TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. -- Editor’s note: This is part two of a four-part story on the history of the Berlin Airlift.
As you will recall from last week’s issue of the Tinker Take Off, we discussed how the Berlin Airlift got started and its importance to maintaining the peace of the world. What had started as a stopgap measure to circumvent the Soviet blockade of the land routes to West Berlin, became seen as the only viable alternative to World War III. The airlift’s first commander, Brig. Gen. Joseph Smith, on a short, temporary assignment, did an amazing job of improvisation — especially considering neither he nor anyone on his small staff had any airlift experience. However, it was commonly thought that major airlift operations like these were impossible to maintain. The only successful large scale airlift in history was the “Hump” operation in Asia during World War II. Mimicking that operation in some of the worst flying weather in the world was seen as an impossibility. Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner, the one man in world history who had led such an impossible operation over the “Hump,” was brought in with a handpicked task force to take over in late July.
Tunner thought the “bomber generals,” as he had referred to his predecessors and superiors, had done well before his arrival. However, he believed they had no idea how to properly run an airlift which, if done correctly, should have no need for improvisation. He brought a firm belief in regimentation and attention to detail.
The airlift’s goals were humanitarian, but the methods Tunner used were ruthlessly mechanical to create an efficient airlift process. This did not rule out the human factor entirely. Innovation often leads to improvements, such as the idea of loading awkward freight on planes that needed repairs, thinking the planes would be delayed in returning anyway. Then again, ruthless efficiency sometimes led to error, as in the story of one crew in such a hurry they battened down the hatches and flew away – with the loading crew still onboard.
By autumn, the airlift was performing far better than anyone had ever dared to hope. More planes, runways, pilots, and mechanics had been brought in to the mix. New and improved radar and runway lighting had been installed. Yet, the Soviet Union still believed they would win an eventual victory.
The free nations may have brought in General Tunner, but the Soviets were bringing in the same warfighter who had defeated Napoleon and Hitler; General Winter. Yes, soon the area of Western Europe with the worst flying weather was about to become much, much worse.
The Air Force had gone to extraordinary lengths to allow for stockpiling goods to get the West Berliners through the winter. As winter approached the cargo amounts had become record-breaking, but many of the improvements creating this were recent additions.
October came and the worst fog in memory descended on Germany, but hope remained. Military Air Transport Service commander Maj. Gen. Laurence S. Kuter, said of the following month, November, “November was a black and heart-breaking month.” The fog persisted until mid-December when local meteorologists were calling it the foggiest winter in 80 years.
The improvements made before winter made some flying possible. Still, stockpiled supplies were dwindling and the supplies coming through the fog were not enough. Occasionally, coal supplies dwindled down to a couple of days’ worth available. Despite all of this, Tunner continued to make improvements. Crews started radioing ahead to their home bases after leaving Berlin, reporting whether their plane needed repairs and whether they carried cargo. This meant that during the few precious hours of a break in the fog that not a moment was wasted.
In addition to supplies for the West Berliners being low, necessary supplies to maintain the airlift were often low – as was morale. The hours for our Airmen were long and there was little in the way of entertainment or decent living facilities for diversion. Orders were often extended at the last moment and some wondered why they were working so hard to assist their former enemy. Senior leadership and America’s political leadership soon worked to make sure everyone knew the importance of the airlift for national defense and the peace of the world.
The West Berliners, to their credit, endured, choosing to do without the necessities of life rather than submit to Soviet coercion. One popular joke went, “If there must be a blockade, then it’s better to be blockaded by the Soviets and fed by the Americans. Just imagine if it were the other way around!” At the darkest moment during the airlift as Christmas approached, something wonderful happened: storms.
Storms raked through all of Europe, but especially over Germany and took the fog with them. The break in the foggy weather came just in time. Additionally, temperatures remained unusually mild throughout the winter, which meant less coal and more food could be sent to replenish stockpiles. Even so, life in the city was hard. Three quarters of all housing was still in ruins after WWII, which meant several families often had to share a single room. Simple necessities were hard to find, most oftentimes it was shoes. In fact, as industrious and honest as the Germans working as mechanics for the airlift were, some did not abstain from pilfering that rarest commodity. Those running the airlift limited the theft by only sending right shoes on one day and only left shoes on other days. The fog returned in February but did not last. Spring was on its way. The worst was over.
As spring set in, the British and the American Air Forces set larger and larger goals. The best of these was the “Easter Parade.” 12,940 tons of coal were flown on 1,398 flights in a twenty-four hour period. Morale improved as flying time increased and friendly competition was encouraged. One base newspaper ran a cartoon with an efficiency expert telling two base commanders that the other was outperforming him.
The Soviets finally admitted defeat and negotiations were held, agreeing to end the land blockade one minute after midnight May 12, 1949. The Soviets had not only lost in keeping the free countries out of West Berlin, they had also paid a large economic price. More than that, it was this event that painted for most what each side stood for during the remainder of the Cold War. If there was any doubt before, everyone knew who were the good guys and who were the bad. In fact, supplies continued to be flown, as well as trucked, into West Berlin. It was clear that the Soviet Union could not be trusted.
In the end, 2.4 million tons of supplies had been transported by air into West Berlin at the cost of 79 dead, 31 of whom were Americans.
Next week, find out about Tinker Air Force Base’s contribution to the Berlin Airlift.
Sources include The Air Force History Support Office, History.com, “The Air Force Can Deliver Anything” by Daniel Harrington, “The Berlin Candy Bomber” by Gail Halvorsen, The Office of the Historian Department of State, The Berlin Airlift Historical Society