The Berlin Airlift (german: Berliner Luftbrücke / ‘Berlin air bridge’) was organized by the Western Allies, British and U.S. America in particular, to support and supplly West Berlin with food and goods during the soviet Berlin Blockade 1948/1949.
In just one year Aircrews from all over the world (United States Air Force, the British Royal Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the South African Air Force) flew over 200,000 airlift flights, providing up to up to 8,893 tons of goods per day to Berlin – mostly food, fuel, clothes etc.
Berlin Blockade
During the so called Cold War… (to be continued)
Berlin Airlift Figures:
- Duration of Berlin Airlift: 26. June 1948 – 30. September 1949
- Total number of flights: 277.569
- Total number of accidents: 17 (83 dead)
- Total fright flown to Berlin: 2.325.509,6 t
- Total coal flown to Berlin: 1.586.099,3 t
- Total food flown to Berlin: 536.705,3 t
- Total other fright flown to Berlin: 202.774,4 t
- 733 ‘incidents’ happende during crossing the Soviet Sector – Raisin Bombers were approached by Soviet fighter jets, glared by searchlights etc.
Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berliner_Luftbücke (german)
English language resources about Berlin Airlift:
- Page at Wikipedia about Berlin Raisin Bombers
- Page at Wikipedia about the Berlin Blockade
- Impressions of a Berlin Airlift Pilot – The Power of Hope and Freedom
a Personal Essay by Gail Halvorsen at germany.info (official website of German Missions in the United States)
…to be continued…
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