FReeper Canteen ~ Berlin Airlift: The Legacy ~ January 7, 2008

Linked in thread | Peppermint Pattie

[StarCMC]

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!

For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.

Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!

~ Hall of Heroes ~

The Berlin Airlift
Part 4:  The Legacy
All info and photos from this website. Link to Part One
Link to Part Two
Link to Part Three

           

THE AIRLIFT'S LEGACY
 

The most obvious result of this confrontation was the 40-year Cold War with the Soviet Union, which ebbed with the construction of the Berlin Wall, and the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts.  The US also forged a newfound friendship with Germany, its former foe, and established the Federal Republic of Germany as a result.  In addition, the North Atlantic Treaty organization (NATO) was formed as a result of the crisis. 

Less politically, our aircraft and airway system we enjoy today was developed and perfected as a result of the Berlin Airlift.  Ground Controlled Approach or GCA was greatly improved as a necessity for the aircraft to land in Berlin, and our air traffic control system is a direct development of that technology.  Loading procedures and maintenance procedures are greatly improved as a result, too.

More importantly, the Berlin Airlift demonstrated the military need for Air Transport in addition to Bombers and Fighters.  A result is the Air Mobility Command and aircraft like the C-141 Starlifter, the C-130 Hercules, the C-5 Galaxy, and our newest transport, the C-17 Globemaster III. 

All of these political and logistical ideas came as a result of the resolve of the US, Great Britain, France, and Germany to resist totalitarian tactics and wage a battle of air transport.  This battle saved over 2.5 million people without firing a single shot.  In a matter of fifteen months in 1948-49, world history was changed by the greatest humanitarian aviation event in history, the Berlin Airlift. 
 

MEMORIALS: The Airlift Memorial at Rhein Main Air Base, Frankfurt, and on Luftbruckenplatz at Tempelhf  Airport in Berlin.

Each prong represents one of the 3 air corridors used during "Operation Vittles", and the names of the US and British Airmen killed in the process are inscribed on the base of each.  

31 Americans lost their lives during the Berlin Airlift, paying the ultimate price for the freedom of others.  Let that not be forgotten.

1st Lt George B. Smith Tuscaloosa, Alabama	Captain James A. Vaughan New Haven, Connecticut	Cpl Norbert H. Theis Cunningham, Kansas
1st Lt Leland V. Williams Abilene, Texas	1st Lt Eugene S. Erickson Collinsville, Illinois	PFC Ronald E. Stone  Mt. Sterling, Kentucky
Mr Karl V. Hagen New York, New York	Sgt Richard Winter Seattle, Washington	1st Lt Ralph H. Boyd Fort Worth, Texas
1st Lt Charles H. King Britton, South Dakota	Captain Billy E. Phelps Long Beach, California	1st Lt Craig B. Ladd Minneapolis, Minnesota
1st Lt Robert W. Stuber Arlington, California	1st Lt Willis F. Hargis Nacogdoches, Texas	TSgt Charles L. Putnam Colorado Springs, Colorado
Major Edwin C. Diltz Fayetteville, Texas	TSgt Lloyd G. Wells San Antonio, Texas	1st Lt Robert P. Weaver Fort Wayne, Indiana
Captain Willian R. Howard Gunnison, Mississippi	AD/3 Harry R. Crites, Jr. Lafayette, Indiana	1st Lt Royce C. Stephens San Antonio, Texas
Captain Joel M. DeVolentine Miami, Florida	1st Lt Richard M. Wurgel Union City, New Jersey	1st Lt Robert C. von Luehrte Covington, Kentucky
1st Lt William T. Lucas Wilson, North Carolina	1st Lt Lowell A. Wheaton, Jr. Corpus Christi, Texas	2nd Lt Donald J. Leemon Green Bay, Wisconsin
PFC Johnny T. Orms Rhein-Main Air Base	Captain William A. Rathgeber Portland, Oregon	TSgt Herbert F. Heinig Fort Wayne, Indiana
	Sgt Bernard J. Watkins Lafayette, Indiana

(Thanks to Mr. Ronald Hirst of Wiesbaden, Germany for helping us obtain the photos of these heroes.) 

 Resources:

Gail S. Halvorsen, The Berlin Candy Bomber

"To Save A City", Roger G. Miller, United States Air Force History and museums Program, 1998.

"MAC and the Berlin Airlift" by Roger D. Launius and Coy F. Cross III Military Airlift Command, 1998

"Over The Hump" William H. Tunner, 1964 Duell, Sloan and Pearce. New York.  

---

Current news:
Berlin's Tempelhof Airport to be closed

(Thanks for the heads-up to this story, OldSarge!)

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[StarCMC]

Thank God, for heroes like these. They make our world a better place.

[StarCMC]

Canteen Ping.

Be back to chat after dinner if possible! :-)

*HUGS*

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

Most folks don’t know that the U.S. airmen took to calling the Berlin Airlift “Lemay’s Fuel & Feed,” after their commander Curtis Lemay, who organized and first led the airlift before moving on to build the Strategic Sir Command.

[HopeandGlory]

Good morning Troops, Veterans and Canteeners.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Our Flag Flying Proudly One Nation Under God

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Lord, Please Bless Our Troops, They're fighting for our Freedom.

Prayers going up.

[TASMANIANRED]

Amen...

Evening Star...Hugs.

[laurenmarlowe]

United States Marine Corps Band~National Anthem

[StarCMC]

Welcome to the Cantee, Virginia Ridgerunner! You are

FIRST!

[StarCMC]

Thank you for the pledge, Hopey! You are

SECOND!

[The Mayor]

January 7, 2008

Beware Of Open Doors

ODB RADIO: Listen Now | Download

READ: Philippians 1:8-11

Folly is joy to him who is destitute of discernment, but a man of understanding walks uprightly. —Proverbs 15:21

Sometimes Christians follow an “open door” policy. When a door of opportunity opens, they assume that it’s God’s will to go through it.

Bestselling author Terri Blackstock knows this is untrue. She never openly rebelled against God, but she found herself far away from Him after walking through open doors of opportunity. “I had allowed myself to believe that God was blessing my career . . . because He had opened all the doors,” she wrote in Soul Restoration. Although she got what she wanted—a successful career writing romance novels for Harlequin and Silhouette—she lost what she needed: a close relationship with God.

When she finally admitted that her career was keeping her from God, she turned her back on success and renewed her commitment to the Lord. Since then, her writing career has been revitalized, and she has become an award-winning author of Christian fiction.

Just because the Lord doesn’t stop us from something doesn’t mean He wants us to continue. To discern which opportunities to pursue, we need to “approve the things that are excellent” and to be “filled with the fruits of righteousness . . . to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:10-11).

FOR FURTHER STUDY
For help with understanding God’s will for your life, read the online study How Can I Know What God Wants Me To Do? at www.discoveryseries.org/q0704

The best way to know God’s will is to say “I will” to God.

Bible in One Year:  Genesis 13–15; Proverbs 3:1-10

[StarCMC]

Good evening Tas! You're

THIRD!

[StarCMC]

Good evening lauren! You're

FOURTH!

[StarCMC]

Thank you for the good words from the Good Word, Mayor! And you're

FIFTH!

[laurenmarlowe]

SHEIK SA'ID, Iraq (Jan. 2, 2008) U.S. Army Soldiers attached to 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment patrol and search for weapons or Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) during a clearing mission. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Sean Mulligan (Released)

PERSIAN GULF (Jan. 4, 2008) Lt. Chris Moylan stands watch in the waist bubble to ensure safe launching of aircraft from the flight deck aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are underway on a scheduled deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Justin Lee Losack (Released)

PERSIAN GULF (Jan. 6, 2008) Aviation Boatswain's Mate Fuel 3rd Class Matthew L. Fox opens a JP-5 fuel tank releasing free water from a storage tank in pump room 3 aboard the Nimitz-Class nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are underway on a scheduled deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by mass Communication Specialist Kevin T. Murray Jr (Released)

[laurenmarlowe]

Good evening to you Star!

Thank you for the AWESOME thread. God Bless all our Heroes.

[StarCMC]

Woooohooooo!! Those sailors are lookin’ good! :-)

[StarCMC]

Amen, sistah!!

[Virginia Ridgerunner]

It was an accident, REALLY...! :)

[laurenmarlowe]

PERSIAN GULF (Jan. 4, 2008) Lt. Cmdr. Eric Doyle assigned to the " Bulls" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 37 prepares to board his aircraft during flight operations aboard the Nimitz-class nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). Truman and embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3 are underway on a scheduled deployment in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and maritime security operations. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Ricardo J. Reyes (Released)

[The Mayor]

Cool but the Lord is always first.. : )

[PROCON]

Good evening Canteeners!!