected Berlin with Königsberg. From 1888, the line was owned by the Prussian State Railways. In 1945, the trail entered Poland. The trail is single- or double-track in sections, and electrified in some sections. Most of the route is approved for speeds of 120 km/h for passenger trains and 70 km/h for freight trains. Since 2009, the trail has been modernized. From this trail, a railway siding was led to the airport area, from the Lipka Krajeńska station. Currently (2009) the railway siding is not in use.
History of Debrzno Airport.
We have written in many articles that the war in Korea had a decisive impact on the enormous, beyond measure development of aviation in Poland. And not only the production of aircraft, but also the construction of new airports. This was also the case with the airport in Debrzno. The decision to locate the airport was probably made in 1951, so it is a typical Polish airport from the Polish People’s Republic period. The location was influenced by the existence of important east-west communication routes. The decision to build the airport was made in 1952.
The construction of the airport lasted from October 1952 to August 1954. The main contractor was the 25th Airport Construction Battalion from Oleśnica (JW 1297).
Airport Infrastructure.
The airport is located 2 km from the town center to the south-east. The airport has a runway measuring 2,500 m x 60 m, elevation 155 m, concrete surface, orientation 07/25, geographical coordinates 53.31.28 N (53.524N) 17.15.33 E (17.261E). Debrzno Airport belongs to; FIS Gdańsk, SNRL Bydgoszcz, SNRL Świdwin.
The landscape around Debrzno is typically lowland, with slowly flowing rivers, numerous floodplains, numerous forests, and most of it with arable fields. Approximately 700 hectares have been allocated for the airport, including all infrastructure, with the possibility of expanding it to almost 800 hectares. The area with an irregular circumference is close to a rectangle, about 4 km long and about 1.7 km wide. Most of the area was forested, with the remainder being farmland. Therefore, a large area directly under the runway, taxiways and parking areas required clearing the forest. The entire area has been fenced. The fence consists of concrete posts and wire mesh or barbed wire.
The construction of the airport began with the construction of a railway siding running from the nearby railway line No. 203 from the Lipka Krajeńska station, and most of the materials were transported this way. Over time, the siding was extended. The runway, taxiways and parking spaces (stands, stands) were constructed according to the typical plan according to which many airports were built in the 50s. It was never planned to add another runway to the airport stilts, but a significant extension of the existing one was always considered if necessary. The extension would take place towards the east.
The airport area was electrified and a water and sewage network was installed. Car roads with street lights were built. Buildings for the unit’s headquarters, a pilot’s house, barracks for soldiers, workshops, a central boiler room, an armory, a warehouse for propellants and lubricants, storage sheds and many others were built. 84 buildings and 40 typical military facilities were built. Most of the buildings and infrastructure were built between 1953 and 1966. In the 1970s, several shelter hangars were built for airplanes. At that time, there were 123 buildings at the airport.
Other airport data: Runway (RWY) with an area of 150,000 m2. Taxiways with an area of 54,982 m2. Parking areas with an area of 37,042 m2. Car roads with an area of 77,460 m2. Paved squares with an area of 6,000 m2. Fuel tanks: 19 pieces with a capacity of 50 m3, 4 pieces with a capacity of 700 m3, 4 pieces with a capacity of 15 m3.
Thanks to the military airport, a small commune of about 6,000 people could provide work to almost 3,000 people. On the other hand, industry could not be developed in a militarized area. In Debrzno, a primary school, the so-called 1000-Year School, was built, it also had to be built according to a specific scheme, i.e. in the "W" situation, it was to be transformed into a hospital and its basement into a shelter.
At the time of the liquidation of the unit and the transfer of the airport to the Military Property Agency, the property had 426.09 (429) hectares of land, 118 buildings and structures with a total usable area of 34,340 square meters. There was a railway siding and two fuel depots with a total capacity of 4,185 cubic meters.
Debrzno-Słupia Airport Road Section.
On the road from Debrzno, towards the north-east, in the 1960s a DOL was placed, which was often called Bolesławowo, after the nearby town. DOL was used sporadically in the 1960s and 1970s. Currently (2000-2009) closed. DOL Debrzno-Słupia; dimensions 2,150 m x 20 m, elevation 160 m, asphalt surface, orientation 04/22, geographical coordinates 53.34 N 17.15 E.
Hosts of Debrzno Airport.
The first host of the airport was the 11th PLM. Its formation began under the Order of the General Staff of the Polish Army No. 0096/Org of December 11, 1951. The regiment was initially stationed at the Krzesiny airport until the unit’s facilities in Debrzno were partially put into use. From the very beginning, the regiment’s pilots were trained on MiG-15 / Lim-1 aircraft.
At the turn of 1953/1954, the 11th Regiment was moved to its permanent location in Debrzno. Although the construction work has not been completed yet. At that time, it was joked that when the last cubes of concrete were poured at the end of the runway, planes were already landing. Organizationally, the 11th PLM was subordinated to the 2nd OPL OK Corps, with command in Bydgoszcz.
On September 11, 1954, the 11th Regiment began to accept new Lim-1 aircraft from the 11th and last 12th production series, 10 machines in number. Their numbers are; 1A 11-014, 1A 11-015, 1A 11-020, 1A 12-001, 1A 12-002, 1A 12-003, 1A 12-004, 1A 12-006, 1A 12-008, 1A 12-010.
In 1955, the regiment had only Lim-1/2 fighters. Like other regiments, the 11th PLM was struggling with personnel problems. There were few pilots and their level of training was only basic. The reason was the accelerated training mode and lower requirements for pilot candidates. The second important reason was the lack of a sufficient number of twin-engine planes. However, appropriate, modern methods and training plans introduced by the new leadership of the Air Force allowed for efficient improvement of training and combat readiness.
In 1957, the first Lim-5 planes began to arrive at the Debrzno airport, and they soon became the basic planes of the regiment. Lim-1/2s were gradually phased out and rebuilt into two-seat versions.
In 1959, Lim-5 P planes appeared at the airport, the first fighters equipped with radar sights.
11 PLM in Debrzno became an extremely important unit in the structures of OPL OK. The importance of this unit is proven by the fact that it was the third unit in Poland to receive MiG-21 supersonic fighters. In 1963, the first MiG-21 supersonic fighters appeared at the airport. On September 16, 1963, the first six MiG-21 F-13 aircraft, No. 740808, 740809, 740811, 740812, 740813, 740814, were entered into the regiment. They were accepted into the 1st Squadron, and their pilots were officers trained in Poland. at CSL (Aviation Training Center) in Modlin.
But already in September 1964, the planes were transferred to the 40th PLM in Świdwin. This relocation of equipment had very complicated undertones. Well, when starting the purchase of MiG-21 F-13 aircraft, Poland planned to purchase even over 200 machines of this type. However, the rapid appearance of the MiG-21 PF/PFM radar versions resulted in commanders’ reluctance towards the MiG-21 F-13 version. For the regiment in Debrzno, it was planned to introduce newer versions of the MiG-21, and getting rid of the MiG-21 F-13 was supposed to facilitate this. However, this did not happen. The basic fighter of the regiment remained the Lim-5 / 5 P. Yes, the 11th PLM survived until the next major reform in the Polish Aviation.
The 11th PLM was stationed in Debrzno from 1954 to 1968.
At the beginning of 1968, another aviation reorganization took place. Operational Aviation was merged with the Aviation Inspectorate to create DWLot (air force command), headquartered in Poznań. Due to this, regiments were moved and new ones were established. It was also a period in the Polish Army in which the numbering and naming of "peacetime" aviation units in connection with "wartime" aviation units returned.
In 1968, the 11th PLM left the airport in Debrzno and re-formed in Wrocław, the Strachowice airport, in place of the 3rd PLM. Then, the 9th PLM was formed at the airport in Debrzno.
In 1967, the 9th DLM LO changed its name to the 4th Pomeranian Fighter Aviation Division and operated as such until 1991. The division consisted of; 41. PLM in Malbork and the newly created unit of the 9. PLM in Debrzno. The new regiment adopted the traditions of the 9th PLM from World War II.
The 9th PLM Regiment was created from part of the officer cadre that remained from the 11th PLM. The formation process that began in 1967 finally took shape in 1968, which is the official date of the formation of the 9th PLM.
The regiment was equipped with PZL Lim-2, Lim-5 and modern MiG-21 PFM aircraft, which were delivered in 1968. The delivered MiG-21 PFM fighters were new machines. On September 25, 1968, 12 MiG-21 PFM aircraft No. were registered with the Regiment; 94 N 7809, 94 N 7810, 94 N 7811, 94 N 7812, 94 N 7813, 94 N 7814, 94 N 7815, 94 N 7901, 94 N 7902, 94 N 7903, 94 N 7904, 94 N 7905. These were the only MiG-21 PFM fighters delivered to Poland with the letter N in their serial numbers. In short, these machines were adapted to attack with nuclear bombs. However, in Poland it did not matter, because the Polish Army did not have such weapons, and the planes were operated like all others. After some time, the first three MiG-21 PFM with the N index were delivered to the 2nd PLM in Goleniów. The remaining ones were operated in Debrzno until the Regiment was disbanded. The regiment also adopted MiG-21 US/UM twin thrusters.
The turn of the 1960s and 1970s was a period of large purchases of new MiG-21 fighters. This meant that it was not until 1972 that combat units were finally formed in both Operational Aviation and WOPK. The 4th Pomeranian Fighter Aviation Division additionally received the 2nd PLM from Goleniów and the 46th Liaison Aviation Squadron. In the 1970s, the number of aircraft at the airport in Debrzno was supplemented with MiG-21 PFM aircraft taken over from other units.
In 1980, the introduction of MiG-21 bis aircraft to the 28th PLM in Słupsk and the 26th PLM in Zegrze Pomorskie and the 34th PLM in Babie Doły, MiG-21 bis aircraft, allowed the Regiment in Debrzno to be completely rearmed with MiG-fighters. 21 PFM/MF. At the same time, the last Lim-5 aircraft were withdrawn from the unit.
The end of the 1980s was a deepening crisis in Poland. There are no financial resources for restoring combat readiness, not to mention development. This forced our authorities to limit military spending. The general international détente favored Poland. Decisions were made to liquidate some units. In 1989, the city of Debrzno said goodbye to military pilots. The 9th PLM was moved to Zegrze Pomorskie, and the airport in Debrzno waited for better times that did not come.
The 9th PLM was stationed in Debrzno from 1968 to 1989.
In 1989, throughout the year, a squadron from the 41st PLM, equipped with MiG-21 MF aircraft, used the Debrzno airport. In the period 1990-1991, the airport was used by MiG-21 planes from the 2nd ELM from Mierzęcice and from the 62nd PLM in Krzesiny.
In 1989, the 9th PLM stationed in Debrzno was disbanded. Former soldiers of this unit founded a commemorative plaque commemorating the stationing of the 11th PLM, and then the 9th PLM, in the Debrzyń region. In 1991, this plaque was placed at the gate leading to the airport and officially unveiled. Unfortunately, the 1990s were not favorable for the airport. The activities of the soldiers stationed here were limited to maintaining the property in the best possible condition and accepting a few aircraft. In 2000, the decision was made to get rid of the airport by the military and in 2002, the commemorative plaque became homeless.
On April 25, 2005, the commemorative plaque was given a well-deserved place on the square in front of the School Complex in Debrzno and was unveiled again. This time as a Monument. It was consecrated by priest Mirosław Kurkiewicz. During this ceremony, the National Anthem was sung and the Airmen’s March was listened to.
The end of the airport in Debrzno.
The unit in Debrzno was liquidated in 1993 and the entire property was transferred to the Military Property Agency. The area was secured by a security company. For several years, the Ministry of National Defense was wondering about the future fate of the facility. In 2000, a decision was made to sell the airport to civilian business entities. Initially, retaining its character and purpose, but later not necessarily. The problem of the airport in Debrzno was twofold, due to the interest in it by two communes; Lipka and Debrzno and through two voivodeships; Pomeranian and Greater Poland.
The agency and approximately 300 forested hectares were transferred to the management of the State Forests. Part of the area was leased to local farmers. The entire property occupied approximately 350 hectares, of which approximately 200 hectares were leased by farmers. The lease agreement was structured in such a way that it could be terminated within 6 months when a buyer for the entire facility was found.
In 2000, the entire property was valued at PLN 6,000,000, and in 2005, the price was reduced to PLN 3,000,000. For this amount, AMW was ready to sell an unnecessary facility to local governments. From then on, the property was more often called the post-military airport in Debrzno. There was also an idea to create a Closed Economic Zone in this area.
Anti-missile shield.
Cooperation between the United States and Poland regarding the anti-missile shield began in May 2003, when representatives of the Industrial Telecommunications Institute from Warsaw and the Boeing aviation concern started talks in Washington. Under the preliminary agreement, Poland was to cooperate with Boeing in research on electronic reconnaissance, command and control systems, as well as in the production of components of these systems. Boeing, in turn, participated in the construction of the American anti-missile defense system, in which radars were to very quickly detect enemy missiles (launching, for example, from Iran, Syria or North Korea), and defense equipped with anti-missiles would destroy them in flight before they reach to the USA or allied countries. It should be noted that the shield protecting the US from the western side, i.e. China, has been in operation since 2004.
There is no doubt that one of the locations for the missile shield planned by the US was the airport in Debrzno. In July 2006, an American company hired by the US Army conducted research into the suitability of this area for placing elements of an anti-missile shield. The Americans’ work consisted of drilling 17 research wells to a depth of 30 meters by September 30, 2006, for which the Americans received permission from the relevant authorities. The work was carried out by the Warsaw company SEGI-AT on behalf of the American design company Black & Weatch from Kansas City. It was rented by the United States Army to carry out a geotechnical research program at former military airports in Słupsk-Redzikowo, Zegrze Pomorskie and Debrzno. It is important to know that anti-missile missiles flying towards the US are placed in underground silos.
As for the existence of an anti-missile shield, the commune’s society was divided. Not because of concerns about the possible arrival of Americans here, but because of the lack of benefits for the local community. Some people said that no one would make money from Americans. “They will even transport mineral water from the USA, and they will not buy it in our stores. There will be no work. They will close the entire area and that’s it. They should have abolished visas a long time ago.” In turn, the mayor of Debrzno was optimistic. He saw the benefits in a properly negotiated agreement between the USA and the Republic of Poland, with appropriate compensation for the commune in which the shield would be placed. And this is the right approach to the matter.
The American military chose Słupsk-Redzikowo, and since 2015, work has been underway on the construction of an anti-missile shield base. The base was launched in 2023.
Prison project.
Already in 2006, the Prison Service was interested in the facility, with the intention of converting several buildings into prison cells. Unofficially, there was talk of a prison for 500 convicts. Both communes were interested in building such a facility. The plant would provide work for about a hundred people, which was very important for the poor, post-military and post-state government region. The talks between the Prison Service and the AMW lasted many years. They became more specific when, in 2008, it was decided that a possible anti-missile shield would be built near Słupsk. The Penitentiary (if built) will not fully solve the problem of the former airport, because it will occupy approximately 10 hectares, and 700 hectares are still to be developed.
Other airport development.
In 2008, the airport apron was leased by a group of Kuyavian-Pomeranian paragliders who, among other things, trained new paragliding students using a winch. The most frequently used winch was the so-called "malinka", i.e. a passenger car equipped with a tow with a dynamometer that pulls the paraglider with a constant force of 70-80 kg until it is released.
New owner.
In February 2010, the airport was sold by AMW to Mr. Tomasz Kuchar. The new buyer opened the Rallyland complex there with race tracks and a hotel. Mr. Tomasz Kuchar is also an airplane and helicopter pilot and an aviation enthusiast.
Preserved Infrastructure.
The remaining runway RWY in the direction 07/25. Dimensions: 2,500 m x 60 m. The surface is concrete covered with asphalt.
There are 60 hectares of paved surfaces at the airport. There are taxiways, car roads, sidewalks lined with flagstones or concrete balusters. The area is well suited for rallies, fairs, races and exhibitions. There are 150 hectares of grassland on the site. There is a hangar at the airport with a usable area of 1,700 square meters. The hangar is used for various types of training, lectures and presentations. Concerts, discos and film screenings can be organized. There is an air traffic control tower and a pilot’s house in the take-off area. This is a typical construction site at former Polish airports, such as the Nowe Miasto airport on the Pilica River.
The airport has carports for 60 cars. There are many brick buildings at the airport that were used in the past by KOL – Airport Organization Company. There is a barracks building, a canteen building and a kitchen building. There is a former airport fire brigade facility. There are 12 shelter-hangars on the premises. Each of them has a usable area of 300 square meters. The objects are suitable for storage space, but it must be remembered that the objects are damp. Military shooting range type "B" with targets 50 m and 200 m away, surrounded by earth embankments (bullet traps). There is a grenade launcher and professional tranches. These objects are covered with self-seeding plants. The railway siding is still active, although no train has run on it for a long time.
Written by Karol Placha Hetman