FReeper Canteen ~ The Berlin Airlift Part 4: The Legacy ~ December 23, 2013

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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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

 

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!

[yarddog]

I wonder if I am making a small faux pas in posting these old WWII pictures I selected you since you mentiond your interest in WWII and it also involved Templehoff which is where the planes flew into during the airlift.

If so let me know and I will cease posting them. I had thought them interesting tho I personally had little to do with saving these old photos.

I broke up with my girl friend 1n 1969 and went to the draft board and asked to be drafted. I was a two sport letterman at Troy University and in great health but they turned my down as I was hard of hearing. So I never got into the military and in a way I was relieved, but again I had several friends bring back some neat stuff from SVN. I also had a class mate, not a close friend but we knew each other well, come back in a casket. I also had a first cousin come back that way.

I have always admired the military even if they would not take me. If you don’t want the pictures it will only hurt my feelings a tiny bit.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, Mac, for the Missing Man Setting as we remember those who have given their all that we may gather safe and secure.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sitting still? That will be a tough one. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Thanks, yarddog, for more great pictures.

[luvie]

Great thread about a monumental rescue of a starving
people. Only American (and allied) troops would be so
compassionate to the enemy!

Thanks, Galz, and

[yarddog]

Thanks Kathy. When I was a kid, I played Army all the time and really did want to be in. My Father used to tell us three boys all kinds of interesting tales of the great WWII. He was not an especial hero but he did his duty and reading their Battalion History, the whole battalian deserved honors. They were brave men doing their duty while being shot at.

I still am amazed by how fast they got things done. They would build a railroad tressle over a river in only a few days using only one or two of their companies.

[luvie]

Nite, Conor! (((hugs)))

[luvie]

Now?

[luvie]

Now?

[luvie]

Now? FinallY?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Some giggles for fun.....

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/b4_EdJ-XkUA?rel=0

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good luck with the drying. Not fun.

[Kathy in Alaska]

GOD BLESS AMERICA!!

God Bless you good, Mac. Good night and rest well.
Thanks for helping honor our troops, past and present.
Thank you for your service to our country.

[Kathy in Alaska]

The Canteen is here to honor our military, past and present, and future. Your pictures are a part of history. Thank you for sharing them.

Our military men and women are nothing short of amazing. When given a task they are so good at getting things done, no matter what.

[luvie]

Soooo cute!! LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

NOW!!

WOOHOO!!

Luv.....#50!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

You can’t help but giggle. d:o)

[Kathy in Alaska]

Only American (and allied) troops would be so compassionate to the enemy!

Yes! Always, and forever, I hope.

[luvie]

I hope so, too. They are our last bastion of heroes in the world!

[mylife]

I bet they's mighty good with mustard ☺