Did you know? - Berlin Airlift Facts

  

 During the Berlin Airlift 200 230 415 km (124 420 813 miles) were flown in a total of 277 804 flights.

The Candy Bomber of the Berlin Airlift

  

Colonel Gail Seymour "Hal"  Halvorsen is a retired officer and command pilot in the United States Air Force. He is best known as the "Berlin Candy Bomber" and gained fame for dropping candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949.

His story directly inspired the Chapter 22 - The Candy Bomber in the historical novel "Eagles Over Berlin".

Here below Tom Brokaw's interview with Gail Halvorsen :

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

January 1949 :

The first American airlift participants begin rotating back to their home bases. The British begin evacuating Berlin children in planes that have unloaded their cargo.

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 31, 1948 :

100,000 flights have been completed since the airlift began.

Berlin Airlift - The Story Of A Great Achievement (1949)

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 24, 1948 :

Bob Hope conducts a Christmas tour of airlift bases, performing for American soldiers in Berlin

  

Bob Hope performing for American soldiers during WWII

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 20, 1948 :

„Operation Santa Claus” brings Christmas gifts to 10,000 Berlin children.

Road to Berlin Airlift

December 17, 1947 :

The Congress American enacts the legislation authorizing the first aid payments of the Marshall Plan

General George C. Marshall

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 16, 1948 :

During the Berlin Airlift a third airport has been constructed in Tegel, in the French sector. However, the airport could not begin operations because two radio towers, operated by the soviet forces obstructed the landing area.

On that day, French engineers destroyed the transmitting towers of the communist-run radio station near Tegel.

This incident directly inspired the Chapter 34: „The Radio Towers” in the historical novel „Eagles Over Berlin”

Did you know? - Berlin Airlift Facts

Normal daily food requirements for Berlin was 2032 tons

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 31, 1948

100,000 flights have been completed since the airlift began.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 16, 1948

The new airport is ready, but two radio towers operated by the Soviets get in the way of landings.

French engineers destroy the transmitting towers for a communist-run radio station near Tegel.

The operation of the new airport began.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com

In the aftermath of the Berlin Airlift

December 11, 1957

Restriction on travel implemented :

Leaving East Germany without permission would result in a prison sentence of up to three years.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com/index.htm

In the aftermath of the Berlin Airlift

December 22, 1989

Brandenburg Gate is opened in Berlin. The road is free between East and West Berlin.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com

Today in the Life od the Berlin Airlift

December 24, 1948

Bob Hope conducts a Christmas tour of airlift bases, performing for American soldiers in Berlin.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 20, 1948

"Operation Santa Claus" brings Christmas gifts to 10,000 Berlin children.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com

Road to Berlin Airlift

December 17, 1947

Congress enacts legislation authorizing the first aid payments of the Marshall Plan.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com

Today in the Life of the Berlin Airlift

December 5, 1948

Berliner elected once again Ernst Reuter as mayor of West Berlin.

Kati Fabian - www.eaglesoverberlin.com

Road to Berlin Airlift

November 30, 1945

The Allied Control Council approves three air corridors securing Western access to Berlin; each is 20 miles wide.

Today in the life of the Berlin Airlift

November 30, 1948

The Soviets set up their own Berlin city government.