FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: The Berlin Airlift, Part 4, The Legecy ~ December 26, 2011

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[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 ~

Part 4, The Legecy
All info and photos from this website.

Link to Part 1
Link to Part 2
Link to Part 3

           

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!

[BIGLOOK]

We live in trying.....and unscrupulous...times.

Now for an update on my Friday night dinner with my son, the young wahines and a surprise visitor. While at having dinner (at a local favorite nearby) two large jets flew in for landing, kinda late in the day for commercial flights and it also surprised me. About a half hour later eight AF personnel came in and four in flight suits were in the booth beside us. Naturally I got up and wished them a Merry Christmas and a thanks for their diligence and working long hours (sheesh....they were AF) and asked what the were flying in this late. They told me a 747.

You figure out the rest.....

[luvie]

That’s sick! I wish they would catch these creeps!

[luvie]

Cool....if I only knew what to do with that knowledge. :)

[Kathy in Alaska]

I sure hope the wreath thieves get caught...then strung up by their thumbs to be pelted by the public with rotten tomatoes, etc.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Mayor, and Merry Christmas to you and your family.

Thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

[luvie]

Breathtaking, Sis!

Now...I gotta go get some rest so I can get my smile back for the day tomorrow. (whatever that means! LOL)

[oldteen]

If it’s what I think it is...should I gag now or wait for someone else to guess! Poor Hawaii!

[oldteen]

Some people have no pride in themselves, our fallen heroes, country, and absolutely no conscience! Makes me ill!

[BIGLOOK]

Well it wasn't AF One, it's AF 1.5, the backup. My son told me tonight that he saw it parked at the A/P when he left for Maui this morning.

I guess Hickham on Oahu is shot on parking slots.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

UGH!
You can keep him!
I don’t want him coming back to Maine!
LOL

[MS.BEHAVIN]

It makes me ill too, Teenie..

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Nitey nite and rest well, Sis!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*Yawn*
Okay gang..
I’m off to me bedchamber!
Love to all and God Bless!
Hugs ‘alla round!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha po, Little Devil.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Not a rainbow, but I hope you like this, Big Guy!
*HUG*

[oldteen]

Don’t matter if it’s 1, 1.5, or 2...someone aboard is in my ‘no use for’ catagory!

[oldteen]

G'night, MS.B!

Sweet dreams and a wonderful tomorrow! *hugs*

[oldteen]

OOPS...Make that a wonderful today! :)

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
*HUG*
You’re too cute!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh my goodness...a motorized truck sounds like a real winner. It should be fun keeping an eye on them, that they don’t too far.