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.
Aerial view of the city airport Tempelhof in Berlin on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007. Historic Tempelhof Airport — which played a key role in the Berlin airlift in the wake of World War II — will close to p_assengers in 2008, Germany's top administrative court confirmed Tuesday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
FOLLOW-UP Pingeroo!
Aerial view of the city airport Tempelhof in Berlin on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2007. Historic Tempelhof Airport — which played a key role in the Berlin airlift in the wake of World War II — will close to p_assengers in 2008, Germany's top administrative court confirmed Tuesday. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
My friend the Candy Bomber will probably be a little melancholy about it.
Tegel is a much better airport. I like the round design. Can’t get lost..........
The Berlin Airlift was one of the most remarkable examples of the triumph of American capitalism over totalitarianism.
Not only in terms of the American can-do attitude in the face of Leftist negativity, but the sheer logistical muscle that the United States was able to generate.
High school kids should be reading inspiring stories about real world victories such as the Berlin Airlift as opposed to depressing, naval gazing neurotica like Catcher in the Rye and Lord of the Flies.
Oh and free Germany...You’re welcome.
IIRC, the original design allowed aircraft to taxi totally underneath cover. Taxiing in hangars is never done today, but in the 30’s when they built this thing it was common. The terminal building is huge.
coincidentally, the FR Canteen thread for yesterday..
FReeper Canteen ~ Berlin Airlift Part 1 ~ Dec. 3, 2007 ^
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1933769/posts
I’ve seen some old photos of Templhof...looks like a huge “temple”
to the early age of aviation.
IIRC, after US occupation forces moved in, one of the first things done
was to set up a basketball court in one of the voluminous areas
inside the airport structures.
good read.
From 1985-1988 I was in charge of the control tower at Templehof. From the air, Tempelhof looks like a stylized eagle.
AIIRC, the huge open grass field allowed landings and takeoffs in any direction, always into the wind.
What will the City of Berlin do with all that real estate?
Reading this got me to wondering what had happened to the 4th airport - Gatow. It looks like it was turned back over to the Luftwaffe in 1994 and subsequently shut down.
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org/airlift.html
The Berlin Airlift
The French pulled off the best stunt of the Berlin Airlift. When they built the runway at Tegel, the broadcast towers for Soviet controlled Radio Berlin were located in the French zone and positioned so as to interfere with the use of the runway. The French proceeded to unilaterally blow them up.
I helped shut down the 690ESG there in 1993/4. Spent many a night in the bowling alley upstairs drinking cold Kindls!
Thanks for the ping Sarge — I’ll add the link to this story onto Part 4 of the Berlin Airlift Canteen threads! *HUG*
One of the little known footnotes about Tempelhof concerns the East German shepard. Shortly after the wall went up, and when there were still some gaps in its construction, an East German shepard escaped into West Berlin with some of his sheep. Without any open space to graze his flock he was given permission to put his sheep on the infield at Tempelhof. When I served there in the mid-80’s his flock had grown to about 100 sheep with a portable electric fence and a dog. To my knowledge, there was never a problem with his sheep getting loose on the airfield. Every year at Christmas the base would set up a lifesize Creech scene in front of the main building. The scene would also include several of the shepard’s sheep. It became a standing prank for the single GI’s to steal the sheep and let them loose to run up and down the hallways of the barracks. GI’s, you gotta love ‘em!
Currently, it houses the Luftwaffe museum.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.