Rakvere

59°22'06"N 026°21'29"E

runway: 15/33 - 250x25m - unk (estimated - CLOSED)
runway: 09/27 - 750x25m - grass

Air field Rakvere (Russian: Раквере, also known as 20 Отдельная Авиационная Эскадрилья, or 20th Independent Aviation Squadron, ICAO: EETE) was a helicopter airfield north of Rakvere, 90 kilometers east of Talinn, Estonia.
The airfield was built in the 1920s. In 1925 it had a single squadron of DH-9 reconnaissance aircraft.
In 1932 the squadron received four Let S-228E reconnaissance aircraft. Just before Estonia defacto lost its independence in 1939 the airfield received Hawker Harts.

Between 1941 and 1944 the Luftwaffe used the airfield with FW190s of JG54, and Stukas and FW-190Ts of 3.SG1 and 3./SG5 respectively. In early 1944 the Soviets attacked the airfield several times, amongst others with Lavotchin La-5 light bombers. The Germans were finally driven out in late 1944.

After the war the airfield was assigned to a Soviet airborne corps and it became home to an airborne division. The division was relocated to Kirov in Azerbaidjan in the 1960s, however. Together with the airbornes a Naval border guard unit was posted at the airfield. They flew several helicopter types from the airfield. It consisted of a short runway, and 14 concrete helicopter landing pads.

When Estonia regained independence the Soviet Navy left the airfield. Like many of former Soviet military locations its soil is poluted, but not as severe as other airfields.


Two Kamov 25 "Hormone' helicopters at Rakvere, presumably late 1970s, early 1980s (Wikimapia)


The tower at the airfield covered in snow, presumably late 1970s, early 1980s (Fotki.com).


A border guard posing in front of a Mi-8 'Hip' helicopter, presumably late 1970s, early 1980s (Fotki.com)


Undated overview of the airfield. Judging from its condition and the lack of helicopters it must have been taken around the time the Soviets left Estonia.

The airfield was closed after Estonia became independent. It was acquired by private pilots however, who intended to reopen the airfield in 2004. They opened a new grass east-west runway just south of the former helicopter base, just across the road. The airfield is still recognisable from aerial photography, although it is being used as a storage site. To the southwest, immediately across the road lie revetments that seem to stem from an anti-air missile battery. The runway, which was still recognisable in 2006 appeared to have been filled with some kind of debris only a year later.


2008 overview of the airstrip with the missile revetments to the southwest (Google Earth)


Aerial view of the new airstrip (looking east) with the missile revetments visible center right (pilots.ee)


The control tower, photographed in 2011 (Fotki.com)


The helicopter pads, photographed in 2011, looking like a dumping ground (Fotki.com)