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Germany Post War
Its 28 June 1948…Washington DC
 In early September 1947, the United States along with Great Britain,
and France combined their zones into one province called "Bizonia,"
hoping to encourage economic stability amidst a German recession by
stabilizing a common currency.
 The Soviet Union, opposing the creation of “Bizonia” and a common
currency wanted to continue the German recession in hopes that civil
unrest would move Germany towards the Communist camp
 Next, the Soviets, trying to push the west out of Berlin , cut all surface
traffic access to West Berlin on June 27, 1948. All shipments of food or
supplies came to a halt.
 A desperate Berlin, faced with starvation and in need of vital supplies,
is looking to the West for help…
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Overview
 Understand the political motivations behind the
Berlin Airlift as a case study of the Cold War
 Know the USAF role in the Berlin Airlift
Global Capability – Airlift: Case Study
 Berlin Airlift (1948)
 Post war Germany was divided into three sections--the Allied part was
controlled by the United States, Great Britain and France and other part by
the Soviet Union. The city of Berlin, although located in the eastern Soviet
half, was also divided into four sectors
Global Capability – Airlift: Case Study
 The Soviets, trying to push the west
out of Berlin , cut all surface traffic
access to West Berlin on June 27, 1948.
All shipments of food or supplies
came to a halt.
 By the terms of the Yalta Agreement,
the United States, Great Britain and
France had over flight rights to West
Berlin via 3 air corridors
Global Capability – Airlift: Case Study
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Daily requirements for Berlin: 2000 tons (Coal represented two -thirds of all tonnage)
Aircraft could carry approx 10 tons/flight
Flew in all weather (snow, fog, sleet – tough German winter)
689 military and civil aircraft (441 US, 248 UK) airlifted 2.3 Million tons of foodstuffs,
coal and supplies
• Total of 277,804 flights and 124,420,813 miles were flown during the airlift.
• Each aircraft was unloaded by German crews in 20-30 minutes
• The airlift cost the United States $350 million
Berlin Airlift: “A Pilot’s Story”
Lt Gail Halvorsen
Global Capability – Airlift: Case Study
 On May 12, 1949, seeing the effectiveness of the blockade and world
public opinion, the Soviets ended the blockade was over.
 The Airlift officially ended on Sept. 30, 1949,
 A total of 101 fatalities were recorded as a result of the operation,
including 31 Americans, mostly due to crashes.
Boeing C-97 "Stratofreighter"
Boeing C-82 “Packet"
Douglas C-74 "Globe Master"
Lessons Learned From the Berlin Airlift
 The Berlin airlift convinced American leaders of the need to
build a stronger more versatile Air Force
 The cargo plane came into its own during the airlift
 Air Mobility Command was born
Cold War/Berlin Airlift BINGO Challenge
B
I
N
G
O
Marshall Plan
Warsaw Pact
Candy Bomber
Nuclear Triad
Brush Wars
Joseph Stalin
Cold War
National Security
Act of 1947
President Truman
Tactical Air
Command
Atomic Bomb
General Carl Spaatz
FREE
SPACE
Strategic Air
Command
Air Mobility
Command
Air Corridors
North Atlantic
Treaty Organization
Bizonia
Tempelhof
Submarine Launched
Ballistic Missile
Intercontinental
Ballistic Missile
Department of
Defense
Manned Bombers
George Marshall
Air Defense
Command
Overview
 Understand the political motivations behind the
Berlin Airlift as a case study of the Cold War
 Know the USAF role in the Berlin Airlift