The FReeper Foxhole Revisits The Berlin Airlift - January 28th, 2005

see educational sources

[snippy_about_it]

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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.

THE AIRLIFT'S LEGACY

The most obvious 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. We also forged a newfound friendship with Germany, our 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.

31 Americans lost their lives during the Berlin Airlift
28 U.S. Air Force, 1 US Navy, 1 US Army, 1 Army civilian

1st Lt George B. Smith        1st Lt Leland V. Williams

Tuscaloosa, Alabama           Abilene, Texas 



Mr Karl V. Hagen              1st Lt Charles H. King

New York, New York            Britton, South Dakota 



1st Lt Robert W. Stuber       Major Edwin C. Diltz

Arlington, California         Fayetteville, Texas 



Captain Willian R. Howard     Captain Joel M. DeVolentine

Gunnison, Mississippi         Miami, Florida 



1st Lt William T. Lucas       PFC Johnny T. Orms 

Wilson, North Carolina        Rhein-Main Air Base 

 

Captain James A. Vaughan      1st Lt Eugene S. Erickson 

New Haven, Connecticut        Collinsville, Illinois  



Sgt Richard Winter            Captain Billy E. Phelps 

Seattle, Washington           Long Beach, California 



1st Lt Willis F. Hargis       TSgt Lloyd C. Wells 

Nacogdoches, Texas            San Antonio, Texas 



AD/3 Harry R. Crites, Jr.     1st Lt Richard M. Wurgel 

Lafayette, Indiana            Union City, New Jersey 



1st Lt Lowell A. Wheaton, Jr. Captain William A. Rathgeber

Corpus Christi, Texas         Portland, Oregon



Sgt Bernard J. Watkins        Cpl Norbert H. Theis 

Lafayette, Indiana            Cunningham, Kansas 



PFC Ronald E. Stone           1st Lt Ralph H. Boyd 

Mt. Sterling, Kentucky        Fort Worth, Texas 



1st Lt Craig B. Ladd          TSgt Charles L. Putnam 

Minneapolis, Minnesota        Colorado Springs, Colorado 



1st Lt Robert P. Weaver       1st Lt Royce C. Stephens

Fort Wayne, Indiana           San Antonio, Texas 



1st Lt Robert C. von Luehrte  2nd Lt Donald J. Leemon 

Covington, Kentucky           Green Bay, Wisconsin 



TSgt Herbert F. Heinig 

Fort Wayne, Indiana

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Today's Educational Sources and suggestions for further reading:
www.avialantic.com/bahf.html
http://www.usafe.af.mil/berlin/photos.htm
The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Berlin Airlift - Jan 5th, 2003
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.

[snippy_about_it]

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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.

"DER SCHOKOLADEN FLIEGER"
OPERATION LITTLE VITTLES

One of the most poignant stories of the Berlin Airlift was that of one 1st Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen. Halvorsen was somewhat of an ammeter moviemaker, and on July 17, he decided that on one of his off days, he would hitch a ride as a passenger on a C-54 and visit the City he was saving. Once at Tempelhof, Halvorsen walked to the end of the runway to film some aircraft landings when he noticed a group of children near the fence watching the planes, too. He went over to them. The asked questions about the aircraft, the cargo, how fast it was going and things like that. During this conversation he noticed that these children, unlike others he had encountered in Europe as a Ferry command Pilot during the War, did not ask him for any candy or gum, like others always had. This struck him funny, and he knew that they were too proud to beg for such things. Some having been born during wartime had not even heard of treats like that. He made a fateful decision at that moment which was to become one of the symbols of the airlift. He reached into his pocket and found that he had only twosticks of Wrigley's Doublemint Gum. He remarked that if they did not fight over it, he would drop some candy to them if they were there the next day. They agreed, took the sticks of gum and divided it amongst themselves, some happy to get only a piece of the wrapper. Before he left them, a child asked him how they will know it was him flying over. He replied, "I'll wiggle my wings."



True to his word, the very next day, on approach to Berlin, he rocked the airplane and dropped some chocolate bars attached to a handkerchief parachute to the children waiting below. Every day, the number of children would increase and he made several more drops. Soon there was a stack of mail in Base Ops addressed to "Uncle Wiggly Wings', "The Chocolate Uncle" and "The Chocolate Flier".

Halvorsen didn't tell anyone about what he was doing for fear he'd get in trouble. Then, he was called into his commander and asked what he was doing. He replied 'Flying, Sir." His commander asked again, and received the same response. He then pulled out a newspaper with a picture of Halvorsen's plane and tiny parachutes trailing behind. Apparently, a newspaper reporter narrowly escaped being hit on the head with a chocolate bar. His commander wasn't happy about it, but General Tunner though it was just the kind of gesture that the operation needed. It was dubbed "Operation Little Vittles". It continued, and many C-54 pilots participated. Candy and parachutes were assembled and sent from Chicopee Falls, MA to assist in the gesture. In the end, over three tons of candy was dropped over Berlin, some even in the Soviet sector. For this simple kindhearted gesture, Halvorsen became the most recognized pilot of the Berlin Airlift.

BERLIN AIRLIFT QUICK FACTS

[snippy_about_it]

'"The Air Force can deliver anything.'

-- Curtis LeMay,
when asked if he could haul supplies to Berlin.

[snippy_about_it]

Veterans for Constitution Restoration is a non-profit, non-partisan educational and grassroots activist organization.

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Actively seeking volunteers to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.

Thanks to quietolong for providing this link.

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NOW UPDATED THROUGH JULY 31st, 2004




The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

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[snippy_about_it]

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It's Friday. Good Morning Everyone.

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[Brad’s Gramma]

Absolutely WONDERFUL!!!

This is SUCH a well-documented thread!!!

I have a personal favor to ask of someone, anyone, who has the "archives" to the Foxhole. I want to know if you have anything from the ships my Daddy was on during WWII.

Would ya be so kind as to FRmail me? Please?

[Reaganwuzthebest]

Excellent post. The Berlin Airlift was a fine hour for the United States, the American military and even Truman, who by standards would probably be considered a conservative.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Brad's Gramma.

What ships did your dad serve aboard?

[Brad’s Gramma]

Hold on....I'll go get the info...and THANK YOU!!!

[SAMWolf]

Morning Reaganwuzthebest.

One of our finer hours.

[SAMWolf]

Morning Snippy.

[Brad’s Gramma]

USS WAKE ISLAND CVE-65 AND THE USS BOXER CV-21

The REST of it I'm FRmailing to you!!! A girl has to keep SOME secrets! Ha!

[SAMWolf]

OK. Let me see what we've covered, I don't believe either ship was covered as a separate thread but we may have covered some of the actions they were involved in.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

One of our finer hours.

Hi Sam it sure was a fine hour.

[Brad’s Gramma]

Oh, boy...thank you SO MUCH!!!

Wow.....what fun this would be to give to him!!!

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Snippy.

[Iris7]

I rather like General Curtis LeMay. The bombing campaign he ran over Japan worked very well indeed.

I lived in Japan from 1956 to 1959. The US air attack was very fresh in the Japanese mind. I talked to those people, got to know them, I know what I am saying.

The C-154 had four Pratt R-3360 engines. Big iron, the biggest radials ever built.

Had an opportunity to buy a R-3360 a while back, zero hours since an Air Force overhaul about 1960. The guy wanted $10,000 for it. Thing weighs about three tons, and the only warm place I had to put it was in the living room. Have to demolish a wall to get it in, too. Wife did not approve. Never bought the machine, sigh. People have no appreciation for great art.

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, Snippy and everyone at the Foxhole.

[alfa6]

"20 years of schollin and they put you on the day shift" Bump for the Freeper Foxhole

Off to work but here ia a somewhat interesting tie in between the Berlin Airlift and the tsunami relief efforts.

http://varifrank.com/archives/2005/01/today_i_was_unp_1.php

Gotta go will try to check back in later

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[The Mayor]

January 28, 2005

Ants And Elephant Seals

Read: Proverbs 6:6-11

Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. —1 Corinthians 15:34

Bible In One Year: Exodus 1-4

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Elephant seals spend most of their lives sleeping. Science News magazine reports, "Male elephant seals measure 16 feet from trunk-like nose to flipper, and they weigh about 3 tons. Occasionally, a seal will use a front flipper—incredibly tiny for such a massive creature—to scratch itself or flip sun-shielding sand on its body." Otherwise these huge animals are basically motionless.

The article goes on to state that because they don't eat while on land during the breeding season, they sleep most of the time. Besides scratching, dirt-flipping, or rolling over, these ponderous animals seldom move.

By contrast, the little ant seems tireless as it goes about its industrious work of storing up food for the colony. The writer of Proverbs commends the diligence of the ant, citing her active ways as a model for people who would live wisely.

There's a spiritual lesson here. Christians who pattern their service after the ant get things done for the Lord. But others, like the elephant seal, scarcely move. They seem to be barely alive spiritually, as if they are conserving their energy for some huge effort later on. But the time to get busy for Christ is now, even though our talents may seem insignificant.

Imitate the ant, not the elephant seal. —Dave Egner

Lord Christ, we humbly ask
Of Thee the power and will
With fear and meekness every task
Of duty to fulfill. —Montgomery

Many Christians do nothing, but no Christian has nothing to do.