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!

[AZamericonnie]

Hiya Teenie & a very blessed Christmas to you & yours! *Hugs*

We have had so much fun!

Sonboy texted me last night & said he wasn’t going to get off work till 9:00 or 10:00.

I was sooooo upset then he showed up @ 7:00 as he was pulling my leg. Big stinker!:)

He got coals in his stocking fot that!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

You might be able to talk him into it!
LOL

[AZamericonnie]

A bad back & a bad knee at Chistmas? No fair!

Jealous of your lobster dinner MsB~ & hope you both fair better very soon! *Hugs*

[luvie]

I worked for Victoria’s Secret for two years. You have no idea how many men, when asked what size their wife is, say that she’s built kind of like me...or one of the other sales
personnel. Then when she comes in to exchange it because it’s
5 sizes too small.......ROFL!

They always have that “deer in the headlights” look in a lingerie
or jewelry store. :)

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Merry Christmas, Kitten!
All will be well!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL!
It must have been a hoot to work there!
Maybe they figure it’s safer to bring their honey something too small, rather than too big!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

LOL
He seemed real interested, BB!

[luvie]

It was, to say the least, interesting. Yes, I’m sure that
they were off the hook by NOT bringing home an XXLarge. LOL!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, desert dweller. *HUGS* Love the song.

Everybody healthy for Christmas?

Did you have FIL over for lots of good eats?

[NYTexan]

Hehe...at least there’s no snow here. And it ain’t like it’s Florida either!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Luv....do you still have snow?

Good evening and Merry Christmas. You survived another holiday season. ((HUGS))

[MS.BEHAVIN]

Hee Hee!
Pretty smart of them, I’d say!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

True!
It’s about time HE got to enjoy a trip out there!
LOL
Sound him out about it!

[AZamericonnie]

I didn’t get sick this year! WooHoo! :)

FIL was over but his health is not good. We must all stay as active as possible to be viable as long as we all can!

Although my fridge is bulging from all the food I have made from the last week we actually went to a Chinese restuarant today as a lark from our fav movie “A Christmas Story”.

The food was good & we had fun. Now we are playing with our toys. I love Christmas!

[luvie]

Howdy, Kathy! (((hugs)))

We DO still have snow, just not any new snow. The roads and
sidewalks are clear, but the yards are still pretty deep in it.

It’s been nice, though...since I didn’t have to drive in it. LOL!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Nitey nite, My!
I hope your back feels better soon!

[Tanniker Smith]

Wishing you exponential joy this holiday season!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And a good windy evening to you, Sarge...((HUGS))

Snow had stopped and temp is dropping....9 right now.

Stay warm and cozy and enjoy your movies.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Merry Christmas, Tanniker!

[BIGLOOK]

Aloha Little Devil; Steely eyed Downeaster, Guardian of Our Troops!

Is everybody staying up late tonight? Hope your Christmas was everything you wanted.