Sliac Airport
Encyclopedia
Sliač Airport , historically Letisko Tri Duby (literally "The Three Oaks Airport") - is an international airport in central Slovakia
, between Zvolen
and Banská Bystrica
, near the spa town of Sliač
. The airport has one runway, which is 2,340 m long (18/36). The airport is shared between military and civilian use.
in 1944, when it became the most important airport of the anti-Nazi Resistance. Between 6 September and 25 October 1944, the airport was the main base of the Slovak Insurgent Air Force
, but it had to be evacuated afterwards because of the advancing German forces. Since the territory controlled by the rebels was encircled by the hostile German forces, Tri Duby and the nearby Zolná airport were the main gateways to the rest of the world. In addition to the significant Soviet aid, the United States
sent supplies and OSS
operatives through Tri Duby and these flights also evacuated American fliers liberated from German POW
camps.
The airport changed its name from Tri Duby to Sliač in 1945. In 2009, it was closed for a major reconstruction project financed in part by NATO and EU. It was reopened in May 2011 for military and June 2011 for civilian use. Charter flights are operated to Burgas, Antalya. Others are planned.
Slovakia
The Slovak Republic is a landlocked state in Central Europe. It has a population of over five million and an area of about . Slovakia is bordered by the Czech Republic and Austria to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south...
, between Zvolen
Zvolen
Zvolen |Slatina]] rivers, close to Banská Bystrica. With its ancient castle, the town has a historical center, which represents the seat of an okres .-History:...
and Banská Bystrica
Banská Bystrica
Banská Bystrica is a key city in central Slovakia located on the Hron River in a long and wide valley encircled by the mountain chains of the Low Tatras, the Veľká Fatra, and the Kremnica Mountains. With 81,281 inhabitants, Banská Bystrica is the sixth most populous municipality in Slovakia...
, near the spa town of Sliač
Sliac
Sliač is a small spa town located in central Slovakia, on the Hron river, between Banská Bystrica and Zvolen. The town is known for its healing hot springs and for an airport which has been used for military as well as civil purposes...
. The airport has one runway, which is 2,340 m long (18/36). The airport is shared between military and civilian use.
History
The Tri Duby Airport played an important role during the Slovak National UprisingSlovak National Uprising
The Slovak National Uprising or 1944 Uprising was an armed insurrection organized by the Slovak resistance movement during World War II. It was launched on August 29 1944 from Banská Bystrica in an attempt to overthrow the collaborationist Slovak State of Jozef Tiso...
in 1944, when it became the most important airport of the anti-Nazi Resistance. Between 6 September and 25 October 1944, the airport was the main base of the Slovak Insurgent Air Force
Slovak Insurgent Air Force
The Slovak Insurgent Air Force was a Pro-Allied air unit which fought against Axis forces in Slovakia and participated in Slovak National Uprising in autumn 1944.-History:...
, but it had to be evacuated afterwards because of the advancing German forces. Since the territory controlled by the rebels was encircled by the hostile German forces, Tri Duby and the nearby Zolná airport were the main gateways to the rest of the world. In addition to the significant Soviet aid, the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sent supplies and OSS
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
operatives through Tri Duby and these flights also evacuated American fliers liberated from German POW
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camps.
The airport changed its name from Tri Duby to Sliač in 1945. In 2009, it was closed for a major reconstruction project financed in part by NATO and EU. It was reopened in May 2011 for military and June 2011 for civilian use. Charter flights are operated to Burgas, Antalya. Others are planned.