| ~ Hall of Heroes ~ 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. |
  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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