[laurenmarlowe]

MAYMANEH, Afghanistan (Oct. 30, 2007) Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Timothy Wright, assigned to the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan, cuts up pomegranates to put out as a snack. In addition to his duties as a cook, Wright is also responsible to order and store all supplies; and for all maintenance, hygiene and upgrades to the galley. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class David M. Votroubek (Released)

NORFOLK, Va. (Dec. 6, 2007) Yeoman 1st Class Keith Sowell and Engineman 1st Class Alonzo Cordon, assigned to Norfolk Naval Brig, recognize the Norview Elementary 5th grade Student of the Month by presenting him with a certificate from Norfolk Naval Brig Command during an award ceremony. Brig personnel volunteer for the "Adopt-A-School‚" program to work with individual students on achieving academic and behavioral achievements, as well as adopting an underprivileged student from the school and helping make their holiday wishes come true. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Shanika L. Futrell (Released)

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 4, 2007) Quartermaster 2nd Class Kathryn Herd writes down course headings while on the navigation bridge aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Theodore Roosevelt is underway conducting training exercises. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Sheldon Rowley (Released)

[alfa6]

Greeting to all the Freeper Canteeners out there this evening. Time to get the Friday Flyby airborne. Credit for tonights Flyby goes to ConerMacNessa who had requested somthing on the Berlin Airlift. I hope that the next two nights will complement StarCMC's Berlin Airlift posts.

A few more pics than usual so off we go...

First up a graphic of the air route layout during the Berlin Airlift.

The Airlift got started on a catch as catch can basis and the venerable C-47 Skytrain took up the challenge. I have a pic of a restored C-47 at Oshksoh a couple of years ago.

Good as the C-47 was it could only haul 3.5 tons of "Vittles". The call went out for the Douglass C-54 Skymaster. The C-54 could haul 10 tons of "Vittles" and became the workhorse of "Operation Vittles". Up next a pic of the C-54 that the Sprit of Freedom group has restored to honor the Berlin Airlift vets.

Of course no mention of the Airlift would not be complete unless "Operation Little Vittles" gets mentioned. Lt Gail Halvorsen took to droping candy bars on little parachutes to the kids that watched the planes at the end of the runway at Templehoff. Here is a pic of the "Chocalte Bomber" in action. You can see the parachutes just below the airplane.

You know you've hit the big time when you have a model made of your airplane:-)

While the C-54s carried the bulk of the laod a couple of other aircraft were used as well. The Douglas C-74 Globemaster was used in a limited capacity. This nice color pic of a C-74 is courtesty the Goleta Air & Space Musuem. Check out the cockpits on the C-74!!!

Here is a pic of a C-74 at the Gatow airport in the British Sector.

And finally the Fairchild C-82 Packet was used in the Airlift. The Packet was used to haul outsized equipment, such as dozers and vehicles, into Berlin. If the C-82 looks familar it is because it the daddy of the C-119 Flying Boxcar.

Well that's it for tonight folks, part two featuring the British aircraft will be tomorrow nights Sortie. Hope the weather is better for y'all than the freezing rain that the weather guessers are forecasting for us here in KansasCity this wqeekend.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}