Dresden-Kaditz

51°04'10"N 013°40'50"E

Runway: N/A - grass flying field.

Airfield Dresden-Kaditz was an airfield on the right bank of the river Elbe in Dresden, Saxony, 160 kilometer south of Berlin.
It was built when the City Council of Dresden decided to build a city airship port. At the same time the decision was made to station a Company of the Royal Prussian Airship Battalion nr 3 at the airfield. Construction began that same year, and even before it was completed the first airship ("Sachsen") moored at the airfield. A few weeks later the 191m long airship hangar, capable of holding and refuelling two airships, was completed. The official inauguration ceremony took place in the presence of the King of Prussia and thousands of spectators on 26 October 1913.


Section of a map depicting the Flugplatz and Luftschiffhafen at Dresden Kaditz in 1914.


view from a postcard over the Elbe river towards Kaditz.


view from a postcard spectators watching an air display at Kaditz.


Postcard reprint of LZ-17 Sachsen at Dresden Kaditz (San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives, on Flickr). The text on the photo says: "The Dresden airfield, Kaditz. Takeoff of the air cruiser Zeppelin." 'Sachsen' last flew in 1916.

Until the outbreak of World War I, Kaditz had regular air displays, as well as visiting airships and aircraft. After the outbreak of war the airfield was restricted to military operations. This resulted in a new airship hangar getting built, measuring 184 meter in length and 34 meter in width, as well as a hydrogen plant.
In spite of pleas from the Dresden city council, the military prohibited all civilian flights from the field, including those for a planned mail connection. It was not until September 1918 that the airfield was returned to the city.

Flying resumed almost immediately, but as a result of the Versailles treaty the airship hangars and many other buildings had to be taken down in 1920. In spite of this, Dresden succeeded to resume flying activities and was even taken into the postal network, which meant regular connections to Berlin, Hambuurg and Magdeburg. Financial means lacked expansion though, which along with bad connections to the street network meant the airfield had to temporarily close in 1923. Flying resumed for a while, but when Dresden-Heller was taken into service on 12 April 1926, the airfield was permanently closed.


Junkers F13 and Junkers G24 at Flugplatz Dresden-Kaditz, ca. 1925

Today, nothing remains of the former airfield.

Many thanks to Volker Böhme from Germany for providing me with additional information on this airfield!