What happened in the Berlin Airlift in 1948?

The Berlin Airlift, 1948–1949 At the end of the Second World War, U.S., British, and Soviet military forces divided and occupied Germany. Also divided into occupation zones, Berlin was located far inside Soviet-controlled eastern Germany.

What was life like in West Berlin during the airlift?

What was life like in West Berlin during the airlift?
The Allies carried about 2.3 million tons of cargo in all over the course of the airlift. Life in West Berlin during the blockade was not easy. Fuel and electricity were rationed, and the black market was the only place to obtain many goods. Still, most West Berliners supported the airlift and their western allies.

How many tons of supplies did the Berlin Airlift deliver?

At the beginning of the operation, the planes delivered about 5,000 tons of supplies to West Berlin every day; by the end, those loads had increased to about 8,000 tons of supplies per day. The Allies carried about 2.3 million tons of cargo in all over the course of the airlift.

What is the C-47 airlift of Berlin?

What is the C-47 airlift of Berlin?
C-47 at lower right corner is s/n 43-15872. With the total support of President Harry S. Truman, the military governor of the American zone in Germany, Gen. Lucius D. Clay, organized the airlift. Although pressured by countless calls to abandon Berlin, Clay stood firm. His resolve and ability became the driving force behind this massive task.

How many planes were involved in the Berlin Airlift?

Berlin Airlift – Facts & Figures. 394,509 tons (400,821 tonnes) of foodstuffs, coal and supplies carried by 689 military and civil aircraft – 441 US, 147 RAF and 101 British civil. 39 British, 31 American and 13 German civilians lost their lives in the Berlin Airlift. 200,230,415 km (124,420,813 miles) were flown during the airlift.

Why did the Soviets lift the Berlin Blockade?

Why did the Soviets lift the Berlin Blockade?
On May 12, 1949, the Soviets lifted the blockade and reopened the roads, canals and railway routes into the western half of the city. The Allies continued the airlift until September, however, because they wanted to stockpile supplies in Berlin just in case the blockade was reinstated.

How much did the Berlin Airlift deliver a day?

A morale-boosting concept, it became one of the iconic images of the airlift. By the end of July, the airlift was delivering around 5,000 tons a day. Alarmed the Soviets began harassing incoming aircraft and attempted to lure them off course with fake radio beacons.

How many planes landed in Berlin during the Berlin Airlift?

How many planes landed in Berlin during the Berlin Airlift?
Did you know? During the Berlin airlift, an Allied supply plane took off or landed in West Berlin every 30 seconds. The planes made nearly 300,000 flights in all.

What was Operation Vittles (Berlin Airlift)?

Seven U.S. Air Force Douglas C-47 airplanes unloading cargo at Tempelhof Airport, Berlin, Germany during Operation Vittles (Berlin Airlift), 1948-1949. C-47 at lower right corner is s/n 43-15872. With the total support of President Harry S. Truman, the military governor of the American zone in Germany, Gen. Lucius D. Clay, organized the airlift.

What are the facts about Berlin Airlift 6?

What are the facts about Berlin Airlift 6?
Facts about Berlin Airlift 6: the blockade. The road and railroad traffic of Berlin was totally cut off by the Soviet Union on 24th June 1948. The city was not able to be accessed via road and railroad. Moreover, the electricity was cut off too. The only way out of this problem was using the airlift.

How long did it take to build the Berlin airfields?

The major Berlin airfields involved were Tempelhof in the American sector, Gatow on the Havel river in the British sector and Tegel which was built by army engineers and Berlin volunteers in 49 days inside the French sector Each aircraft was unloaded by German crews in 20-30 minutes
Over the course of the Berlin Airlift, the Allies safely delivered an astonishing 2.3 million tons of supplies, solely by air – an accomplishment unprecedented in history. On June 24, 1948, the Soviet Union closed all surface routes into the western zone of Berlin.

How long was the greatest humanitarian airlift in history?

How long was the greatest humanitarian airlift in history?
But for the veterans who took part in the greatest humanitarian airlift in history, the operation is as fresh as yesterday. The airlift stretched 15 months, from June 26, 1948, to Sept. 30, 1949.

Did you fly the first mission on the Berlin Airlift?

Lafferty flew to Berlin and returned to Wiesbaden AB instead of Rhein-Main. "Congratulations," is the first thing the young pilot heard from Air Force Col. Bertram C. Harrison, commander of the 60th Troop Carrier Group. "What for?" asked Lafferty. Harrison replied, "You've flown the first mission on the Berlin Airlift for our group."