BERLIN AIR LIFT [BY JIM HARRIS ]

THE BERLIN AIRLIFT
THE BERLIN AIRLIFT

In 1948 the Marshall Plan takes effect in West-Germany to rebuild the
country. However, Russia declines thuis offer for East-Germany and feels
it is losing control in Germany, which in turn leads to their blockade
of West-Berlin.

This started in June 1948. Half of the city was occupied by the
Russians, the other half by the British, americans and French. All
transport came to a standstill, even the barges on the canals.

There was a threat of war, Soviets stopped all transport in and out of
Berlin at Helmstedt which was the border between West- and East-Germany.

My first involvement with the airlift was whilst I was stationed in
West-Germany. On parade one day the Sergeant said" I want 12 volunteers,
you, you and you". We all piled into lorries and drove to Hannover
airport to transport the goods from the depots to the waiting planes
which were loaded by Germans before they took off on their flight to
West-Berlin. That lasted for us for 6 weeks straight off.

In November 1948 our Squadron was flown into West-Berlin to take over
from another British outfit.

Children, the Elderly and the Sick were evacuated by air to West-Germany.

There were 3 air corridors which the Allies were allowed to use to gain
access to West-Berlin and it was decided to supply the city by air which
was the brainchild of the British to which the Americans agreed.

IT WAS THE VERY FIRST TIME EVER THAT SUCH AN OPERATION TOOK PLACE AND IT
HAS NOT BEEN DONE SINCE.

2.5 million people needed to be supplied by air. Pilots flew 3 to 4
missions a day into Berlin with supplies. A plane took off every minute
and another one landed. If, by any chance, they strayed outside the 3
corridors they were buzzed by Soviet MIGS. Earlier on during the airlift
one plane was rammed and all on board were killed.

Often it was a 20 hour day for the Pilots who flew from 8 bases in
West-Germany with food supplies. All were dried goods, they also ferried
coal and petrol, anything and everything that was needed to keep the
people and the city alive. Hot water was in short supply, Electricity
was only on in the evenings and early mornings. There was only 1 petrol
station in West-Berlin to supply all the Allied troops. 5,000 tonnes of
provisions came into West-Berlin every day on its 2 airports and in
flying boats on the lakes.The black market flourished, fresh foods were
smuggled into West-Berlin from East-Germany and people risked their
lives to do it. A lotof Berliners lived in their allotment huts and so
grew their own vegetables.The winter of 1948/49 was a very harsh one and
flying became a hazzard.2 American planes crashed in the suburb of
Tempelhof, also one British plane crashed. During the airlift 40
British, 31 Americans and 7 Germans were killed. Provisions flown in
after the winter went up to 13,000 tonnes a day.

All Allied troops had to do Sector patrols in their respective aereas.
Our Squadron had armoured cars and to show our strength we often drove
right up to the barricades, gave the Russians a scare and then
withdrew.Our rations were the same as for the German population, dried
vegetables, dried eggs, dried milk, corned beef, spam, tinned sausages
and tinned bacon, but the Yanks were better off, they even had icecream.

The Russian troops still came into West-Berlin during the airlift to man
their War Memorial and Radio station, both situated there. However,
Allied troops were not allowed to go into their sector. Who wanted to?

Stalin at last realised that the blockade was not working as he had
expected and in May 1949, 11 months after it started, the blockade was
lifted. The first food-supply lorries rolled into West-Berlin by road
and received a very warm welcome from the people.

In 1969 our family visited West-Berlin before migrating to Australia. We
took a guided tour on a bus to show our girls "The Wall". The tour-guide
asked if any passengers wer stationed in Berlin during the airlift.
Deveral of us put up our hands and were re-imbursed with ourfare as a
"thankyou" for what the Allies did to keep Berliners from starving over
those 11 months