Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ Berlin Airlift, Part 2: Operations ~ December 10, 2012
Serving The Best Troops and Veterans In The World !! | StarCMC

Posted on 12/09/2012 5:03:24 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 
 
~ Hall of Heroes ~

Berlin Airlift, Part 2: Operations
All info and photos from
this website.

Link to Part One

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)

Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner:  directed Berlin Airlift operation

  

A native of New Jersey and son of an immigrant father, General Tunner was awarded an appointment to West Point upon his graduation from Roselle High School. He was one of 77 cadets in his West Point graduating class who chose flying as his military career. He joined an Air Force which had literally no transport aircraft and no airlift strategy, planning or capacity. During his career which spanned two wars, he created the Ferrying Command which flew new aircraft to our allies in Europe and the Middle East, and developed the Air Transport Command in its famous Hump operation over the Himalayas to China. We honor him in the Air Cargo Hall of Fame for his outstanding performance in command of the Berlin airlift which established the cargo airplane as an effective freight mover in an unprecedented demonstration of efficiency and productivity. For 13 months, the aircraft under his planning and direction supplied an isolated Berlin- a city under siege- with every product necessary to keep the city and its more than a million inhabitants alive. Coal, heating oil, medicines, food and necessary supplies were airlifted into Berlin in an endless stream of transport aircraft operating at 2 minute intervals day and night in every kind of weather. The Berlin Airlift was a live demonstration on the future of the Air Cargo Industry.
BLACK FRIDAY
Tunner assumed command of airlift operations on July 28, 1948.  The airlift had been operating for just over a month.  One of the first major changes he made came as a result of "Black Friday".  On Friday, August 13, Tunner flew into Berlin to grant an award to Lt. Paul O. Lykins, and airlift pilot who had made the most flights into Berlin up until that time.  Weather that day was awful, and conditions in Berlin were impossible.  Clouds had lowered to the tops of buildings and heavy rain had disrupted radar.  One C-54 had crashed and burned at the end of the runway a second landed behind him and blew its tires trying to stop to avoid hitting the burning C-54.  A third ground looped on the auxiliary runway.  Pure havoc was reigning supreme.  Aircraft were beginning to stack up over Tempelhof and a huge number of airplanes were circling stacked from 3000 to 12000 feet in no visibility conditions.  These conditions spur red Tunner to make a fateful decision.  He called the tower.  "Tunner here, send everyone back to their base and let me know when it's safe to come down".  To avoid this stacking problem, a new policy was created.  Any aircraft that missed its approach was to continue back to its station via the outgoing center corridor.  This created a continuous loop of planes to and from Berlin.  If a pilot missed his approach, he would immediately become a departure and head back to his base.  The loaded aircraft would get a fresh crew and be sent back as a regular flight.  In addition, all aircraft were required to fly by instrument rules to maintain the same speed, interval and altitude.  This almost eliminated accidents and became the key to the success of the operation. 

Another essential decision was to standardize aircraft, parts, and procedures.  It was decided to base these around the C-54.  One of the reasons was that it took just as long to unload a 3-1/2 ton C-47 as it did to unload a 10-ton C-54.  One of the reasons for this was the slanted floor made truck loading difficult, whereas the C-54 was level and a truck could back up to it and cargo could be unloaded fast.  In addition, no pilot was to be away from his aircraft.  General Tunner had seen many aircraft sitting idle, loaded and waiting for their crews to return from inside the terminal.  He thought this to be a great waste of resources, therefore the order was sent that no pilot should be away from his aircraft from the time it landed until the time it took off from Berlin.  Weather and up to date information was brought out to the aircraft while they were being unloaded, so the crews didn't need to go inside the terminal.  In addition, several trucks were outfitted as mobile snack bars and staffed by some of the prettiest Berlin girls.  This enabled the crews to get coffee, a snack or other goods without having to leave the airplane.  This reduced the average turn around time from landing to departing to about 25 minutes. 
LIFE FOR THE BERLINERS

Life for the Berliners was hard.  In the beginning, there was about a month's worth of supplies to be had, but stockpiles were dwindling.  The airlift had not reached its predicted consumption rate yet, and starvation was near.  In addition, when the winter of 1948-49 hit, there was little fuel to run the remaining industry, let alone heat the homes.  Berliners soon found themselves chopping down all of the trees in the city for fuel, and learning what grasses could be eaten for food.  In addition, people rummaged through garbage cans for food, but soon found that there was very little of that to go around.  It was a dire circumstance, but still they knew that their suffering in this manner would be better than succumbing to Soviet control.  They had seen the treatment the Soviet soldiers had given them when they arrived.  They were stealing everyone's valuables, systematically stripping the industry and all of the necessary equipment and shipping it back to Moscow.  In addition, German wives and daughters were being raped and abused all of the time.  German scientists and engineers were forcibly sent to Moscow and forced to reveal all of the German technological secrets.  Starvation was far better than that treatment.  When it was decided that an airlift would be attempted, Berlin's Lord Mayor Ernst Reuter held a public rally in support of the effort.  Germans would suffer and sacrifice to make it work.  The German resolve was strong, even in such a desperate situation. 
 
GERMAN VOLUNTEERS

One of the biggest problems during the airlift was the lack of manpower.  It was decided to use the very people who the airlift was helping, the Berliners themselves.  There was no lack of supply as they were eager to help because it was all for them anyway.  In addition those who helped got an extra ration. 
This was very important to them, as the allotted ration was very small.  It also gave the people a great sense of pride that they were helping the effort.  So, soon German volunteers were used for unloading crews at Tempelhof.  They would board the aircraft as soon as it stopped and commence unloading.  If the crews did an especially good job, they might get a reward, such as a pack of cigarettes or an extra ration.  This became quite the incentive, as the record for unloading 10-tons of coal was set at 10 minutes. 
Another large problem was the lack of skilled mechanics.  There just weren't enough mechanics to keep a fleet of C-54's maintained so that there could be no disruption in the conveyor belt of supplies to Berlin.  They needed people to perform inspections, repairs, engine replacements, cleaning and servicing these aircraft.  General Tunner had a solution to that problem, too.  There were a large number of skilled former Luftwaffe mechanics available right in Berlin.  It was decided to create crews comprised of these men, an American Maintenance supervisor and an interpreter.  Soon the manpower was there.  Soon, any aircraft that wasn't being fixed, inspected, or overhauled was flying the corridors.  A far cry from the beginnings.        

FLYING THE CORRIDORS
 


Pilots flying in the corridors encountered numerous problems; one was the erratic German weather.  Weather changed so often that it was not uncommon to leave a base in West Germany under ideal conditions, only to find impossible conditions in Berlin.  What made it even more treacherous was the approach to Tempelhof.  In order to land there, a pilot had to literally fly between the high rise apartment buildings at the end of the runway so he could land.  A second runway required a steep drop over a building in order to land soon enough so there was enough runway for braking.  All these conditions plus a fully loaded C-54 with a 10 ton cargo load were more than enough for any pilot to handle, especially during the German winter. 
Unfortunately, that wasn't all the pilots had to deal with.  The Soviets constantly harassed the pilots during the operation.  Between 10 August 1948 and 15 August 1949, there were 733 incidents of harassment of airlift planes in the corridors.  Acts of soviet pilots buzzing, close flying, shooting near, not at airlift planes were common.  Balloons were released in the corridors, flak was not unheard of, radio interference and searchlights in the pilots' eyes were all forms of Soviet harassment in the corridors.  However, this did not stop the pilots, the planes kept chugging on in.  In spite of all these acts of harassment, no aircraft was shot down during the operation.  That would have started a war, and the Soviets did not want that, especially with B-29's stationed in England.  Although the B-29's that were there were not atomic bomb capable, the Soviets did not know that and did not want to find out. 

So, the airlift went on.  American C-54's were stationed at Rhein-Main, Wiesbaden, Celle and Fassberg in the British Sector.  The British flew Lancasters, Yorks, and Hastings aircraft.  They even used Sunderland Flying Boats to deliver salt, using Lake Havel in the middle of Berlin for a base.  Every month the tonnage increased and soon exceeded the daily requirements.  Every day, tonnage records were being set, and the constant drone of airplanes overhead was music to the Berliners ears.  Eventually, rations were increased and life in West Berlin was improving. 


A C-54 Crew consisting of a Pilot, Co-Pilot,
Flight Engineer, and Radio Operator.  Most
airlift crews did not use the Radio Operator
and used a 3 man crew instead.


TEGEL

Berlin had only 2 airports at the outset of the airlift, Tempelhof and Gatow.  Soon, it became obvious that a third was needed. Heavy equipment was needed, but there were no aircraft large enough to carry bulky items like that.  So, it was cut into smaller pieces, loaded onto one of 5 Fairchild C-82 Packet aircraft, flown into Berlin, and welded back together again. Incidentally, a new power plant for Berlin was constructed this way also.  Nevertheless, an area in the French Sector was chosen to become Tegel Airfield.  American, French, and German volunteers broke ground on august 5th, 1948.  Through dedication, hard work and extreme organization, the first c-54 landed with its 10-ton cargo only a mere three months later.  Quite a feat.  Tegel, incidentally, is Berlin's main airport today.  There was an obstacle in the way on the approach to Tegel, however.  A Soviet controlled radio tower caused problems with its proximity to the airfield.  Pleas to remove it went unheard.  Finally, on November 20, French General Jean Ganeval made a decision.  If they would not take it down, he would simply blow it up.  So, on December 16, the dynamite was used.  The tower fell, and the obstacle was gone.

 

....Continued next week....

 

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!


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: berlinairlift; candybomber; canteen; harrytruman; heroes; military; tempelhof; troopsupport
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-102 next last
To: LUV W

Good morning night owo ((HUGS))

I really don’t like hearing how bad the weather is in Texas...cause it means it’ll be heading out way. And I have been enjoying the mild winter over here.
Now, tell me it’s warming up! LOL


81 posted on 12/10/2012 6:41:03 AM PST by beachn4fun (Lost: sense of humor. If found please return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 69 | View Replies]

To: MEG33

Good morning Meg ((HUGS))

Love the Santa and flag.

As I told Luvy, I don’t like hearing how cold it is out that way...it means that we’ll be getting it soon. And I’m enjoying the mild winter (although we still have Jan and Feb to get through).

All ready for Christmas?


82 posted on 12/10/2012 6:44:16 AM PST by beachn4fun (Lost: sense of humor. If found please return.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: beachn4fun

Thank you, beachy.
It’s a shock after our warm spell!
*HUGS*


83 posted on 12/10/2012 7:07:56 AM PST by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 82 | View Replies]

To: Arrowhead1952

The wind is making it frigid..I am glad I went out yesterday and covered the faucet, filled the feeder, scrubbed the birdbath saucers.
*HUGS*


84 posted on 12/10/2012 7:13:08 AM PST by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 77 | View Replies]

To: Old Sarge

Missed the Poetry Competition win..Congratulations!
I fondly recall the ongoing story you, MsB and Star entertained us with, too.


85 posted on 12/10/2012 7:24:57 AM PST by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: MEG33

Just got back from our walk which was much shorter than the normal 2.5 mile walk. Pretty nippy coming back into the wind.


86 posted on 12/10/2012 7:54:16 AM PST by Arrowhead1952 (0 bummer inherited a worse economy in 2012 than he did in 2008.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 84 | View Replies]

To: Arrowhead1952

Nippy for sure!


87 posted on 12/10/2012 8:30:36 AM PST by MEG33 (O Lord, Guide Our Nation)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 86 | View Replies]

To: PROCON; BIGLOOK
Good morning, Army Bro!

I thought Army played very well - I was sweating bullets up to the very end. They fought with grace and skill and I'm sure their day will come again.



Keep Faith with the Fallen of Benghazi! Let the Obama Regime, for once, tell the Truth!

Fiat Justitia, Ruat Coelum!

Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

88 posted on 12/10/2012 9:49:51 AM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 80 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; laurenmarlowe; BIGLOOK; alfa6; EsmeraldaA; SandRat; mylife; TMSuchman; PROCON; ...




MAY ALMIGHTY GOD UPHOLD AND DEFEND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!



This Nation is dearer to me than my own life.
I fought for it willingly and proudly, as my ancestors have done since the American Revolution, and as members of my family continue to do to this very day.



Memorial to Battery "C", 5th U.S. Artillery at Gettysburg, PA
My 3-greats grandfather, Cpl. William Murphy,
was wounded by shrapnel at the Clump of Trees
in Pickett’s Charge, July 3, 1863.

In the Second World War my Father, who enlisted in the Navy on his eighteenth birthday, and a veritable squad of my Uncles and Great Uncles served in the Army, The Army Air Force, and the Navy, both in the American Theatre and in Europe.

My Father was called up from the Reserves for the Korean War and served on board the USS Borie, DD-704 in the combat zone. He was commissioned in 1951 and remained in the Navy until his retirement in 1969.

In my youth, I spilled my blood for it on the Field of Battle, in a far-off land, in a war that was scorned by many of my contemporaries, a war in which we were victorious in every major engagement on the field, and a war in which we were betrayed by a coterie of spineless politicos, by The Fifth Column that masquerades as the media, by Academia, and by the Hollywood elite.

I was joined in that cause by my Father, who had boots on the ground in-country on several occasions in the early 60’s. I was likewise joined by several cousins in the Navy, Army, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.



In my old age, the jackals gather again, seeking once more to steal a victory won by another generation of Americans, seeking to change our Nation into a Socialist State in which we are all tools of the collective rather than free men and women, a State in which we will be little more than subjects rather than free and proud citizens. They seek by every artifice, scheme and fraud known to man to undo the American Revolution.



Though I am old and weak, I would willingly fight for our Beloved Nation once again, and, if necessary, give my life for it if doing so would advance the cause of Liberty.

I say this without boast or apology – I am no better or worse than the millions of American men and women who have answered the Nation’s call, and I am no hero. I am simply one of millions of Americans who did his or her duty when called upon by the Nation to do so. Many of my Comrades-in-Arms join in posting on this Forum.



We have sustained a grievous wound in this Election, the consequences of which are already painfully apparent.

Now is not the time for despair; it is not the time for surrender. Now is the time to reaffirm our core values: individual liberty, self-reliance and personal responsibility, sanctity of human life, Love of God and Country and Courage in the face of great Peril!

Many now advocate secession from the Union. Secession is not the answer, even if it could be accomplished. This is MY Country – Here I am and here I stay! I am not willing to abandon it to the Leftist traitors now in power or to any other enemies, domestic or foreign.

"Hige sceal þe heardra, heorte þe cenre,
Mod sceal þe mare, þe ure mægen lytlað. "

"Will shall be the sterner, heart the keener,
Spirit shall be the greater as our might lessens."

(Battle of Maldon – lines 313-314)

KNOW THIS: I will not sit idly by while Marxists, atheists, perverts and traitors work relentlessly to sabotage the heroic efforts and sacrifices of over two centuries of Patriots, to rip away our basic Freedoms, and to bring this great Nation to its knees.

May God continue to Bless and Protect the United States of America – A Beacon of Freedom shining through the darkness of a World beset by Tyranny!

May God Bless and Protect our Gallant Troops of all Services – men and women - combat and non-combat – of whatever MOS. By virtue of their service and sacrifice we continue to enjoy the benefits of Freedom!

With the help of Almighty God, may the Right and our Beloved Nation prevail!









Genuflectimus non ad principem sed ad Principem Pacis!

Listen, O isles, unto me; and hearken, ye people, from far; The LORD hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name. (Isaiah 49:1 KJV)

89 posted on 12/10/2012 10:02:52 AM PST by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 88 | View Replies]

To: beachn4fun
Good Monday afternoon, beachy...((HUGS))
We got about 5+ inches of snow over the weekend. Everything is white and all the trees are flocked. My tree lights aren't working either. Gotta fix that.

Have a good rest of the day.


90 posted on 12/10/2012 10:32:34 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: beachn4fun

Howdy, early bird! It is warming up a bit but not much. :) Sorry.....


91 posted on 12/10/2012 10:50:14 AM PST by luvie (All my heroes wear camos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 81 | View Replies]

To: Arrowhead1952

Good morning/afternoon, Arrowhead...((HUGS))

It has warmed up to the mid 20s and they say a little snow for the next days. Fog earlier, but lifted at my office area.

You and Murfie stay warm.


92 posted on 12/10/2012 11:09:41 AM PST by Kathy in Alaska ((~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

Good afternoon and (((HUGS))). The wind here is awful today.


93 posted on 12/10/2012 1:47:58 PM PST by Arrowhead1952 (0 bummer inherited a worse economy in 2012 than he did in 2008.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 92 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

Good! I look forward to the next two stories about these heroes.


94 posted on 12/10/2012 2:29:41 PM PST by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (Learn three chords and you, too, can be a Rock Star!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 35 | View Replies]

To: Arrowhead1952; Kathy in Alaska; AZamericonnie; TASMANIANRED; E.G.C.; SandRat; GodBlessUSA; ...
Pats are playing the Texans tonight at Gillette Stadium in Norword MA.

Southeast MA was 68º this afternoon and is still 66º here slightly southeast of Gillette. It's still drizzling, too.

GO PATS!


95 posted on 12/10/2012 3:18:21 PM PST by Lady Jag (If you can't make them see the light, let them feel the heat. - Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 66 | View Replies]

To: Old Sarge; Bride Of Old Sarge

Good Eventide to thee and they Lady wife, Sir Knight!
((((((((HUG)))))))))
Many thanks for including us on thy wonderful journey!
Congratulations on winning the poetry prize!
Didst thou receive a prize from his Lordship?
I had no doubt that you had won it, after having had the honor of writing with thee before!


96 posted on 12/10/2012 3:27:06 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

Go Texans! ~~ducking~~


97 posted on 12/10/2012 3:36:40 PM PST by luvie (All my heroes wear camos!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

This is going to be a real white-knuckle game. Go Pats!


98 posted on 12/10/2012 4:57:46 PM PST by trisham (Zen is not easy. It takes effort to attain nothingness. And then what do you have? Bupkis.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 95 | View Replies]

To: LUV W
Nope. You have as much reason to root for your team as I do in hoping you're wrong.


99 posted on 12/10/2012 6:13:40 PM PST by Lady Jag (If you can't make them see the light, let them feel the heat. - Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 97 | View Replies]

To: trisham

Not watching the game but last time I checked it was 14-zip Pats. Knuckles looking good.


100 posted on 12/10/2012 6:31:05 PM PST by Lady Jag (If you can't make them see the light, let them feel the heat. - Reagan)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 98 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 41-6061-8081-100101-102 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson