Spilve Airport


Spilve Airport is a former civilian and military airport in Latvia located 5 km north of Riga's city centre, from which aircraft took off as early as the First World War. It became the first international airport of Riga in the 1920s and fell into disuse in the 1980s after Riga International Airport was built.
WWW spilve.org

History

Spilve Airport was first established in 1916. On 15 April, 1916, the 12th Fighter Squadron or the Imperial Russian Air Service was based there, flying Moranes, Sikorski and Nieuport aircraft.
In August 1916, newly acquired Nievport 24s arrived at Spilve Airport. Due to their poor condition, a repair base was established on the premises of a cement factory. Spare parts used to repair aircraft were collected from wartime airfields abandoned by the Germans in Ozolnieki, Pētersfwlde near Dobele, Vecauce, and Vaiņode.
During spring, the airfield became unserviceable when the Daugava flooded the field. In response, the Latvian Air Force organised the construction of drainage ditches, completed with pumps and sluices. During one particular spring, the airfield was completely flooded with large chunks of ice that came from the Daugava, and aircraft had to be hauled up onto the hangar roof to save them from damage. Following the Bermint-Avalon battles, on 29 November 1919, the airport became the principal base for the Latvian Air Force. Three hangars were designated for Air Force usage.
In 1922-1926 Latvijas Gaisa Satiksmes Akciju Sabiedriba operated flights on Berlin – Königsberg – Kaunas – Riga line. From 1928, regular commercial flights of German-Soviet Deruluft linked Spilve with Berlin via Königsberg, Moscow via Smolensk and Leningrad via Tallinn. From 1932 Polish LOT connected Spilve to Warsaw via Vilnius and to Helsinki via Tallinn. In 1936 German Lufthansa started flights Berlin-Königsberg-Kaunas-Riga-Tallinn-Helsinki. In 1937 Swedish Aerotransport and Soviet Aeroflot started a route Stockholm-Riga-Velikiye Luki-Moscow. In 1937-1940 Latvian Valsts gaisa satiksme had regular flights from Spilve to Liepāja.
On 15 March, 1936, construction of the Aizsargi headquarters building had began, and the cornerstone was laid next to the existing hangars. It was unofficially named "Alkazars," referencing the Siege of the Alcázar that took place during the Spanish Civil War. On 2 October, 1937, the headquarters building was completed, costing 77,300 lats. The total sum was donated by individual and various companies. It was three storeys, and had a deck and balcony on the roof. The ground floor was used for storage and workshops, and the second floor was used for a meeting room and office for the AA commander. On the third floor were other offices for a doctor, meteorologist, photo developing room, and supplies and armament officers. Beginning in 1936, Spilve Airport served as the beginning and ending point for the national-held 1936, 1937, and 1938 Flight Around Latvia competitions. On 24 January, 1938, construction work for two new hangars began, and were reserved for the Aizsargi. Throughout September 1938, the Aizsargi conducted night flying exercises over Spilve Airport, and warning lights were affixed to the chimneys of buildings. When the formation would return, a large spotlight would light up the landing field. Construction of the hangars were completed on 30 September, 1938.

World War II

On 17 June, 1940, the Soviet Air Forces occupied Spilve Airport, becoming a major Soviet fighter base through 1940 and 1941. In January 1941, the 21st Istrebitelny Aviatsionny Polk arrived at Spilve Airport. On 1 March, plans were drawn for the construction of a concrete runway. Shortly afterwards, the plan was approved on 24 March and construction began in June. On 22 June, the 6th Smeshannaya Aviatsionnaya Diviziya arrived, and 66 fighters and 16 bombers were based at the airport. Through late June, Spilve Airport was heavily bombed by the Luftwaffe. On 26 June, 1941, 11 bombers attacked the airfield, and anti-aircraft defense failed to deter the aircraft as they climbed to a much higher altitude. The fuel dump was bombed, leading to an uncontrolled fire that burnt down the administrative and control tower building.
On 1 July, 1941, German troops captured Riga along with Spilve Airport. After it was captured, the airport underwent a large reconstruction project, and was carried by more than 1,000 prisoners. The landing ground was extended by 800 x 800 meters, and a second concrete runway was added. Spilve Airport began hosting several fighter, bomber, liaison, and reconnaissance squadrons. Maintenance units were also deployed, which maintained and repaired aircraft from the Eastern Front. On 11 October, 1944, retreating German forces buried mines 20 metres apart along the taxiway and runway. Explosive charges were also planted on the hangars and other buildings. Afterwards, the airport was completely blown up, rendering it unusable by advancing Soviet forces. Two days later, Spilve Airport was captured.

Post-war

After World War II and the Soviet re-occupation of Latvia in 1944 the airport was rebuilt as the hub for Aeroflot. A new ring taxiway was added and the tarmac changed. The terminal building completed in 1954, still remains as a notable example of Stalin's neoclassical architecture. This building was completely renovated in 2012 and will host Latvian Aviation Museum. The airfield was closed for regular flights in the late 1980s. A large technical school existed here until the 1990s with one of each major Soviet aircraft type, including Ilyushin Il-18, Ilyushin Il-62 and Tupolev Tu-134, most broken up around 1996 or 1997.

Current use

The airfield at Spilve is now published in the Latvian pilot's guide "VFR Guide Latvia". A new hangar has now been built housing up to 5 aircraft complementing the two existing hangar buildings. The larger hangar seen on satellite imagery being used to house up to 12 aircraft ranging from ultralight to Cessna 210, while a second hangar to the north east is used for ultralights and flex-wing microlights. Spilve Airport Museum is currently closed.
Riga Spilve is being increasingly used as a base for training private pilots.
The terminal building is currently being turned into the Latvian Aviation Museum.

Transportation

Public transportation is available. From Stockmann take bus No.3 going in the direction of Bolderāja. Exit at Māju celtniecības kombināts stop.

Units

The following units that were based at Spilve Airport:
; Operational units
; Non-flying units
  • Airfield Commandant A 201/I, 1943–1944
  • Airfield Commandant A 101/I, April–October 1944
  • Staff, 3rd Air Division, September–October 1944
  • Fighter Sector Commander Ostland, December 1943 – September 1944
  • Field Maintenance Detachment 60, Luftwaffe, February–October 1944
  • Maintenance Department 20/I, April & August 1944
  • Maintenance Company 24, February 1944 – ?
  • Maintenance Company 25, February 1944 – ?
  • Maintenance Platoon 100, March 1944
  • Maintenance Platoon 705, March 1944
  • Winter Aircraft Equipment Special Detachment 62, 1944
  • Air Torpedo Operations Company 3, September 1943
  • Air Torpedo Operations Company 6, June 1943
  • Front Repair Facility GL 2771, 1942–1944
  • Front Repair Facility GL 2772, ? – September 1944