FReeper Canteen ~ The Berlin Airlift Part 4: The Legacy ~ January 5, 2009

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

The Berlin Airlift
Part 4:  The Legacy
All info and photos from this website.

Link to Part One
Link to Part Two
Link to Part Three

           

THE AIRLIFT'S LEGACY
 

The most obvious result of this confrontation was the 40-year Cold War with the Soviet Union, which ebbed with the construction of the Berlin Wall, and the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts.  The US also forged a newfound friendship with Germany, its former foe, and established the Federal Republic of Germany as a result.  In addition, the North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO) was formed as a result of the crisis. 

Less politically, our aircraft and airway system we enjoy today was developed and perfected as a result of the Berlin Airlift.  Ground Controlled Approach or GCA was greatly improved as a necessity for the aircraft to land in Berlin, and our air traffic control system is a direct development of that technology.  Loading procedures and maintenance procedures are greatly improved as a result, too.

More importantly, the Berlin Airlift demonstrated the military need for Air Transport in addition to Bombers and Fighters.  A result is the Air Mobility Command and aircraft like the C-141 Starlifter, the C-130 Hercules, the C-5 Galaxy, and our newest transport, the C-17 Globemaster III. 

All of these political and logistical ideas came as a result of the resolve of the US, Great Britain, France, and Germany to resist totalitarian tactics and wage a battle of air transport.  This battle saved over 2.5 million people without firing a single shot.  In a matter of fifteen months in 1948-49, world history was changed by the greatest humanitarian aviation event in history, the Berlin Airlift. 
 

MEMORIALS: The Airlift Memorial at Rhein Main Air Base, Frankfurt, and on Luftbruckenplatz at Tempelhf  Airport in Berlin.

Each prong represents one of the 3 air corridors used during "Operation Vittles", and the names of the US and British Airmen killed in the process are inscribed on the base of each.  

31 Americans lost their lives during the Berlin Airlift, paying the ultimate price for the freedom of others.  Let that not be forgotten.

1st Lt George B. Smith Tuscaloosa, Alabama	Captain James A. Vaughan New Haven, Connecticut	Cpl Norbert H. Theis Cunningham, Kansas
1st Lt Leland V. Williams Abilene, Texas	1st Lt Eugene S. Erickson Collinsville, Illinois	PFC Ronald E. Stone  Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
Mr Karl V. Hagen New York, New York	Sgt Richard Winter Seattle, Washington	1st Lt Ralph H. Boyd Fort Worth, Texas
1st Lt Charles H. King Britton, South Dakota	Captain Billy E. Phelps Long Beach, California	1st Lt Craig B. Ladd Minneapolis, Minnesota
1st Lt Robert W. Stuber Arlington, California	1st Lt Willis F. Hargis Nacogdoches, Texas	TSgt Charles L. Putnam Colorado Springs, Colorado
Major Edwin C. Diltz Fayetteville, Texas	TSgt Lloyd G. Wells San Antonio, Texas	1st Lt Robert P. Weaver Fort Wayne, Indiana
Captain Willian R. Howard Gunnison, Mississippi	AD/3 Harry R. Crites, Jr. Lafayette, Indiana	1st Lt Royce C. Stephens San Antonio, Texas
Captain Joel M. DeVolentine Miami, Florida	1st Lt Richard M. Wurgel Union City, New Jersey	1st Lt Robert C. von Luehrte Covington, Kentucky
1st Lt William T. Lucas Wilson, North Carolina	1st Lt Lowell A. Wheaton, Jr. Corpus Christi, Texas	2nd Lt Donald J. Leemon Green Bay, Wisconsin
PFC Johnny T. Orms Rhein-Main Air Base	Captain William A. Rathgeber Portland, Oregon	TSgt Herbert F. Heinig Fort Wayne, Indiana
	Sgt Bernard J. Watkins Lafayette, Indiana

(Thanks to Mr. Ronald Hirst of Wiesbaden, Germany for helping us obtain the photos of these heroes.) 

 Resources:

Gail S. Halvorsen, The Berlin Candy Bomber

"To Save A City", Roger G. Miller, United States Air Force History and museums Program, 1998.

"MAC and the Berlin Airlift" by Roger D. Launius and Coy F. Cross III Military Airlift Command, 1998

"Over The Hump" William H. Tunner, 1964 Duell, Sloan and Pearce. New York.  

---

Current news:
Berlin's Tempelhof Airport to be closed

(Thanks for the heads-up to this story, OldSarge!)

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[SandRat]

1?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Please note: The author of the Hall of Heroes is StarCMC. Please thank her for today’s thread.

The Berlin Airlift Part 4: The Legacy

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[ConorMacNessa]

Good evening, Kathy - how's it going tonite?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

IN

[SandRat]

Thank you Starand you too Kathy

[ConorMacNessa]

"31 Americans lost their lives during the Berlin Airlift, paying the ultimate price for the freedom of others. Let that not be forgotten."

Rest in Peace, heroes of the Berlin Airlift!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Honoring Our Heroes

AbnSarge USA
Allegra
3 sons (armymarinemom and amdad)
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Valerie USAF (Shimmer)
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William USA (jackv)

 

[Tanniker Smith]

in

[ConorMacNessa]

Good eventide to thee, Lady Ms.B.!

*BOW*

How fare thee this eventide?

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[SandRat]

Beat Ya..

[svcw]

Great pictures.
My father-in-law participated in the Berlin Air Lift. He talked about that thrill often his whole life.
He was a captain for Flying Tigers Freight Lines, I am not sure it was called that during the lift.

[ConorMacNessa]

Yeah - I was off dithering on another thread. :)

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Night Owl!

[Kathy in Alaska]

A PRAYER OF PROTECTION

The light of God surround you
The love of God enfold you
The power of God protect you
The presence of God watch over you
Wherever you are, God is,
And all is well.
Amen.

BLESS THIS HOUSE

 Bless this house O Lord we pray; Make it safe by night and day; 
Bless these walls so firm and stout, Keeping want and trouble out:
Bless the roof and chimneys tall, Let thy peace lie over all;
Bless this door, that it may prove ever open to joy and love.
Bless these windows shining bright, Letting in God's heav'nly light;
Bless the hearth a'blazing there, with smoke ascending like a prayer;
Bless the folk who dwell within, keep them pure and free from sin;
Bless us all that we may be Fit O Lord to dwell with thee;
Bless us all that one day we May dwell O Lord with thee. 

(Click on graphics for music)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sorry guys and gals....my computer (or FR) decided that it didn’t want to play. It wouldn’t give me a reply box....finally, after a few harsh words, it has decided that we can continue.

[alfa6]

Sorry guys and gals....my computer (or FR) decided that it didn’t want to play. It wouldn’t give me a reply box....finally, after a few harsh words, it has decided that we can continue.

Maybe ya need a live chicken:-)

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[SandRat]

We all know how you really fixed the computer bug

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! Maybe that’s the ticket!! Good evening, alfa. Is your area involved in the gorebull warming? It was -24 here about 10am and has now warmed up to -10 at 4:35p.