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.
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.
60 years after the Berlin Airlift. Probably a good anniversary time.
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...