The Berlin Airlift – one of the largest humanitarian operations ever conducted – ended 75 years ago this week. Over 15 months, British aircraft carried over half a million tons of vital supplies to the blockaded city of West Berlin. British aircraft flew a combined distance of over 30 million miles and spent the equivalent to 24 years in the air. They evacuated 131,436 people from the city, and supported West Berlin’s industry by exporting 35,843 tons of goods. Find out more 🔗 https://ow.ly/uzpT50TEocz
In 20 years service,I flew/operated a lot of aircraft types - Chipmunk, Bulldog, Jet Provost 3/5, Dominie/HS125, Hawk, Tornado F3, F16A, F14A, BBMF Lancaster & Dakoka … … and can honestly say the only one I fell in love with was the C47 Dakota (DC3). It’s the most beautiful aircraft and an amazing testament to the RAF’s engineers that it’s still flying. The C47/DC3 is a stunning aircraft that’s been involved in delivering aid for decades - clearly not used much these days, but what a legacy!
My father and uncle both participated in the Airlift as aircrew. My father flew Dakotas on 30 Squadron and I hosted him at RAF Gatow 40 years later, so proud of what he did.
What strategic logistical challenges did the Berlin Airlift face, and what lessons from this operation are still applicable today? https://lnkd.in/gt4YXHS5
I have my Dad's cigarette case demarking the post-war sectors Berlin was divided into. Also his pre-partition cigarette cases with maps engraved on, from India and Cyprus. He certainly smoked his way around the World, in the RAF, during and after the war 🙄😬
Absolutely amazing! A testimony that humanity still exist Ed even after a vicious war. Kudos to the RAF
Love the animations! They really help explain the magnitude of the operation.
A cracking infographic, thanks.
Contract Technical Author at SCX Special Projects
1moMy dad was involved in the Berlin Airlift. That’s him on the left with the clipboard in the photo that was published in the New York Times in 1948. Born in 1930, he was too young for the war but did the last few months of his 18 month national service in Berlin.