FReeper Canteen ~ The Berlin Airlift, Part 4: The Legacy ~ January 3, 2011

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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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!

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning's thread, Star. How's it going?

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[PROCON]

Morning Beachie!!

Well, I'm ready to go back to work after all that time off; I'm all recovered!

2011, huh; the years just keep coming faster...

Real cold but clear here, I can live with it.

I hope your day is newyearlicious!

[luvie]

Looking around....



....am I the EARLY-est bird this morning??
Where are you all....and
why can't I go back to bed!
Anyhoo....have a GREAT day, all! (((hugs)))

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Pro ((HUGS))

Great news on the recovery.

2011 - LOL - I was just telling the girls at the dental office that I had expected that we’d be something like the Jetsons when we got to 2010 and beyond. I’m disappointed.

We had a rainy Sunday, but this week is suppose to be clear and cool - back to the 40s - which I can live with too.

I’ve been trying to catch up on work and haven’t even gotten around to my morning post. Off to do that and then back to work.

Have a wonderlicious day!

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, LUV W. How’s it going?

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen. Good morning to our

AWESOME

Military, our Allies, and their families.

THANK YOU for all you do.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen for today’s activities.

DC Metroland weather report

~ Today...Sunny. Highs around 40. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

~ Tonight...Mostly clear in the evening...Then becoming partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

And, back-to-work-Mondays (after a long time off) really Suck! hehe

Ok, first day back so there's lots to catch up on...so...this will be a drive-by post.

I'll be back during lunch hour to catch up, hopefully.

Time for me to make my rounds.
But, you stay right where you are. Cause...............I'll be bock!

The Canteen is ALWAYS

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[Arrowhead1952]

Good morning beachy and (((HUGS))). I had a bad - 104 fever last night. Dr appt later this morning.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Beachy!

*HUGS*

Those back-to-work Mondays are killers!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[left that other site]

Gosh, You ARE Early!
I am preparing to go out for my 12 hour Monday.

Why oh WHY did it have to be Monday that I have the MOST Hours? LOL.

[ConorMacNessa]

Good morning, Luv!

*HUGS*

Great to see you this morning!

Lamh Foistenach Abu!

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Beach. Enjoy your Monday.

[luvie]

Hi, there! It’s going....I would rather stay home! LOL!

You and Bo have a good day!

[luvie]

Torture!! I can’t do MUCH on a Monday, much less for more than 5 hours! LOL!

Have a great day and pace yourself! :)

[luvie]

Good to see you, too! Have a great day...stay warm! :)

[left that other site]

I’ll do my Best!

Time to go!
(((HUGS)))

[beachn4fun]

Good (almost) afternoon, dear

104? YIKES! No hug for you until you are better. LOL

Hope the doc gives you good news.

[beachn4fun]

good morning, cmn ((HUGS))

sorry I’m late in responding - just getting back to the computer and trying to have lunch but...

Hope your day is going well.

[beachn4fun]

Good morning and ((HUGS)) EG. Stopping by for a quick hello before getting back to work.

Hope you have a good day.

[ConorMacNessa]

Going great, thanks - getting around without the walker.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!