Shkodër Airfield
Airport in Rrethinat, Albania
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History
Constructed during the Italian Occupation of Albania, the airfield was built and used by German forces in 1943-1944. After the war ended, repairs were completed, and work had begun toward modernizing thanks to the help of Soviet specialists. Although it did not have a paved runway and the modernization work was never completed, in the 1950s the airfield looked like a modern airport, with Soviet transports in use and supplied by air.[1]
In a CIA-declassified document from November 21st 1950, the Shkodër airfield is described as relatively large, with a drainage system and a hangar but no concrete runway. The document states that the landing directions were indicated by red lights.[2] According to a similar document dated 1950, the Shkoder airfield had excellent road connections to both Yugoslavia (via Podgorica) and central Albania. The report also noted that a railway line planned to pass near the airfield was under construction.[3]
