The FReeper Foxhole Remembers The Berlin Airlift

LIFE FOR THE BERLINERS

Life for the Berliners was hard. In the beginning, there was about a month's worth of supplies to be had, but stockpiles were dwindling. The airlift had not reached its predicted consumption rate yet, and starvation was near. In addition, when the winter of 1948-49 hit, there was little fuel to run the remaining industry, let alone heat the homes. Berliners soon found themselves chopping down all of the trees in the city for fuel, and learning what grasses could be eaten for food. In addition, people rummaged through garbage cans for food, but soon found that there was very little of that to go around. It was a dire circumstance, but still they knew that their suffering in this manner would be better than succumbing to Soviet control. They had seen the treatment the Soviet soldiers had given them when they arrived. They were stealing everyone's valuables, systematically stripping the industry and all of the necessary equipment and shipping it back to Moscow. In addition, German wives and daughters were being raped and abused all of the time. German scientists and engineers were forcibly sent to Moscow and forced to reveal all of the German technological secrets. Starvation was far better than that treatment. When it was decided that an airlift would be attempted, Berlin's Lord Mayor Ernst Reuter held a public rally in support of the effort. Germans would suffer and sacrifice to make it work. The German resolve was strong, even in such a desperate situation.

GERMAN VOLUNTEERS

One of the biggest problems during the airlift was the lack of manpower. It was decided to use the very people who the airlift was helping, the Berliners themselves. There was no lack of supply as they were eager to help because it was all for them anyway. In addition those who helped got an extra ration. This was very important to them, as the allotted ration was very small. It also gave the people a great sense of pride that they were helping the effort. So, soon German volunteers were used for unloading crews at Tempelhof. They would board the aircraft as soon as it stopped and commence unloading. If the crews did an especially good job, they might get a reward, such as a pack of cigarettes or an extra ration. This became quite the incentive, as the record for unloading 10-tons of coal was set at 10 minutes.

Another large problem was the lack of skilled mechanics. There just weren't enough mechanics to keep a fleet of C-54's maintained so that there could be no disruption in the conveyor belt of supplies to Berlin. They needed people to perform inspections, repairs, engine replacements, cleaning and servicing these aircraft. General Tunner had a solution to that problem, too. There were a large number of skilled former Luftwaffe mechanics available right in Berlin. It was decided to create crews comprised of these men, an American Maintenance supervisor and an interpreter. Soon the manpower was there. Soon, any aircraft that wasn't being fixed, inspected, or overhauled was flying the corridors. A far cry from the beginnings.

THE AIRLIFT'S LEGACY

The most obvious 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. We also forged a newfound friendship with Germany, our 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.

31 Americans lost their lives during the Berlin Airlift

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

TEGEL

Berlin had only 2 airports at the outset of the airlift, Tempelhof and Gatow. Soon, it became obvious that a third was needed. Heavy equipment was needed, but there were no aircraft large enough to carry bulky items like that. So, it was cut into smaller pieces, loaded onto one of 5 Fairchild C-82 Packet aircraft, flown into Berlin, and welded back together again. Incidentally, a new power plant for Berlin was constructed this way also. Nevertheless, an area in the French Sector was chosen to become Tegel Airfield. American, French, and German volunteers broke ground on august 5th, 1948. Through dedication, hard work and extreme organization, the first c-54 landed with its 10-ton cargo only a mere three months later. Quite a feat. Tegel, incidentally, is Berlin's main airport today.

There was an obstacle in the way on the approach to Tegel, however. A Soviet controlled radio tower caused problems with its proximity to the airfield. Pleas to remove it went unheard. Finally, on November 20, French General Jean Ganeval made a decision. If they would not take it down, he would simply blow it up. So, on December 16, the dynamite was used. The tower fell, and the obstacle was gone.

"DER SCHOKOLADEN FLIEGER"
OPERATION LITTLE VITTLES

One of the most poignant stories of the Berlin Airlift was that of one 1st Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen. Halvorsen was somewhat of an ammeter moviemaker, and on July 17, he decided that on one of his off days, he would hitch a ride as a passenger on a C-54 and visit the City he was saving. Once at Tempelhof, Halvorsen walked to the end of the runway to film some aircraft landings when he noticed a group of children near the fence watching the planes, too. He went over to them. The asked questions about the aircraft, the cargo, how fast it was going and things like that. During this conversation he noticed that these children, unlike others he had encountered in Europe as a Ferry command Pilot during the War, did not ask him for any candy or gum, like others always had. This struck him funny, and he knew that they were too proud to beg for such things. Some having been born during wartime had not even heard of treats like that. He made a fateful decision at that moment which was to become one of the symbols of the airlift. He reached into his pocket and found that he had only twosticks of Wrigley's Doublemint Gum. He remarked that if they did not fight over it, he would drop some candy to them if they were there the next day. They agreed, took the sticks of gum and divided it amongst themselves, some happy to get only a piece of the wrapper. Before he left them, a child asked him how they will know it was him flying over. He replied, "I'll wiggle my wings."

True to his word, the very next day, on approach to Berlin, he rocked the airplane and dropped some chocolate bars attached to a handkerchief parachute to the children waiting below. Every day, the number of children would increase and he made several more drops. Soon there was a stack of mail in Base Ops addressed to "Uncle Wiggly Wings', "The Chocolate Uncle" and "The Chocolate Flier".

Halvorsen didn't tell anyone about what he was doing for fear he'd get in trouble. Then, he was called into his commander and asked what he was doing. He replied 'Flying, Sir." His commander asked again, and received the same response. He then pulled out a newspaper with a picture of Halvorsen's plane and tiny parachutes trailing behind. Apparently, a newspaper reporter narrowly escaped being hit on the head with a chocolate bar. His commander wasn't happy about it, but General Tunner though it was just the kind of gesture that the operation needed. It was dubbed "Operation Little Vittles". It continued, and many C-54 pilots participated. Candy and parachutes were assembled and sent from Chicopee Falls, MA to assist in the gesture. In the end, over three tons of candy was dropped over Berlin, some even in the Soviet sector. For this simple kindhearted gesture, Halvorsen became the most recognized pilot of the Berlin Airlift.

'"The Air Force can deliver anything.'

-- Curtis LeMay,
when asked if he could haul supplies to Berlin.

Thanks, Doughty!

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Bump for my Dad.

The Big Lift

Wonderful thread Sam! I'm going to bed now, but I am eager to read all of it when I wake up. I had the pleasure of meeting Colonel (retired) Halvorsen when I was stationed in Los Angeles in the late 1980s. He was one of the guests of honor at the annual Air Force Ball and I was the escort officer for him and his wife. He's a really nice man.

Good morning Jen.

Are you staying up late like me, or do you wake up at this 'obscene' early hour??? ;-)

Good 'night' Aeronaut. Yawn! I'm headed to bed.

Thanks.

Bump for the Foxhole.

On June 28, President Truman made a statement that abandoning Berlin was out of the question. He then ordered US B-29 Superfortresses to be stationed at British airfields to show the Soviets that the Western powers were not taking this lightly. We would not abandon these people!

[...]

A total of 101 fatalities were recorded as a result of the operation, including 31 Americans, mostly due to crashes.

A valiant operation that earned the undying gratitude of the German people.

You're welcome, Gerhard Schroeder, you scumsucking, backstabbing, Marxist rat bastard, and all the subhuman slime that voted for you. Know that I will not forget as easily as you did.

bump

On This Day In History

Birthdates which occurred on January 05:
1548 Francisco Suárez Granada Spain, philosopher/theologian
1560 William Cobbold composer
1592 Shah Jahan Mughal emperor of India (1628-58), built Taj Mahal
1596 Henry Lawes English composer
1620 Miklós Zrínyi Hungarian poet/writer (The Peril of Sziget)
1661 Jacob Balthasar Schutz composer
1679 Pietro Filippo Scarlotti composer
1710 Friedrich Wilhelm Reidt composer
1729 Paul C la Fargue cartoonist/painter
1759 Jacques Cathelineau French royalist/army leader
1769 Jean Baptiste Say French economist (Political Economics)
1773 Pieter Fontijn Dutch painter/drawer
1778 Fortunato Santini composer
1779 Stephen Decatur US, naval hero (War of 1812)
1779 Zebulon Montgomery Pike explorer (Pike's Peak)
1780 Claire countess of Rémusat/Vergennes/French author (Salon)
1787 John Burke Irish genealogist (Burke's Peerage)
1788 Kaspar Ett German organist/composer
1806 Andre H C van Hasselt Belgian poet (La Belgium)
1810 Auguste Mermet composer
1811 Cyrus Hamlin educator/missionary (established Robert College, Turkey)
1813 Thomas Neville Waul Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1903
1822 Joseph Brevard Kershaw Major General (Confederate Army), died in 1894
1823 William Rockstro composer
1828 August Valentine Kautz Bvt Major General (Union Army), died in 1895
1835 Friedrich Richard Faltin composer
1835 Hendrik E van Rijgersma Dutch government doctor on Saint Maarten
1840 John Doby Kennedy Brigadier General (Confederate Army), died in 1896
1846 Rudolf Christoph Eucken Germany, Idealist philosopher (Nobel 1908)
1848 Khristo Botev hero of Bulgarian revolt against Turkey, poet
1850 Theodoor Verstraete Flemish painter/etcher
1855 King Camp Gillette inventor (safety razor)
1858 Gustaf af Geijerstam Swedish author (Boken om Lillebror)
1859 DeWitt B Brace inventor (spectrophotometer)
1863 Konstantin Stanislavsky Russian actor/director/methodist
1871 Frederick Shepherd Converse Newton MA, composer
1874 Joseph Erlanger doctor (shock therapy-Nobel 1944)
1876 Konrad Adenauer Cologne Germany, chancellor of Germany (1949)
1880 Nicolai Karlovich Medtner composer
1881 Nikolay Andreyevich Roslavets composer
1890 Cora Witherspoon New Orleans LA, actress (Bank Dick), dies
1891 Johan Boskamp Dutch actor/singer (Potasch & Perlemoer)
1892 Francesca Bertini Florence Italy, actress (Odette, Assunta Spina)
1893 Friedrich Blume German musicologist (Das Rassenproblem in der Musik)
1895 Jeannette Piccard balloonist/Episcopal priest
1896 Hendrik Algra Dutch MP (ARP)
1897 Jack Wagner OH, actor (Jive Junction)
1897 Theo Mackeben German pianist/composer (Lady Fanny, Bel Ami)
1899 Albert van Dalsum Dutch actor/director (Little Rascal)
19-- Claudia North New York City NY, high society child (December, 1979)
19-- Kelly Nickels rock bassist (LA Guns-It's Over Now)
1900 Paula Ludwig writer
1900 Yves Tanguy French/US sailor/surrealistic painter
1901 H L Honore comte d'Estienne d'Orves French officer/resistance fighter
1901 Mario Scelba premier Italy (1954-55)
1902 Dorothea "Stella" Gibbons English author (Cold Comfort Farm)
1902 Hubert Beuve-Méry French newspaper publisher (Le Monde (The Voice))
1902 Pierre Palla Dutch pianist/organist
1903 Leighton Lucas composer
1903 Telésforo A Palm Curaçao, composer/pianist
1905 László Papp Hungary, middleweight boxer (Olympics-gold-1948, 52, 56)
1906 Kathleen Kenyon 1st person to place date on remains of Jericho
1907 Anton Ingolic Slavic author (After Splavih, After Prelomu)
1907 Wilhelm "Willi" J Soukop Austrian/British sculptor
1908 George Dolenz Trieste Italy, actor (A Bullet for Joey, Count of Monte Cristo-TV series)
1909 Jean-Pierre Aumont Paris France, actor (Count of Monte Cristo, Cat & Mouse, Happy Hooker)
1909 Simon Harcourt Nowell-Smith bibliophile
1909 Stephen Cole Kleene mathematician (Regular Expressions)
1910 Erica Morini Vienna Austria, concert violinist
1912 Frank Pace Jr US Secretary of Army (1950-53)
1914 George Reeves [George Lescher Bessolo], actor (Superman)
1915 Mabel Leigh potter
1915 Uta Graf singer/teacher
1917 Reginald Smith Brindle composer
1917 Wieland Wagner German opera director
1918 Jeanne Dixon Medford WI, psychic (Gift of Prophecy)
1920 Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli Brescia Italy, pianist
1920 Mohammad Aslam Khokhar cricket (Pakistani bat scored 16 & 18 in only test)
1921 Friedrich Dürrenmatt Switzerland, playwright/novelist (Visit)
1921 Jean d'Aviano grand duke of Luxembourg (1964- )
1923 Robert L Bernstein New York City NY, publisher (Random House)
1923 Sam Phillips musician/record company founder (Sun)
1925 Wolf Morris actor (Decoy)
1926 Claude (Buddy) Young NFL running back (Yankees, Texans, Colts)
1926 Robert Earle Baldwin NY, TV host (GE College Bowl)
1928 Imtiaz Ahmed cricketer (Pakistan wicket-keeper in 41 Tests 1952-62)
1928 Walter Fritz Mondale (Senator-D-MN)/42nd Vice President (1977-81)
1928 Zulfikar Ali Khan Bhutto President/Premier (Pakistan)
1929 Wilbert Harrison singer
1930 Richard Hayes Passaic NJ, singer/emcee (Name That Tune)
1930 Edward Galven Givens Jr Quanah TX, Major USAF/astronaut
1930 Frederick Charles Tillis composer
1931 Alfred Brendel Wiesenberg Moravia, Austrian pianist
1931 Alvin Ailey choreographer (American Dance Theater)
1931 Robert Duvall San Diego CA, actor (Great Santini, Taxi Driver)
1931 Walter Davis US, running high jumper (Olympics-gold-1952)
1932 Chuck Noll Cleveland OH, NFL coach (Pittsburgh Steelers)
1932 Raïsa Maximovna Titorenko Gorbachev Russia's 1st lady (1982-1991)
1932 Umberto Eco author (Name of the Rose)
1935 Nancy L Johnson (Representative-R-CT, 1983- )
1938 Jim Otto NFL center (Oakland Raiders)
1938 Juan Carlos I king of Spain (1975- )
1938 Edwin Elliason Washington, US archer (Olympics-92)
1938 Leo Avery abbot of Quarr
1938 Piet Kruiver Dutch soccer star
1939 Bridget Parker England, equestrian 3 day event (Olympics-gold-1972)
1939 Peter Struycken statues/computer expert/teacher
1940 Dany Saval Oakland CA, actress (Boeing Boeing, Moon Pilot)
1941 Bob Cunis cricketer (New Zealand pace bowler of the late 60's)
1941 Grady Thomas US rock vocalist (Parliaments, Funkadelic, Maggot Brain)
1941 Mansur Ali Khan cricketer (Nawab of Pataudi, Indian batsman & capt)
1942 Charlie Rose Henderson NC, newscaster (CBS Night Watch)
1942 Cliff Potts Glendale CA, actor (Ted-Lou Grant)
1942 Maurizio Pollini Milan Italy, pianist
1942 Eusebio de Silva Ferreira Mozambique/Portugal soccer star (Europa Cup 1 1962)
1944 Felix Arons Dutch director/actor (Waaldrecht)
1945 Sam Wyche NFL coach (Cincinnati Bengals)
1946 Diane Keaton Louisiana, actress (Annie Hall, Little Drummer Girl)
1947 Ted Lange Oakland CA, actor (Isaac-Love Boat, Mr T & Tina)
1947 Michael DeWine (Representative-R-OH, 1983- )
1948 Parthasarathy Sharma cricketer (Indian batsman of the mid-70's)
1948 Thom Mooney rocker
1949 George Brown rock drummer (Kool & the Gang-Celebration)
1949 Chris Stein Brooklyn NY, rock guitarist (Blondie-Heart of Glass, Call Me)
1950 Michael O'Donoghue writer/performer
1953 Pamela Sue Martin Westport CT, actress (Nancy Drew, Fallon-Dynasty)
1954 Bryan Hitt rocker (REO Speedwagon-Keep on Loving You)
1957 Vincent Calloway Kentucky, trumpet player (Midnight Star-No Parking)
1958 Suzy Amis Oklahoma City OK, actress (Blame it on Rio, Where the Heart is)
1959 Kapil Dev India's cricket player
1961 Curt Bader Bloomfield IA, sprint kayak (Olympics-96)
1962 Brendon Kuruppu cricketer (Sri Lankan batsman, 201* debut vs New Zealand 1987)
1962 Danny Jackson US baseball pitcher (Royals/Phillies/Cardinals)
1962 Donald John Cowie Auckland New Zealand, yachting Star class (Olympics-96)
1962 Joel Wyner actor/director (Lyle Springer-Sirens, Listen, Club)
1963 Jeff Fassero Springfield IL, pitcher (Montréal Expos)
1963 Rick Ambrose singer (Jewel)
1964 Ted Harris Poley Englewood NJ, rocker (Danger Danger-Screw It)
1964 John Erickson Woodland Hills CA, golfer (1991 Windsor Charity)
1964 Tracy Ham CFL quarterback (Montréal Alouettes)
1965 Rick Tuten NFL punter (Seattle Seahawks)
1966 Kate Schellenbach musician (Luscious Jackson)
1966 Renaldo Turnbull NFL defensive end (New Orleans Saints, Carolina Panthers)
1967 Ricky Paull Goldin San Francisco CA, actor (Doug-Hail to the Chief, Another World)
1967 Chris Nabholz US baseball pitcher (Boston Red Sox)
1967 J B Brown NFL cornerback (Miami Dolphins, Pittsburgh Steelers)
1967 Ray Crockett NFL defensive back (Denver Broncos-Super Bowl XXXII)
1968 Carl Evans actor (Guiding Light)
1968 Felton Spencer NBA center (Utah Jazz)
1968 Jean Zedlitz Stockton CA, LPGA golfer (1994 Children's Med-14th)
1968 Joe Juneau Pont-Rouge Québec Canada, NHL center (Washington Capitals)
1968 Leila Meskhi Tbilisi Georgia SSR, tennis star (1995 Hobart)
1969 David Dixon NFL guard (Minnesota Vikings)
1969 Derrick Ned NFL fullback (New Orleans Saints)
1969 Kurt Barber NFL defensive end (New York Jets)
1969 Marilyn Manson singer/musician
1970 James Patton NFL defensive end (Buffalo Bills)
1971 Eric Smith NFL/WLAF wide receiver (Chicago Bears, Scotland Claymores)
1971 Hillary Butler WLAF linebacker (Frankfurt Galaxy)
1971 Jason Bates Downey CA, infielder (Colorado Rockies)
1972 Joseph Patton NFL guard (Washington Redskins)
1974 John Drew Nichols Oklahoma, rocker (PC Quest-Can You See)
1974 Calvin Collins center/guard (Atlanta Falcons)
1974 Michelle Scerri Melbourne Australia, golfer (1995 Tasmanian)
1975 Ray Morgan announcer (I'd Like to See)
1975 Warrick Dunn running back (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
1979 Sarah Price Miss Louisiana Teen-USA (1997)
1980 Garette Patrick Ratliff actor (Return to Blue Lagoon)

Deaths which occurred on January 05:
1066 King Edward the Confessor of England, dies
1066 Edward de Belijder the Confessor, king of England (1043-66), dies
1387 Pedro IV king of Aragon/conqueror of Sicily, dies at 67
1425 John of Bavaria/Bayern liege of Holland/Zealand/Dordrecht, poisoned
1477 Charles the Bold, duke of Burgundy/writer, dies at 43
1524 Marko Marulic/Marulus/Splichanin/Pecinich Croatian poet, dies at 73
1589 Catherine de' Medici Queen mother of France, dies at 69
1592 Willem II Duke of Gulik/Kleef/Gelre, dies at about 75
1595 Ercole Procaccini Italian painter, dies
1603 Pieter Adriaansz van der Werff mayor of Lead, dies at 73
1684 Claude Audran II French painter/engraver, dies at 44
1740 Antonio Lotti Italian opera composer, dies at about 72
1746 Anton Simon Ignaz Praelisauer composer, dies at 53
1759 Thomas-Philippe et de Boussu South Netherlands cardinal, dies at 79
1762 Elisabeth Petrovna tsarina of Russia (1741-62), dies at 52
1783 Friedrich Wilhelm Reidt composer, dies on 73rd birthday
1788 Johann Schneider composer, dies at 85
1796 Samuel Huntington US judge (signed Declaration of Independence), dies at 64
1799 Mohammed Esad Galib Dede Turkish poet (Hüsn-ü asjk, dies at about 41
1807 Michel Adanson French biologist (Plant classes), dies at 79
1814 Johann Gottfried Krebs composer, dies at 72
1827 Frederick of York English duke/bishop/General , dies at 63
1848 Ferdinando Orlandi composer, dies at 73
1856 Pierre J David [David d'Angers], French sculptor, dies at 67
1858 Johann Radetzky von Radetz Austrian earl/field marshal, dies at 91
1860 St John Nepomucene Neumann 1st male US saint, dies
1862 Joseph Frohlich composer, dies at 81
1888 Henri Herz composer, dies at a day before 85th birthday
1891 Guillaume L Baud Dutch minister of Colonies (1848-49), dies at 89
1904 Karl A von Zittel German geologist/paleontologist (Libya), dies at 64
1922 Sir Ernest Shackleton Antarctic explorer (Endurance), dies aboard his ship at 47
1933 Calvin Coolidge 30th President (1923-29), dies in Northampton MA at 60
1936 Ramón M del Valle-Inclán playwright (Tirano banderas), dies at 66
1940 Tina Modotti [Maria del Carmen], Italian/Mexican communist, dies at 46
1942 Yves Paringaux French chief of staff, murdered
1943 George Washington Carver famous black American agricultural scientist dies at 81
1944 Adolph Goldschmidt German/Swiss art historian, dies at 80
1945 Dezsö Szabó Hungarian writer (Wiped-out Village), dies at 65
1951 Andrei P Platonov Russian author (Prok, Kotlovan), dies at 51
1952 Nawab of Pataudi cricket (play polo 3 Tests for England 3 for India), dies
1952 Victor Alexander John Hope viceroy of India (1936-43), dies at 64
1956 Jeanne F Bourgeois French head mistress (Moulin Rouge), dies at 84
1960 Donald Knight cricketer (54 runs in 2 Tests for England 1921), dies
1960 Pavel P Parenago Russia, cosmonaut, dies at 53
1963 Rogers Hornsby baseball player, dies of a heart ailment at 66
1965 Neil Craig actor (Calling Dr Kildare), dies at 73
1965 Paul Arntzenius painter/graphic artist/etcher, dies at 81
1966 George Duckworth cricketer (24 Tests for England, ct 45 stp 15), dies
1968 Jean Murat actor (On the Riviera), dies at 79
1969 Franz T Csokor Austria author (Gottes General), dies at 83
1969 Tom Aherne actor (Hustler, April Fools), dies of influenza in NY
1970 Joseph A Yablonski candidate for United Mine Workers president, murdered
1970 Max Born German/British physicist (Nobel 1954), dies at 87
1970 Roberto Gerhard composer, dies at 73
1971 Sonny Liston World Champ heavyweight boxer (1962-64), found dead at 36
1973 Cornelis van Dis Dutch MP (SGP), dies at 79
1974 Roy Bargy orchestra leader (Jimmy Durante Show), dies at 79
1975 Don Wilson Astro pitcher dies at 29 of carbon monoxide poisoning
1976 Georges E Migot French composer, dies at 84
1977 Onslow Stevens actor (Mr Fisher-This is the Life), dies at 74
1979 Charles Mingus US jazz bassist/composer/orchestra leader, dies at 56
1981 Harold C Urey US chemist (Deuterium, Nobel 1934), dies at 87
1981 Paul Félix Flemish architect (Song of the Sun), dies at 67
1982 Hans Conried actor (Bullwinkle Show, Make Room for Daddy), dies at 64
1982 Harvey Lembeck actor (Phil Silvers, Hathaways), dies at 56
1987 Margaret Laurence Canadian author, dies at 60
1988 "Pistol Pete" Mavarich NBAer (Atlanta), dies of a heart attack at 40
1990 Arthur Kennedy actor (Air Force), dies of a brain tumor at 76
1990 Bart LaRue entertainer, dies
1991 John Eckhardt actor born without legs (Freaks), dies at 82
1991 Marie Madeline Sullivan actress (Elvira Mistress of Dark), dies at 80
1991 Vasko Popa Serbian WWII-partisan/poet (Sporedno Nebo), dies at 68
1993 George L George Russian/US journalist/director/producer, dies at 85
1993 Henk Knol Suriname MP (PvdA), dies at 61
1993 Jennifer Raine Bissell daughter of Alan Napier, dies 60
1993 Juan Benet Goitia Spanish writer (Herrumbrosas Lanzas), dies at 65
1993 Klaas Wiersma Dutch Secretary of Justice (VVD), dies
1993 Leonce Gras Flemish singer/conductor, dies at 84
1993 Nyamuisi Muvingi Zaire minister of Culture, murdered
1993 Ronnie Welsh actor (Patterns), dies of brain cancer at 52
1993 Westley A Dodd US murderer, 1st hanging in US since 1965
1994 Brian Johnston cricketer (BBC radio commentator for 40 yrs), dies
1994 Louis R J Ridder van Rappard Dutch mayor of Zoelen, dies at 87
1994 Thomas P "Tip" O'Neill (D-MA)/Speaker of House (1977-86), dies at 81
1994 Victor van Os Dutch jazz guitarist, dies at 39
1994 William Raynor writer, dies at 73
1995 Francis Lopez French dentist/operetta composer (Andalousie), dies at 78
1995 Mansour Satari Brigadier General/commandant (Iran Air Force), dies at 46
1995 Yahya Ayyash PLO bomb maker, booby trapped cellular phone at 28
1996 Jay Morris Arena inventor/pediatrician, dies at 86
1996 Joseph Daniel White singer/bandleader, dies at 84
1996 Lincoln Kirstein ballet administrator, dies at 88
1996 Richard Versaille tenor, dies at 63
1997 Andre Franquin cartoonist, dies at 72
1998 Georgi Sviridov composer, dies at 82
1998 Sonny Bono (Representative-R-CA)/singer (Sonny & Cher), dies skiing at 62

On this day...
1349 Margaretha of Bavaria names her son Willem V Earl of Holland/Zealand
1438 Pope Eugenius IV deallocated council of Basel to Ferrara
1463 French poet François Villon banished from Paris
1477 Battle at Nancy, Burgundy vs Switzerland, 7000+ killed
1500 Duke Ludovico Sforza's troops reconquer Milan
1531 Pope Clemens VII forbids English king Henry VIII to re-marry
1554 Great fire in Eindhoven Netherlands
1593 William Louis of Nassau becomes Governor/Viceroy of Drenthe
1638 Petition in Recife Brazil leads to closing of their 2 synagogues
1649 Francesco Cavalli's opera "Giasone" premieres in Venice
1675 Battle at Turkheim (Colmar) French army beats Brandenburg
1709 Sudden extreme cold kills 1000s of Europeans
1717 Prussian King Frederik Willem I buys conscript for nobles
1719 England/Hannover/Saxony-Poland/Austria sign anti-Prussian/Russian pact
1757 Failed assassination attempt on French king Louis XV by Damiens
1776 Assembly of New Hampshire adopts its 1st state constitution
1781 British naval expedition led by Benedict Arnold burns Richmond VA
1800 1st Swedenborgian temple in US holds 1st service, Baltimore MD
1804 Ohio legislature passes 1st laws restricting free blacks movement
1809 Treaty of Dardanelles concluded between Britain & France
1822 Central America proclaims annexation to Mexican Empire
1825 Alexandre Dumas pare fights his 1st duel; his pants fall down
1828 1st edition of Amsterdam General Trade Journal (Algemeen Handelsblad)
1834 Kiowa Indians record this as the night the stars fell
1836 Davy Crockett arrives in Texas, just in time for the Alamo
1840 Records show 95,820 licensed public houses in England on this date
1841 James Clark Ross (UK) is 1st to enter pack ice near Ross Ice Shelf
1850 California Exchange opens
1854 Steamship San Francisco wrecked-300 die
1859 1st steamboat sails, Red River
1861 Alabama troops seize Forts Morgan & Gaines at Mobile Bay
1861 250 Federal troops are sent from New York to Fort Sumter
1875 President Grant sends federal troops to Vicksburg MS
1875 Charles Garnier's new Opera opens in Paris
1887 1st US school of librarianship opens at Columbia University
1888 Dutch Heidemaatschappij established
1892 1st successful auroral photograph made
1895 French Captain Alfred Dreyfus, convicted of treason, publicly stripped of his rank; later declared innocent
1895 Henry James' play "Guy Domville" opens in London
1895 Victor Trumper makes first-class debut for New South Wales 17 years 64 days
1896 Austrian newspaper "Wiener Presse" publishes 1st public account of
1896 German physicist Wilhelm Roentgen's discovers x-rays
1896 Isaac Albeniz' opera "Pepita Jiminez" premieres in Barcelona
1899 Start of Sherlock Holmes adventure-Charles Augustus Milverton (BG)
1903 San Francisco-Hawaii telegraph cable opens for public use
1904 -34ºF (-36.7ºC), River Vale NJ (state record)
1904 -42ºF (-41.1ºC), Smethport PA (state record)
1904 England beat Australia at the MCG, Rhodes 7-56 & 8-68
1905 Charles Perrine announces discovery of Jupiter's 7th satellite, Elara
1905 National Association of Audubon Society incorporates
1909 Colombia recognizes Panama's independence
1911 San Francisco has it's 1st air meet
1911 Portuguese expel Jesuits
1912 1st National Hockey Assn game (Victoria)
1914 James Cox of Ford Motor Co announces wages will jump from $2.40/9-hour day to $5.00/8-hour day
1916 Austria-Hungary offensive against Montenegro
1918 British premier Lloyd George demand for unified peace
1919 National Socialist Party (Nazi) forms as German Farmers Party
1919 Spartacus uprising in Berlin state of siege
1920 Boston Red Sox sell Babe Ruth to New York Yankees
1925 Nellie Taylor Ross became Governor of Wyoming, 1st woman governor in USA
1925 Under Polish control, Danzig establishes Port Gdansk post office
1925 French Baseball Federation awards silver medals to John McGraw, Charlie Comiskey, & Hugh Jennings
1925 James Gleason & Richard Tabers "Is zat so?" premieres in New York City NY
1927 Fox Studios exhibits Movietone
1927 Judge Landis begins 3-day public hearing on charges that 4 games played between Chicago & Detroit in 1917 had been thrown to White Sox
1929 Coup by King Alexander in South Slavia
1930 Mao Tse-tung writes "A Single Spark Can Start a Prairie Fire"
1931 1st woman to purchase a baseball team Lucille Thomas purchases Topeka franchise in the Western League
1933 Work on Golden Gate Bridge begins, on Marin County side
1934 Fenway Park catches fire for 2nd time (May 8th 1926 also)
1934 National & American baseball leagues select a uniform ball
1937 Only unicameral state legislature in US opens 1st session (Nebraska)
1937 Fingleton & Bradman make record stand of 346 for 6th wicket
1940 FCC hears 1st transmission of FM radio with clear, static-free signal
1940 Finnish offensive at Suomossalmi against Russia
1941 British/Australian troops conquer Bardia Lybia
1942 55 German tanks reach North-Africa
1943 William H Hastie, civilian aide to secretary of war, resigns to protest segregation in armed forces
1943 Teams agrees to start season later due to WWII
1945 Pepe LePew debuts in Warner Bros cartoon "Odor-able Kitty"
1945 Surprise attack on Liese-Aktion-office on Marnix St, Amsterdam
1946 "Show Boat" opens at Ziegfeld Theater New York City NY for 417 performances
1949 President Harry S Truman labels his administration the "Fair Deal"
1949 General Spoor orders cease-fire on Sumatra
1950 Carson McCuller's "Member of the Wedding" premieres in New York City NY
1951 Babe Didrikson-Zaharias wins LPGA Ponte Vedra Beach Women's Golf Open
1952 Flying Enterprise sinks
1953 Passenger ships Willem Ruys & Orange collide in the Red Sea
1953 Samuel Beckett's "En Attendant Godot" premieres in Paris
1955 KMSP TV channel 9 in Minneapolis-St Paul MN (IND) 1st broadcast
1956 Elvis Presley records "Heartbreak Hotel"
1957 Dodgers' Jackie Robinson retires rather than be traded to New York Giants
1957 Eisenhower asks Congress to send troops to the Mid East
1959 "Bozo the Clown" live children's show premieres on TV
1959 Buddy Holly releases his last record "It Doesn't Matter"
1960 Continental League, a proposed third major league, gets an assurance of congressional support from New York Senator Kenneth Keating
1961 US breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba
1962 Tony Sheridan & Beatles produce "My Bonnie" & "The Saints"
1963 San Diego beats Boston 51-10 in AFL championship game
1963 "Camelot" closes at Majestic Theater New York City NY after 873 performances
1963 "Carnival!" closes at Imperial Theater New York City NY after 719 performances
1964 Pope Paul VI visits Jordan & Israel
1964 San Diego Chargers win AFL-championship
1967 KLXA (now KTBN) TV channel 40 in Fontana-San Ana CA (IND) begins
1968 Dr Benjamin Spock indicted for conspiring to violate draft law
1968 Dubcek succeeds President Novotny as party leader of Czechoslovakia
1969 Neville Williams' "Chronology of the Expanding World" completed
1969 USSR Venera 5 launched for 1st successful planet landing (Venus)
1969 "Maggie Flynn" closes at ANTA Theater New York City NY after 82 performances
1969 Bollingen prize for poetry presented to John Berryman & Karl Shapiro
1970 Soap Opera "All My Children" premieres on ABC
1970 23,000 Belgian mine workers strike
1970 KPTS TV channel 8 in Hutchinson-Wichita KS (PBS) begins broadcasting
1971 Harlem Globetrotters lose 100-99 to New Jersey Reds, ending 2,495-game win streak
1971 1st one-day international, Australia vs England at the MCG
1971 US heavyweight "Sonny" Liston's (36) corpse found
1972 Largest crowd at Cleveland Arena (Cavaliers vs Lakers-11,178)
1972 NASA announces development of space shuttle
1972 New York City NY transit fare rises from 30¢ to 35¢
1972 President Nixon signs a bill for NASA to begin research on manned shuttle
1972 West-Pakistani sheik Mujib ur-Rahman freed
1973 Mali & Niger break diplomatic relations with Israel
1973 Netherlands recognizes German Democratic Republic
1974 Raul Julia appears on Bob Newhart Show in "Oh, Brother"
1975 14 die when British freighter "Lake Illawarra" rams pylon bridge between Derwent & Hobart, Tasmania & ship sinks
1975 Salyut 4 with crew of 2 is launched for 30 days
1975 "Wiz" opens at Majestic Theater New York City NY for 1672 performances
1975 Charlie Smalls' "Wiz" premieres in New York City NY
1976 "MacNeil-Lehrer Report" premieres on PBS
1976 Cambodia is renamed "Democratic Kampuchea"
1976 Greg Chappell scores 182* at SCG against West Indies
1977 Kenya President Jomo Kenyatta disbands parliament
1981 "Nightline" with Ted Koppel extended from 20 minutes to 30 minutes
1981 Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper, arrested in England
1981 British police arrest Peter Sutcliffe, a truck driver later convicted of "Yorkshire Ripper" murders of 13 women
1982 Arkansas judge rules against obligatory teaching of creation
1984 Adrian Dantly (Utah), ties NBA record of 28 free throws
1984 Greg Chappell scores 182* in his last Test innings
1985 Bryan Trottier failed on 9th Islander penalty shot
1985 Discovery moves to launch pad for STS 51-C mission
1987 Surrogate Baby M case begins in Hackensack NJ
1988 Austrian President Waldheim's war record investigated
1989 2 French TV newsmen arrested for trying to plant fake bombs on 3 airlines at JFK airport in security test
1989 Baseball signs $400M with ESPN, showing 175 games in 1990
1990 J Donald Crump appointed 8th Commissioner of CFL
1991 "Oh, Kay!" closes at Richard Rodgers Theater New York City NY after 77 performances
1991 Edwin Jongejans of Netherlands wins 1-meter springboard diving title
1991 Kevin Bradshaw of US International scores NCAA Division 1 record 72 points
1992 "6 Degrees of Separation" closes at Vivian Beaumont New York City NY after 496 performances
1992 "Crucible" closes at Belasco Theater New York City NY after 32 performances
1992 "On Borrowed Time" closes at Circle in Square Theater New York City NY after 99 performances
1992 "Peter Pan" closes at Minskoff Theater New York City NY after 48 performances
1992 Ravi Shastri scores 206 at SCG before being Warne's 1st cricket Test wicket
1993 Brian Lara completes 277 vs Australia at cricket SCG
1993 Price is Right model Janice Pennington sues CBS for show accident
1993 Reggie Jackson elected to Hall of Fame
1994 Aleksandr Popov swims world record 100m free style (47.82)
1994 Yat Weiju swims world record 100m butterfly stroke (58.71)
1995 AFC beats NFC 41-13 in the pro bowl
1995 Lockheed C-140 Jetstar crashes at Isfahan Persia, 18 killed
1996 Miami Dolphin coach Don Shula announces his retirement
1996 Muralitharan no-balled for throwing in ODI vs West Indies at the Gabba
1997 "Juan Darien-Carnival Mass" closes at Vivian Beaumont New York City NY
1997 "Love Thy Neighbor" closes at Booth Theater New York City NY
1997 "Show Boat" closes at Gershwin Theater New York City NY
1998 Ice storm knocks out electricity in Québec & Ontario
1998 Vandals decapitate Copenhagen's Little Mermaid

Holidays
Note: Some Holidays are only applicable on a given "day of the week"

Bird Day (1905)
England : Glastonbury Thorn Day
Scotland : Handsel Monday - - - - - ( Monday )

Religious Observances
Christian : 12th Night, end of Christmas season (Denmark)
Christian : Epiphany Eve
Roman Catholic : Commemoration of St Telesphorus, 8th pope (125-136), martyr
Roman Catholic : Feast of St Simeon Stylites
Roman Catholic : Memorial of St John Neumann, bishop of Philadelphia
Lutheran : Commemoration of Kaj Munk, martyr
Jewish : Asarah B'Tevet (Siege of Jerusalem); Tevet 10, 5761

Religious History
1527 Swiss Anabaptist reformer Felix Manz, 29, was drowned in punishment for preaching adult (re-)baptism. Manz's death made him the first Protestant in history to be martyred at the hands of other Protestants.
1839 Scottish clergyman Robert Murray McCheyne wrote in a letter: 'There is nothing like a calm look into the eternal world to teach us the emptiness of human praise.'
1949 U.S. Senate Chaplain Peter Marshall prayed: 'Our Father in heaven, give us the long view of our work and our world. Help us to see that it is better to fail in a cause that will ultimately succeed than to succeed in a cause that will ultimately fail.'
1922 Following her sensational divorce, popular American evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson, 32, resigned her denominational ordination and returned her fellowship papers to the General Council of the Assemblies of God.
1964 Following an unprecedented pilgrimage to the Holy Land, Pope Paul VI met with Greek Ecumenical Patriarch Athenagoras I in Jerusalem. It was the first such meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches in over 500 years (since 1439).

Thought for the day :
" The attacker must vanquish; the defender need only survive. "

AH, The Berlin Airlift. This event was resposible for me becoming sort of a mini-legend my sophomore year in high school.

It seems I was caught reading some unauthorized material in my current events class. Nothing racy, just wasn't the assigned class material. Mr. Christian, thinking that he would make an example of me instructed me to get up in front of the class and give a 10 minute lecture on, YEP, the Berlin Airlift. What Mr. Christian did not know was that the day before I had just finished a book on the Berlin Airlift.

I proceeded to the front of the class and asked permission to use the chalk board. I then proceeded to draw a rough map of the situation, showing the relative locations of the airbases, the corridors and West Berlin.
I then went on to explain the reasons for the Airlift, the execution and the end results. I spent about twenty minutes in all going over the Berlin Airlift.

After class Mr Christian called me up to his desk and stated that in almost twenty years of teaching he had never been shown up by a student like he had that day and that as long as I was not disruptive and manintained my grade I could pretty much read what I wanted.

Thanks for the memories.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

A couple of little side notes on the Berlin Airlift:

1) When the Berliners where told that the apartment building was in the way of the airplanes landing path they made the decision to tear down the buildings. Better to work to death than submit to the Russians was the train of thought here.

2) The Air Force went to a lot of trouble to locate a particular WWII sergant so that he could be recalled to active duty. It seems that this sergant had an uncany knack for cutting up heavy equipment so that it could be airlifted. There was a need for some dozers and other heavy equipment for the airfields in Berlin. The seragnt was found working in a junkyard, in Georgia IIRC, and put on plane right away to Germany.

3) Flying on instruments at night can be both pretty boring and nerve-wracking at the same time. The pilots were required to check in a periodic intervals in order to help maintain the scheduling. On one flight there was a young lady travelling as a press corespondent. She convinced the pilots to let her due the check in. Well talk about an uproar, when her voice came over the radio bedlam ensued. Most of these guys were doing nothing but flying for days at a time and her voice on the radio that night was quite a morale booster.

And last, Gail Halverson was the guest of honor in Berlin during the 50th anniversary of the airlift. There were several Berliners who greeted Halverson with "Hi Uncle Wiggly Wings" for they had been the receipients of the candy drop.
Operation Little Vittles BTW turned into something of a major enterprise in itself. For some time handerchiefs were almost impossible to come by at the airbase. The parachutes and candy ended up being fabricated in the States and then sent over to Germany.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}