The Berlin Airlift
Western Allies airlifted supplies to blockaded West Berlin for 15 months.
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American and British aircraft delivered food, fuel, and other necessities, with flights occurring as often as one every thirty seconds at the operation's peak.[1][2]
Key facts and history
The Soviets lifted the blockade on 12 May 1949, but the airlift continued until 30 September 1949 to build up reserves.[3] Over the operation's duration, the US Air Force delivered 1,783,573 tons and the RAF delivered 541,937 tons of supplies.[3] The U.S. called the operation Operation Vittles, while the British referred to it as Operation Plainfare.[4] By early July 1948, a combined fleet of U.S. and British aircraft was delivering an average of 2,250 tons daily.[5]
What the cited sources add
Glines noted that the Soviets believed the reduced Allied occupation forces could not mount a successful airlift.[6] Glines stated that within the first 10 days, more than 1,000 tons of cargo had been carried to Berlin.[6] The Royal Air Force account states that RAF aircraft such as the Douglas Dakota and Avro York flew thousands of sorties carrying food, fuel, and medicine.[7] The RAF account concludes that the airlift saved millions from starvation and deepened the UK's ties with its Allies.[7]
C.V. Glines wrote that the first scheduled airlift flight on 26 June brought supplies to the three Allied sectors of West Berlin.[6] The RAF account states that, together with U.S. forces, they achieved a landing in Berlin every 90 seconds.[7]
References
- Wikipedia, "Berlin Blockade" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: "Journey Across Berlin (1961)", Universal Newsreel, 1957; "Air Force Story, The Cold War, 1948–1950 (1953)", Universal Newsreel, 1953; Nash, "American People: Creating a Nation and a Society, Concise Edition, Volume 1 (to 1877) Value Package (Includes Voices of the American People, Volume I)", Pearson Education, 2008, p. 597; Smoler, Fredric (April/May 2003). "Where Berlin and America Meet " American Heritage. Retrieved 29 July 2010. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Berlin Blockade" (CC BY-SA 4.0) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Berlin Blockade" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: A fleet of 104 varied transports from 25 civilian companies was integrated into Operation Plainfare and brought in 146,980 tons or 27% of the RAF tonnage (Mille (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Berlin Blockade" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Launius, "The Berlin Airlift: Constructive Air Power", Air Power History, 1989, p. 8–22; Launius, "The Berlin Airlift: Constructive Air Power", Air Power History, 1989, p. 8–22; "RAF's vital role in the Berlin Airlift", Royal Air Force (we also read that source) en.wikipedia.org
- Wikipedia, "Berlin Blockade" (CC BY-SA 4.0), which cites: Brunhaver, "The Berlin Airlift", Air University Press, 1996, p. 21–32; History, Military Air Transport Service, 1948, Maxwell AFB, Ala.: AFHRA, file no. 4520-A1, 155. (original not read by us) en.wikipedia.org
- Fifty years ago, a massive airlift into Berlin showed the Soviets that a post-WW II blockade would not work, C.V. Glines. facts only, no text reused. indianamilitary.org
- "RAF's vital role in the Berlin Airlift", Royal Air Force. facts only, no text reused. raf.mod.uk
Each numbered sentence above was checked against the source it cites before publication. Sentences citing Wikipedia adapt text from the English Wikipedia article Berlin Blockade (contributors), used under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is available under the same licence. Other sources were used for facts only; no text or images are copied from them.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Berlin Blockade (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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