| ~ 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
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| 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.
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|   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.
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 1st Lt George B. Smith
Tuscaloosa, Alabama |
 Captain James A. Vaughan
New Haven, Connecticut |
 Cpl Norbert H. Theis
Cunningham, Kansas |
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1st Lt Leland V. Williams
Abilene, Texas |
1st Lt Eugene S. Erickson
Collinsville, Illinois |
PFC Ronald E. Stone Mt. Sterling, Kentucky |
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 Mr Karl V. Hagen
New York, New York |
 Sgt Richard Winter
Seattle, Washington |
 1st Lt Ralph H. Boyd
Fort Worth, Texas |
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 1st Lt Charles H. King
Britton, South Dakota |
 Captain Billy E. Phelps
Long Beach, California |
 1st Lt Craig B. Ladd
Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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 1st Lt Robert W. Stuber
Arlington, California |
 1st Lt Willis F. Hargis
Nacogdoches, Texas |
 TSgt Charles L. Putnam
Colorado Springs, Colorado |
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 Major Edwin C. Diltz
Fayetteville, Texas |
 TSgt Lloyd G. Wells
San Antonio, Texas |
 1st Lt Robert P. Weaver
Fort Wayne, Indiana |
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 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 |
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 Sgt Bernard J. Watkins
Lafayette, Indiana |
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(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!) |
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Lamh Foistenach Abu!
