Knowing about the Berlin Airlift and Lt. Halvorsen was my “get out of jail” free card one day in high school back in 1969.
I was busted with a paperback in my book in Mr. Christian’s class and was ordered to the front of the class. I was instructed by Mr. C to discuss the Berlin Airlift. I spent about the next 15 minutes or so drawing a crude map of the Germanys and Berlin with the 3 air corridors on the chalk board. Explained about the move from the original C-47s to the C-54s and the tonnage difference. How General Tunner organized the in and out ramps and how the unloading process was done in Berlin.
Explained about the Easter Day parade to set recorded tonnage delivered and several stories including Lt. Halvorsen, the GI from the deep south who had a knack for cutting up heavy equipment so it would fit on the cargo planes then be able to be reassembled in Berlin.
How the British used Short Sunderland seaplanes to deliver salt to Berlin by landing on Lake Havel in the western sector of Berlin. As well as the female reporter who was flying into Berlin one night doing a story on the lift for folks back home. The crew decided it would be a good idea to let her do the check point call. When her voice went out into the ether bedlam erupted over the airways since the Airlift was virtually a stag event as was befitting of the times :-)
I even took a few questions that, thankfully, I could answer. When I was finished Mr. Christian told me to take my seat and see him after class:-(
So I go up to see Mr. C figuring I was going to get some sort of assignment, like a detailed report on War and Peace or something equally as dreadful. Mr. Christian said that was the first time in his 20+ years of teaching that he had has a student show him up. Oh and put the books away in class.
My secret was that the week before I had just read a book on the Airlift.
Regards
alfa6 ;>}
Good job. I was stationed in West Berlin for almost 5 years. Some of my high school friends had no idea where Berlin was. Most thought it was on the border of West and East Germany.
Argh. The beginning of the decline of our education system.
Good story. I’m also afraid that they don’t make them like you any more.