Posted on 12/04/2007 2:27:20 PM PST by NormsRevenge
BERLIN - Historic Tempelhof Airport — which played a key role in the Berlin airlift in the wake of World War II — will close to passengers in 2008, Germany's top administrative court confirmed Tuesday.
The court threw out a bid to prevent Tempelhof's closure as part of plans to expand Schoenefeld airport, a former military airport on the city's outskirts, into Berlin-Brandenburg International Airport.
Several airline companies that use the centrally located Tempelhof airport tried to block the closure.
But the Leipzig-based Federal Administrative Court rejected their claims, approving an earlier decision by a Berlin-Brandenburg administrative court that argued in February that acceptable alternatives were available and that the move did not infringe on the airlines' rights.
The money-losing Tempelhof is scheduled to shut on Oct. 31, 2008. Three airlines still using Tempelhof — Brussels Airlines, the German carrier Cirros Airlines and the Austrian company Intersky — will be required to reroute their flights to Berlin's Schoenefeld airport starting Nov. 1.
Tempelhof, which opened in 1923, was expanded under the Nazis into a huge, horseshoe-shaped complex. Its massive terminal is one of the most prominent remaining examples of the era's architecture in Berlin.
After World War II left the city divided into east and west, Tempelhof became the hub of the nearly yearlong, U.S.-led Berlin airlift when the Soviets blockaded West Berlin in 1948.
Tempelhof — the closest of the city's three international airports to downtown Berlin — is now used only for short-haul flights with small aircraft.
While it is too small for many modern jets, its backers value its location.
Schoenefeld will be expanded into the capital's new hub, Berlin-Brandenburg International, by 2011. Berlin's Tegel Airport also is slated to close.
Ah, yes, Berlin...
78-81, Teufelsberg.
Thank you for your service, Ops33.
Wasn’t that a great assignment!!
I lived right down the hall from the bowling alley on the 6th floor. I was in the barracks there 3/73 - 3/75. At the far end of the hall was the entrance to “Heavy Radar”, the transmitters and receivers for the FPS-67 RADAR where I worked. Talk about a short commute!
I had many a Becks beer in the bowling alley.
60 years after the Berlin Airlift. Probably a good anniversary time.
So here's another thing we have in common, besides your Dad's home town!
I removed a lot of equipment from T-Berg back in 1993-6 as we drew down our forces and ESC closed shop there. Quite a view up there! But at least when I was there, there were no missiles pointed directly at me like you had!
Let me know if you ever come out this way. We can swap stories!
Will do...
Thanks to whomever resurrected this old thread - I didn’t see the first one.
Tempelhof was great duty: Served as a Russian voice intercept operator in the USAF Security Service (203) in 1964/65. Tracked the Soviet air order of battle in E. Germany. Big radar installation in violation of the Four Power Accords, but very effective intercept post. You could ride the ‘ferris wheel’ elevators (jumping on and off) down to the catacombs and see the bullet holes and flame thrower marks in the walls.
Had an apartment at 25 Paulinen Strasse, BMW one-lunger motorcycle and the best beer on the planet for about 25 cents/ltr. When I was shipped out, went around to some of the local Kneipe’s buying up souvenir pils glasses - still have several - Berliner Kindl, Dortmund, Schultheiss... etc.
Ahh youth...
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