On November 13, the anti-missile base in Redzikowo near Słupsk was officially opened. Few people remember that one of the alternative locations for the American missile defense shield was the Debrzno airfield. The former military airport, located in Debrzno-Wsi, is now up for sale by a bankruptcy trustee, and the trial of its former owners, including well-known rally driver Tomasz K., is drawing to a close at the District Court in Poznań.
The Unrealized Anti-Missile Shield
The opening of the American Aegis Ashore base in Redzikowo in the Pomeranian voivodeship, which is part of the NATO missile defense system, was attended by Polish President Andrzej Duda, Minister of National Defense Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz, Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski, US Ambassador in Poland, Mark Brzezinski, and the U.S. Navy Commander in Europe and Africa, Admiral Stuart Munsch.
All the above-mentioned guests would have been in Debrzno that day if this town had been chosen as the location for the missile shield – it was once one of the three considered locations. The airport abandoned by the military in 1999, however, was not as fortunate as Redzikowo. Today, the 124 ha of airport grounds between Złotów and Człuchów can be bought from the trustee for at least PLN 18.5 million.
The Unrealized Rally Center
In early 2010, it seemed that fortune had favored Debrzno, as the airport grounds were purchased by a company called Rallyland. Its co-owner, Tomasz K., the son of former Lechia Gdańsk owner Andrzej Kuchar, is a multiple champion and runner-up in car rallies, and a six-time winner of the prestigious Rally Barbórka. Before Euro 2024, he trained the Polish football team in safe driving. Tomasz K. publicly announced that a Rallyland complex would be established in Debrzno with racing tracks (karting, rally-cross, off-road, motocross) and a hotel base.
Even though various types of events took place in Debrzno, for example, in April 2017, Red Bull recorded a “drifting with a helicopter on the bumper” of rally driver Jakub Przygoński with the famous Felix Baumgartner, nothing permanent was eventually created there. Instead, the former airport owners risk up to 10 years in prison for mismanaging companies and escaping with assets to prevent the creditor from being satisfied. Their actions caused the small commune of Lipka to lose approximately 25% of its annual budget, preventing it from carrying out investments.
Unpaid Taxes
According to the District Prosecutor’s Office in Złotów, the company of Tomasz K. and Władysław D. failed to pay PLN 5 million in property tax and agricultural tax to the commune of Lipka, in which the Debrzno airport is located. Moreover, to avoid this liability, they conducted several phantom real estate sales. Although various companies were sellers and buyers, the real beneficiaries remained people from the business and family circle of Tomasz K. and Władysław D. or themselves. The point of the operation was that the “new owner” of the airport would not have to pay the overdue property tax, but only the current one. As a result of these transactions, the sidings in Debrzno were owned for some time even by a company managed by Władysław D., a specialist hospital in Kluczbork in Opolskie.
In contrast to the rally driver partner, Władysław D. is well known to the justice system. The former owner of the Vital Medic company led it to insolvency, resulting in a legally binding 10-year ban on conducting business activity. Władysław D. also has two criminal cases in the District Court in Katowice, while his case on unpaid taxes is ongoing in the District Court in Złotów. In one of the cases in Katowice, Władysław D. is accused of defrauding contractors of at least PLN 6.35 million. Władysław D. delayed the start of both the Katowice and Poznań trials, excusing himself with medical leaves – thus the case in Poznań has been going on for almost two years.
Unsettled Transactions
A heavily incriminating fact for the former owners of the airport is that the sales contracts did not result in money flowing to Rallyland’s account. They also did not take any action to obtain money from the “purchasing” companies for the sold airport, because according to law, they would have to pay off their liabilities towards the commune.
The prosecutor’s office was notified of the crime by the commune, which filed a so-called paulian complaint when it realized that it was dealing with dishonest investors – therefore all these “sales” were null and void. The case at the District Court in Poznań under the signature III K 76/22 is drawing to a close.
Airport for Sale
Meanwhile, on November 29 at 2:15 pm, the offers for the property of the former Debrzno Military Airport will be examined at the Chorzów office of the bankruptcy trustee of the FT Energy company, Marcin Kubiczek. Most of it is undeveloped land used agriculturally, here and there hardened, and single plots built up with ruined farm buildings, as well as a complex of plots located among forested areas built up with aircraft hangars with roofs overgrown for camouflage.
The total area of the plots is 124 ha, the starting price is PLN 18.5 million. “The landing site in Debrzno-Wsi is waiting for a new owner who will finally change the fate of the former military ground. It is a place not only with an interesting history but also with great potential,” says Marcin Kubiczek, the bankruptcy trustee of the FT Energy company, which was the last owner of the airport.
Source: https://managerplus.pl/niedoszla-baza-antyrakietowa-i-centrum-rajdowe-czyli-lotnisko-w-debrznie-wystawione-na-sprzedaz-29173
