THE CHAIRMANS COLUMN - British Berlin Airlift Association

12 Pages·2013·5.91 MB·English

NEWSLETTER No.38 June 2013
Website:-www.bbaa-airlift.org.uk Formed9thSeptember1994
Chairman,GeoffreyW.Smith
Committee:Secretary:JohnCollier. Treasurer:MrsJanetHoward N.W.Representative:JackP.Steele Media&Website:ColinR.Cottle
DavidHildred:NMALaison&Ceremonial
Editor:-
THE CHAIRMANS COLUMN GeoffSmith.
12TyesdaleCourt,Bretton,
PeterboroughPE39XZ.
Tel:-01733262599
Introduction. Email:[email protected]
Website:-www.bbaa-airlift.org.uk
DennisKing:
Sadly,wehavetoreportthedeathofanotherBBAAstalwart,DennisKingfromLeicester.
DennisdiedintheGlenfieldHospital,Leicesteronthe4thApril2013.
HehadbeenastalwartsupporteroftheBBAAandhadspentmanyhoursattheNationalMemorialArboretumhelping
withthemaintenanceoftheMemorialandtheTrees.OurthoughtsarewithhiswifeIrisandfamily.
Tempelhof&TegelAirports:
ThelatestnewswehaveaboutthecurrentsituationatthenowdisusedTempelhofAirportisthatitmayfinallybe
redevelopedasahugepublicgardenarea.Weunderstand(notconfirmed)thattwoArchitects havebeenawardeda
contracttodrawupplansforthisscheme.Wewillpublishmoredetailswhentheyaretohand.
TegelAirportwasscheduledforclosurebutduetoconstructiondelaysatthenewBrandenburgAirportbringbuilttothe
southofthecityitwillnowclosein2014.
BBAAWebsite:
TheBBAAWebsitehasnowhadmorethan9,700hits.Thenumbersofpeoplelookingatthesiteinthelasttwelve
monthshaveincreasedrapidly.Wenowreceivenumerousenquiriesandcomplimentarycommentsviathisroute.
Severalpeoplehavesaidthattheyfinditveryinformative&mostusefulwhenlookingforinformation&detailsabout
theBerlinAirlift.
FassbergBerlinAirliftMuseum.
WehaveheardfromPaulHicks,theCuratorattheFassbergBerlinAirliftMuseumthattheyhavebeenclosedforthe
winterperiod.Themuseumhadmorethan8,500visitorsin2012andtheconstructionworksforthenewcarparkhas
nowbeencompletedandis readyforthestartofthe2013season.
ThemuseumhasalsoappointedanewLiaisonofficer,MalcolmCrosswhowillalsobeinvolvedinfindingparticipants
fortheTREATYexercisestobeheldatFassberg
TheAlliedMuseum,Berlin:
AreportfromHerrBerndvonKostkaattheAlliedMuseuminBerlinsaysthattheHandley-PageHastingsthatthey
haveondisplayattheMuseumwascleanedandrepaintedlastyear.TheyarelookingforwardtoseeingBBAAmembers
in2014forthe65thAnniversaryoftheendoftheAirlift
THE CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN
Rememberingthe28thJune1948:
The28thJune 2013wasthe 65thanniversaryofthe start of the Britishcontributiontothe BerlinAirlift whenRoyal Air
ForceDakotaaircraftflewfromRAFWunstorfintheBritishZonetoRAFGatowwithsuppliesforBerlin.
We were hoping that we could have marked the occasion with a Remembrance Ceremony at the BBAA Memorial
locatedattheNationalMemorialArboretum,butwiththeimprovementworksnowunderwaythere,thisCeremonywas
notpossible.
Rememberingthe60thAnniversary28Sept2009:
Aspecialserviceofcommemorationtomarkthe60thanniversaryoftheendoftheBerlinAirlifttookplacetodayatthe
NationalMemorialArboretuminStaffordshire.Theservice,whichmarkedthefinalBritishflightoftheAirlift,washeld
inthepresenceofVeteransMinisterKevanJones,thenewChiefoftheAirStaff,AirChiefMarshalSirStephenDalton,
and500veterans,familiesandcurrentServicepersonnel.Theservicepaidtributetothemanyservicemenandwomen
whoservedontheairliftintheairandontheground,supportingoperationstokeepthepopulationofWestBerlinalive
duringtheSovietBlockadeof1948-1949.The39BritishandCommonwealthpersonnelwholosttheirlivesduringthe
airlift,alsoknownas“OperationPlainfare”,werealsoremembered.
GeoffreyW.Smith.Chairman.
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Page 2
BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
. WEESKecErNeDtarRyE’sUNNIoOteNs2013
TheWeekendReunionwillbeheldatEastwoodHall,nearNottinghamThursday19thtoSunday22ndSeptember2013
IfanotherapplicationformisrequiredpleasecontactJanetHowardat80ParkStreet,KingsCliffe,PeterboroughPE8
6XN.AbookingformwillalsobepublishedontheBBAAWebsiteatwww.bbaa-airlift.org.uk.
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SUBSCRIPTIONS
Members are reminded that subscriptions are due on the 1st January each
Inside This Issue
year.TheAnnualRateisnow£15.00,whereversituated.
ChequesshouldbemadepayabletotheBBAAandsentto:- Chairman’sColumn-Page1.
TheBBAATreasurer, MrsJanetHoward, Fassberg AirliftMuseumLiaisonofficer-Page1.
80ParkStreet,King’sCliffe, WeekendReunion2013-Page2
PeterboroughPE86XN Subscriptions-Page2.
However, if you wish to pay by Bankers Order. The details are as BBAAEmailDatabase-Page2
NationalService&theAirliftatRAFGatow-Page3.
follows:-
BerlinRevisited byPeterMathews-Page4..
Payableto:
ProposedredevelopmentoftheBBAAMemorialsiteat
BritishBerlinAirlift Association.
theNationalMemorialArboretum, -Page5.
Bank:-Lloyds/TSBBankPLCMaidenhead.
CentreSpreadPhoto’s-Pages6/7.
AccountNo.1223532
BBAAShopdetails-Page8.
SortCode: 30-95-36 TheAirlift-On&Off-ByBobNeedhamPage9
—————————————————————————————— AutumnReunion&AnnualGeneralMeeting-Page10.
EMAIL DATABASE AneveningatRAFBrizeNorton-Page10.
NationalMemorialArboretum,Update-Page11
WehavenowsetupadatabaseofmembersEmailaddresses&tele- NationalMemorialArboretumPlotholdersMeeting and
phonenumbers.Thiswillenableustocontact report-Page12
membersmoreeasilyandalsohelptoreducethecostofmailing
lettersetc.
Manymembershaveindicatedtheirwillingnesstobeincludedinthedatabase.
IfyouarewillingtohaveyourEmailaddressonourdatabasewouldyoupleasecontactColinCottletheco-ordinator.
HisEmailaddressis:[email protected]
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BRIEFING BOOKLET
WehaveupgradedourpopularBriefingBookletontheBerlinAirlift.Itisnow16pagesandincludesphotosofthe
BBAAMemorialatAlrewas,togetherwithsomeoftheBritishAirliftaircraft.ItalsoincludesdetailsofBerlinAirlift
museumsandliststheBritishandCommonwealthcasualties.Thecostis £3.00each,
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Do you remember the 1st September 1995?
ThiswasthedateofthefirstAnnualGeneralMeetingoftheBBAA.ItwasheldattheRAFClub,Piccadilly,London.
Itwasattendedby232membersandguestsofwhichseveralwerefromBerlin,SouthAfrica,NewZealand&Australia.
AttheAGMthefirstCommitteewaselectedconsistingof:-
CaptainAlanD.B.Smith,Chairman.
SqnLdrFrankStillwell,-Secretary/Treasurer.
JohnCollier-AssistantSecretary.
GeoffSmith-NewsletterEditor&Publicity.
AirChiefMarshalSirNigelMaynardagreedatthismeetingtobecometheAssociation’sfirstPresident.
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OBITUARIES
EricW.Bowkett-Schleswigland -Navigator-LancashireAircraftCorporation-Died11thDecember2012
JohnH.Harvey-Celle-VHF/DFOperator-DiedMarch2013
BernardCoward-Wunstorf-Fassberg-Lubeck-RadioOfficer-SkywaysLtd-Died18thMarch2013.
A.G.Hardy-Schleswigland-Signaller-297Squadron-DiedMarch2013.
DennisKing-RAFGatow-54R SquadronRAFRegiment-Died4thApril2013
AlanTooby-Fassberg-WoP/TpO- Died21stApril2013.
S.MikeWilliams-RAFGatow-SHQAdmin-DiedMay2013
RaymondKettle-Wunstorf/Fassberg/Lubeck-Signaller-53Squadron–DiedMay2013
Page 11 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
3
NATIONAL SERVICE TO RAFGATOW
ByDennisKing-54RSquadronRAFRegiment.
We were waiting in line outside a hut near to the Main Gate at West Kirby, having finished
our Square Bashing Initial Training and now waiting to find out what our future jobs were to
beintheRoyalAirForce.
All the lads waiting were from my hut (billet), about thirty of us in total and each time some-
one emerged they were asked. ‘How did you get on? What are you going to do?’ The usual
answer was Engine or Airframe Mechanic. My turn came and I marched in and faced the
officer’s sat behind a table. I stood for a moment whilst they conferred and then the senior
officersaid.
‘You have two choices, either the RAF Police or the RAF Regiment’. I was stunned at this!
After beingan ATC cadet and keen to workon aircraft, or to be close to them, in frustration I
chosetheRAF Regiment.LittledidIrealiseatthetimethatmydecisionwouldpaydividends
later.
I was posted to the RAF Regiment Battle School at Wombleton in Yorkshire. A more desolate station would be hard to
imagine. It was close to the North Yorkshire Moors and was a former RAF airfield that once had Halifax bombers and had
becomedisusedowingtothesurroundingterrainbeingtoodangerousforheavybombers.
The following three months were rigorous and we received intensive training on the use of Rifles, Bren and Sten Guns,
2” Mortars, Grenades and PIAT (anti-tank) weapons. We also did twenty mile route marches in full kit and general Field
Craft. Sometimes we spent all night on the moors, but curiously the best food we had was when it was brought to us by
lorry in hot tins. The food at the base station was awful; all this training was leading up to the “dreaded day” when we
would be on the Assault Course. When this day happened and then was over the feeling of relief and euphoria was
incredible.Nobodywantedtogothroughallthatagain!
Aftera7day’sleaveIthenjoined15/16LAASquadronatRAFDoniford,WatchetanddidthefullcourseonBofors Anti
-Aircraft guns, followed by a driving course. Watchet was a pleasant small camp on the edge of the Bristol Channel and I
was beginning to think that this would be where my two year’s National Service would end. I was completely wrong! We
were toldone daythat wewere off toRAFBurtonwood,prior togoingoverseas.Just onweeklater we were off tothe port
of Harwichandsailedonthe troopship“Empire Parkeston” tothe Hookof Holland,where after disembarking,followedby
amealweboardedatrainquiteunsurewhereweweregoingtoapartfrombeingtold“somewhereinGermany”.
Progress on the train was very slow and in the evening we stopped at RAF Gutersloh for the night. The next morning we
resumed our journey on a more uncomfortable train with wooden slatted seats. Several hours later we stopped and had to
leavethetrainwhilstitwassearched.
Furtheronwe weredistressedtoseechildrenrunningalongsidethetrainbeggingforfoodaswewere nowtravellingatjust
above walking pace. The children seemed to be from a collection of ramshackle huts and sheds along the railway embank-
ment.Weslidopenthewindowsandtossedoutwhateverfoodwecouldspareandwonderedwhatcouldhavebroughtthem
to such a state. Eventually we arrived at Buckeburg and a couple of days later flew into RAF Gatow in Berlin on the 23rd
June1948justadaybeforeallthelandroutesintoBerlinwereclosed.
As members of 54R Squadron we were quickly put to work driving Thorneycroft 3 Tonners and with a crew of 4 or 5
GermansourjobwastobackloadanyRAFaircraftthathadarrivedwithfoodetcforBerlinwithgoodsmanufacturedinthe
city for export to the western zones. This had to be a very slick operation as the turn-round time was extremely critical.
With aircraft landing on average one every three minutes, working most days of the week 8 to 12 hour shifts it was
extremely tiring, but what kept us going was that nothing on this scale had been done before and with the variety of
different aircraft and loads it was an amazing operation. As I said earlier, I thought that joining the RAF Regiment had
spoiltmychancesofeverbeingaroundaircraft. HowwrongcouldIhavebeen!
AirMarshalTedderinspectingtheGuardattheMain ThemainentrancetoRAFStationGatowin1948.
GateduringavisittoRAFGatowin1949. ViewedfromtheSpandau/Kladowroad.
Page4 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
BERLINREVISITED
ByPeterMathews
Queen’sRoyalRegiment.
OurPlatooncompletedtrainingandwasthensenttoGermanyonthe6thJune1948,thefourthanniversaryofD-Day.
Wejoinedthe2ndBattalionoftheQueen’sRoyalRegimentinDortmundandwereoverawedbybeingwithmenwho
hadseensomuchactioninwar-timeEurope.TheywerepreparingforareturntotheUKanddemobilisation.Wewere
toreplacethemandfeltverymuchasboysamongstmen.
AfteracoupleofweeksstayinDortmundtheregimentreceivedorderstogotoBerlin,whensevenofuspromptly
contractedGermanmeasles(veryaptwethoughtandwereimmediatelysenttotheMilitaryHospitalsoasnotspreadthe
disease.
Welistenedtothewirelesswithmountingexcitementinouthospitalbedsastheautobahnonwhichourtruckswere
travellingbecamemore&morerestrictedsothatwhatwasasixhourjourneytooktwodays.Theconvoyofourtrucks
wasthreatened andharassedbyRedArmysoldiersinallsortsofways,whichwelearnedoflater.OurMeaslesspots
dulydisappeared,butbythentheroutetoBerlinwasnowfirmlyclosed.TheRussianswerenowblockadingthecityso
thatnofood,fuelorpeoplecouldmoveinoroutand2.5millionWestBerlinerswereundersiege.
ThesicklysevenwereorderedtojointheregimentinBerlinbytheonlyroutenowavailable,byair.Wedidnotknow
thatwewouldbeamongstsomeofthefirsttotravelinwhatwouldbecomeavastairbornearmadawhichbecame
theBerlinAirlift.WearrivedatRAFGatowwhichwouldbecomeoneofthebusiestairportsintheworldandwassetto
explodeintoacentreforthegreatestairsupplyoperationofacitytheworldhadeverseen.
Thenextday,headlinesintheDailyExpressscreamed“CRACKTROOPSOFTHEQUEEN’SREGIMENTFLOWN
INTOBERLIN”.
OurRegimentwasbilletedinBerlin’sOlympicStadium.ColonelEast,ourmuchrespectedcommandingofficerhad
beenwoundedintheFirstWorldWarandhadseenserviceintheSecondWorldWaratDunkirkandElAlamein.Asthe
2ndBattalionheparadedusonthePlatzinfrontoftheOlympicStadium.
Wewerecommandedasthe2ndBattaliontolaydownourarmsandthencommandedagaintotakeupourarmsasthe
1stBattalion.Later,whenwewereonleave,twoexQueen’sRegimentmennoticedourpascallambbadgeanasked
abouttheRegiment.
“Iwasinthe1stBattalionsaidoneofthelads”,“Iwasinthe2nd”saidtheotherand“Wewereinboth”we wereable
tochorus.
Berlinatthistimewasmostlyinruinscausedbythebombingandshellingofavengingarmiesandherinhabitantswere
inaparlousstate.Youngandoldscribblednotesandpinnedthenonnoticeboardsinpublicplaces,seekingnewsoflost
relativesorfriendsinacityorpostalserviceorvalidpostaladdresses.
AstheBlockadetightened,powerforlightandheatsuppliedfromtheSovietSectorwasturnedoffbytheRussiansand
foodbecamescareasthewinterapproached.SickchildrenwaitedtobeevacuatedtotheBritishZonefortreatment.
Weepingparentswavedthemoffaswewatchedfromourguardposts.
Berlinerspatcheduptheirruinedhomesandtoredowneveryavailabletree tocreatesomeheat.Foodwasthemain pre
-occupationforthem.Moneywasvirtuallyvalueless,sotheBlackMarketbecameawayoflife,ifyouhadsomethingto
sellandwewereconstantlyplaguedwithrequestsforcigarettes.
TheBritishtroopswerefedonacontinuousdietofPOM(driedpotato)anddriedfish.Thesewerefoodstuffsthat
weighedlittle,whichwasimportantforanaircraft’spayload.Onedaytherewasarumourthatrealpotatoeswerebeing
servedinthecookhouse,sotherewasanearriotwhenPOMwasservedyetagain.GoodnessknowswhattheBerliner’s
hadtoeat,butitwasnotenoughtosustainmany,particularlytheelderlywhosufferedasthewinterbegantobite.
DutyatGatowairfieldwasapunishingroundofguardrostersandsleepwasatapremium.Aircraftwerelandingevery
threeminutesandthenoiseofaircraftenginesbecameabackgroundinourlives.Westoodguardoverthehugecargoes
offood,includingtheeverlastingPOM.ThousandsoftonsofcoalwereshovelledoutofpropellerdrivenDakotaaircraft
whichthenwenttopowertheelectricitygeneratingstationsinthewesternsectorofBerlin.
Finally,theSpringcameandWestBerlinersbegantogrowvegetableswherevertheycould,carrotsinwindowboxes,
onionsinthesoilbetweenthetramlines.
Thegrowersguardedtheirpreciousproducewithagreatferocity.TheRegimentwasmovedfromthespacious,but
unheatedBerlinOlympicStadiumtothebarelyheatedSchmidtKnoblesdorfBarracksinSpandau,butwestilllivedby
candlelightduringthehoursofdarkness.AroundthecornerwastheoldredbrickprisonwherethesevenNaziwar
criminalsincludingRudolphHessandVonSpeeretcwereimprisioned.Russian,American,FrenchandBritishtroops
tookturnsmonthlytosupplyguardstomantowershighuponthePrisonwalls.Fromourvantagepointswewatched
Hitler’soldassociatestendingtheirvegetablepatches(yes,theywereatitaswell)astheweathergraduallyimproved.
ThelifeofBerlinwasgainingmomentumamongthevastheapsofrubble.Typhusfromthebodiesintheruinshadbeen
amajorworry,butnowwithtime,theclearancebegan.Everybodyworked,womeninpartyfrocksandhighheeled
shoes(probablyalltheyhad)workedclearingbricksandrubblealloverthecity.WestBerlinersbegantorealisethat
theyhadafutureandtheCitybegantoblossominmorewaysthanone. ContinuedonPage5.
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Page 151 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
Berlin Revisited:Continued frompage4:
Meanwhile,anewandtoourmindsaover-keen2ndLieutenantarrivedinourCompanybythenameofLt.Millman.
HeplayedamajorpartintheRegiment’slifeandretiredwiththerankofBrigadier.Hissaddeathwasreportedin
theregimentalnewsletterofMay2000.AlsoCorporalWilsonintheBattalion’sSignalssectionwasawellknown
figure,laterasaLieutenantColonel.HeplayedakeyroleinrunningtheRegimentalAssociation.
ThemonthspassedandtheSoviet’srealisedthattheywerenotabletotakeoverthecitybystarvingitintosubmis-
sion,theBlockadewasfinallyliftedonthe12thMay1949.
MystorydoesnotendtherebecausemysongavemeaChristmaspresent.Hehadlistenedornotlistenedtomy
storiesaboutBerlinandhowIwasgoingtogobacktheresomeday.Hefinallycalledmybluffandgavemywife
andmyselfaholidayinBerlin.Justtomakemefeelathome,hebookeditforearlyFebruary.So,forthefirsttimein
fifty-fouryearsIlandedbackinBerlin.WestayednearthebusyandfashionableKurfurstendamm,nearareasthatI
onlyrememberedaspilesofrubble.IrevisitedSchmidtKnoblesdorfBarracksinahorizontalsnowstorm.
TheBarrackswerestillthereincludingCorporalWilson’sbarrackblockwhichisnowacomputer-trainingcentre
andtheparadegroundmadesacredbyourRSMisnowacarpark.IexpectedtoseenothingofSpandauPrisonasI
hadheardthatithadbeendemolished.Themassivecentralgateandthemainpartoftheprisonhadcertainlygone,
buttherewasstillsomeredbrickbuildingswithinahighwallthatmarkedthesite.Theremainder,wheretheNazi
leadershadtendedtheirvegetablepatcheswasnowaSupermarketfullofexoticfruitsandvegetables.
ThehighlightofmyvisittoBerlinwasareturntotheOlympicStadiumwhichwasbeingrebuilt.
“Nobodygoesinwithoutpermission”saidtheGermanwatchman.IexplainedinmypidginGermanlearnedsome
fiftyyearsearlier,thatIonlywishedtoseetheroomswhereIhadlivedduringthattumultuoustime.Hisreplywasa
mostpositive“Nein”.
Alittlemanstandingnearbyintervened,handingmeasafetyhelmetandwithoutawordbeckonedmetofollowhim
completelyignoringtheGermanwatchman.HeshowedallthatIwantedtoseeincludingourcompany’soldbillets
andexplainedthathewasfromBosniaandtheBritishArmyhadrescuedhimandhisfamilyfromdeathatthehands
oftheSerbs.Herefusedtotakeanymoney,sayingthatwhathedidcamefromtheheart!
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THE NATIONAL MEMORIALARBORETUM
Proposed BBAA Site Redevelopment
Inthe BBAA Newsletter No37weshowedheproposals forthenew BBAAMemorial sitetobelocated
neartothemainentrance totheArboretum
At thetimeofgoingtoprint theBBAAsiteis stilluntouched,but wehave hada general updatefrom the
newManagingDirector SarahMontgomeryas follows:
Aftermanyyears ofendeavourat theNational Memorial Arboretum,we arefinallyreadytobegin workon
ourlongawaitedbuildingdevelopment plans. Ourworks havenowbegun inearnest.Wehavereworked
what was ouroverflow carparkto createan improvedArboretum carparkforall ourvisitors touse
throughout the year.The newcarparkis situatedpast themainentrancealongCroxall Roadandwill oper-
ateas themainparkingareaforthefuture.
Therewill be anumberofspaces fordisabledparkingand also a“Dropoff” point outsidetheArboretum
mainentrance.Furtherpreparatorywork,includingthewideningofthemainentrancetothe Arboretum
andtherelocationofour officestaffwill becompletedduringthesummerof2013.Themainworks will
beginfollowingthe completionofthepreparatoryworks andtheerectionofsafetyhoardings. It is hoped
that theworkonthenew VisitorCentrewill becompleted inSpring2015 andthe“Heroes Square” inthe
Autumn2015,before an official openinglatethat year.Thecurrent Visitor Centrewill remainoperational
throughout thebuildingprocess andthe 150acresitewill beopenall year roundas usual.
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ANINVITATIONFROMLEGASEE
Legaseewish toinvite youtotheirCelebratoryevent on13thSeptember2013at theNorfolk &Suffolk
AviationMuseum,Flixton,Near BungayinSuffolk.Theevent is tomarktheendoftheir12month British
BerlinAirlift project.Theproject has beensupportedbytheirpartners the Heritage LotteryFund,the
British BerlinAirlift Association,theNorfolk &SuffolkAviationMuseum,BungayHighSchool andthe
Scouts Association.Theevent is ourwayofthankingall ourveterans, partners, volunteers andstudents
whohavehelpedenormouslywiththeproject.Wearecreatingapermanent digital film archiveofthe
experiences andobservations as seenthroughthe eyes of British Airlift veterans andthearchivewill be
heldat theNorfolk &SuffolkAviationMuseum.Contact: JulianaVandrgrift on01473511874orby
Email: [email protected].
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6 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM
TheNational Memorial Arboretum is nowbeingredevelopedwhichmeans that theBBAAmemorial sitewill be
relocated from it’s present siteas this areawill becomepart ofthenewVisitorandConferenceCentre.
Themasterplanwill include: Thecurrent Arboretum sitedoubledinsizeto300acres
Aninspiringnewlandscapewithwoodlands, lakes andwater features and also:
 Organisedfootpaths and routes takingvisitors directlywheretheywant to goinaclear andlogical way
 Memorials arrangedinmeaningful groups withspacetoexpandas demand grows
 Principlememorials onsculptural mounds toact as gateways andlandmarks
 TheArboretum as part of anenhancedriversidelandscapebetween Burton-on-Trent andTamworth,
knownas 'Central Rivers'.
Theaimis todevelop an ambitious plan tocreatean environmentworthyof Remembrance, equal toour
famous national parksand gardens.
TheBritish BerlinAirlift Associationsitewill belocatedneartotheentrance/exit roadandwill beadjacent tothe
footpathroutefrom the Visitor’s CarParktothe newVisitor&ConferenceCentre.Tests arenowbeingcarried
out toseeifit is possibletomovetheexistingBBAAMemorial toit’s new locationas acompleteunit ratherthan
dismantlingit andhavingtorebuildit again.At thenewlocationwearehopingthat a casualties names panel can
becreatedona wall similartotheonerecentlyinstalledforthe Falklands Memorial TheArboretum Authorities
advisethat this typeofpanel will weatherbetter andnot deteriorate as the ones usedearlierhave.
Photobelow:FlixtonAirMuseum-BBAAChairmanGeoffSmith&
BBAAStandardBearerDavidHildred withtwoAirliftveteransand
pupils&teacherfromBungaySchoolwhoarestudyingtheAirlifthistory.
THEOLYMPICSTADIUM,BERLIN
BBAAMEMBERSMARCHINTOTHEOLYMPIC
STADIUMFORTHE50thANNIVERSARY
COMMEMORATIONS
Page 7 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
Page 711 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
Above-Artistsimpressionofthe newRestaurantareatobebuilt
AtthenewVisitorCentreattheNationalMemorialArboretum.
IWM Duxford
ThepupilsofBungaySchoolatIWMDuxfordtogether
withBBAAmembersattheBerlinAirliftdayorganised
byLegaseeaspartoftheAirliftinEastAngliapromotion.
Can anyone help please?
Thephotoabovehasbeensuppliedby
NeilSmithoftheNo.51Squadron
HistoricalSocietywhoaretryingto
identifytheRAFOfficerwhowaswith
No51SqnatRAFWunstorfduring
1948/9.
[email protected]
Thethreephotographs,left:
Seetheitemonpage9regardingthe
RAFBrizeNortonvisitbyJohnCollier
andhiswifePatandalsothetalkhe
gaveregardingtheAirlift.
1.TheDisplayofAirliftphotos,
2.Aircraftmodels,
3.RAFKITBAGofthetypeinitially
usedtotransportcoaltoBerlindueto
theshortageofsuitablecoalsacks
8 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
BBAA Shop. Items for sale
A Unique Day in RAF History
Friday `11th July 2008
TheRoyal AirForcemarkedits 90th anniversaryinstylewithits biggest everparadeforthepresentationofnew
Queen’s Colours totheRAFintheUnitedKingdom andtheRAFRegiment.
Months ofdedicatedpreparationandweeks ofdrill foraround800personnel fell intoplaceforthepresentation
madebytheQueen,accompaniedbytheDukeof Edinburgh,duringavisit totheRoyal International AirTat-
tooat RAFFairford,Gloucestershire.Rainwhich hadplaguedparade rehearsals formoCsltotohfBthaedgweeekeven
stayed awayformost oftheday–althoughaquickdrenchingwas unfortunatelyinst(oMreemfobrerpseorsnolyn)nel and
spectators duArisnsogctiahteiofninTailefiveminutes. Large£2.00UK-£3.00overseas
(Membersonly) Small£1.50UK-£2.50overseas
Cravat(Membersonly)
£11.50UK Withmagneticclasp
61SquadronStandards wereondisplayontheparade groundandpersonnel welcomedthe Queen inthe pres-
£2.50UK
£12.50overseas £3.00UK-£4.00overseas
enceof5,000invited guests whichincludedproud£3f.a5m0iolvieerss,esaesrvingmembers oftheRAF andits various asso-
ciations andcharities.
Toplaceanorder,writetoBBAATreasurerMrsJanetHoward,80ParkStreet,KingsCliffe,PeterboroughPE86XN
Theevent was thelargest RAFparadesincetheQueenconducteda‘Silver Jubilee’ReviewoftheRAFat RAF
Fi=n=ni=n=gl=ey=,=Y=o=rk=s=hi=re=i=n=1=97=7=.=A=ft=er=t=he=R=o=y=a=l s=a=lu=te=f=o=ur=T=y=p=ho=o=n=a=ir=cr=af=t=fl=ew==p=as=t=in=f=or=m=a=ti=on=,=an=d=t=h=e====
QueenBwEasRinLviIteNdtoBrRevAiewNtDheEPNaraBdeU.TRhGeCAoloIuRrsPwOerRetThen-eOscPorEtedNbIyNthGeQuSeTenI’Ls CLoloDurESLquAadYroEnD(63
SquadronRAFRegiment),augmentedbyotherRoyal Air ForceRegiment squadrons and34SquadronRAF
TheopeningofthenewBerlinBrandenburgAirporthasbeendelayedonceagain.ItwasscheduledtoopeninJunethisyear,
Regiment.Theyweresupportedbytwofurthersquadrons madeupofRAF personnel from aroundtheUnited
butanewopeningdatehasbeenannounced.forthe27thOctober2014.
KItinisgbdeoimng.builttoreplacethreeofBerlin’sairports,Tempelhofwhichclosedin2008,TegelandSchonefeld.
PartofShoenefeld Airportincludingoneofthetwoexistingrunwayswillbeincorporatedintothenewairport.
A drumhead blessing service was held for the new Queen’s Colours followed by a short speech from the
QTuegeeelnA.“irIpaomrtwvearsydupeletaosceldosteotbheispyreeasre,nbtuitnwgimllystaCyoolopuenrtuonttihlethReAneFwinairthpoisr,tyisooupre9n0..th anniversaryyear.
ThenewairportwillbecalledWillyBrandtAirportaftertheformerMayorofBerlinandGermanChancellor.
TheRAFcanbetrulyproudofthelevel ofserviceit provides andtheconsiderablesuccesses it has achieved.
Themainterminalbuildingwillbesituatedbetweenthetworunwaysandontopoftheundergroundrailwaystationwhich
It continues tobeanexampletootherAirForces.
hasrailconnectionstothemainrailwaystationinBerlin.
————————————————————————————————————————————-
TheILABerlinAirShowwillcontinuetobeheldeverytwoyearshereontheSouthernsection oftheairfield.
PeterG.Marriott writes:
================================================================================
I believe Iwas the youngest Civil Ground Engineer on the Berlin Airlift servingwith Sir Alan Cobham’s Flight
AIRLIFT WEBSITES
RefuellingLtd,basedat Tarrant Rushton,Dorset during1948/49.
There are numerous Websites with reference to the Berlin Airlift Some of those which may be of interest to members are
InMay1948 Iwas 17 years old,but nowat agedseventy-seven Istill rememberit well!
listedbelow.Youmayknowofothersthatcouldbeuseful-Pleaseletmeknow.Ed.
Youknowoursofcourse-bbaa-airlift.org.uk
TOALLTHOSEWHO TOOKPART INTHE AIRLIFT
AlliiertenMuseum,Berlin-www.alliiertenmuseum.de GatowOldBoys-www.gatow.org
WITH FOOD ANDOTHER SUPPLIES THEY HADTOSHIFT
Findafriend-www.servicepals.com ForcesReunited-www.forcesreunited.org.uk
TOSAVEACITYWAS THETASK
TheBerlinAirliftTelevisiondocumentary1997-1998-www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/cats/berlinairlift/xb20-01.htm
ANDTOHAVEA LIFE WAS ALLTHEYDID ASK
DetailsofHeadquartersNo46Group,Wunstorf,Fassberg,Gatow,LübeckandSchleswigland -
www.britains-smallwars.com/colCdO-wMarI/NbeGrlinT-OaiGrliEftT.hHtmER INTHIS TIMEOFNEED
HQBAFO&2ndTAF-BaAdLELilsWenHAOssoWciEatRioEnI&NRVeOunLiVonE-DwHwAw.VbaEdeSiOlseWn.NorgT.uHkE-SCEonEtDactGeoffLipscombe
InterpretersDilemma-www.toNnOycuOnNnaEneS.TcoO.uOkD BACKANDSAID ‘NO,NOTME’
RoyalAirForceRegimentSBeUrvTiceACLlLubW-wERwwE.AeaSsyOneNt.EcoT.uOk/fHeeEleLyP/hTisHtoEryM_haSlTwAarYrenF.hRtEmE
———————————W—E—A—LL—D—I—D—OU—R—B—IT—,—SO—M—E—FR—O—M—A—L—O—NG——W—AY—O—F—F———————————
SEANIDRINLGIFOTURVLEANTCE’SRTAONWSUINNSTTOERRFAVNIDETWOSTEOMNPEFLHILOFM
THEFORCES FROM THEEASTTHENPUTUP AGREATWALL
Wehavebeen approachedby a companywho are recordingonDVDvideo interviews of British veterans topro-
TOPREVENTANYESCAPE,BECAUSE ITWAS SOTALL
duceanonlinemilitaryhistoryarchive.Theinterviews will beplacedon a websiteforusebyschools, libraries,
WHENATTEMPS WEREMADE,TOFOILTHE PLOT
museums andthegeneral public.Eachperson interviewedwill receive aDVDcopy.Theinterviews will be
FEAR MADETHEPEOPLEAFRAIDTO BESHOT
filmedinhighdefinition
BUT,WITHTHANKS FROM ALLONAJOB WELLDONE
This will not beascriptedagenda,just veterans personal stories andmemories oftheirtimeonthe BerlinAirlift
SIXTY YEARS ON,THATMEANS EVERYONE!!
in1948/49.Thefilmingwill becarriedout at suitablelocations intheUK, suchas museums etc.
Weneedtoknowwhowill beinterestedinsharingtheirstories about their timeontheBerlinAirlift.
P.G.M.
Inordertoarrangethese interviews andif youare interestedpleaselet our WebmasterColinCottleknowas soon
Jersey,C.I.
as possibleat:Colin Cottle,27TheCrescent,Cranham,Essex,RM14 1JZ.
2008
Telephone: [phone].Email address: [email protected]
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Page 191 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
THEAIRLIFT-ONANDOFF-ByBobNeedham
I have not offered this article to the newsletter until now, because my part connected with the Airlift had a number of
peculiar features which other people generally did not experience; with the exception of our Association chairman Geoff
Smith,whomIdidnotknowatthetimebutwhoknewouraircraft,asIwillnotebelow.
IneedtoexplainthatIflew,orwasflown,asanairquartermaster(AQM)withNo.24CommonwealthSquadronthen
basedatBassingbournnearRoystoninHertfordshire.ItscrewsweredrawnfromtheCommonwealth’scountriesand
amongitsunique dutieswastheweeklydiplomaticmailruntoWarsawandback,overnightingatBerlinGatowwhere
GeoffSmithandhiscolleaguesservicedouraircraft.WeweretheonlyWesternmilitaryaircraft –aDakota–toenterJoe
Stalin’sterritory.DownthefourthBerlinaircorridor,theeastwardsonewhichhardlyanybodywasawareof.Wecarried
themailbothfortheForeignOfficeinLondonand–astonishingly–thePolishCommunistgovernmentinWarsaw.
WewerealsotheVIPsquadronandIwasAQMonField MarshalMontgomery’spersonalDakotaKN628atonestage.
InthisrolewehadalreadyhadaworryingexperienceattheverystartoftheColdWarwhenonthe5thApril1948aSoviet
YakfighterbuzzingWesternaircraftintheaircorridorasStalin’swayofchallengingtheWesternpresenceinBerlin,in
flagrantdenialofthePotsdamagreement,misjudgedit’sapproachandrammedaBritishEuropeanAirwaysVikingcivil
airliner,thecollisionbringingdownbothaircraft,aboardwhicheveryonewaskilled.AtBassingbournitwasstilldarkand
IwasasleepinbedwhentheRAF policewokemeupandsaid“Getdressedquickly,there’sapanicon,you’regoingto
Berlin”.Isaid“What’sthefuss?I’malwaysgoingtoBerlin”.MontywasChiefoftheImperialGeneralStaffandinhis
usualspectacularway–healwaysensuredthemediawereinattendance,IfeltthepersonhemostresembledwasLaurence
Olivier–andhewasdeterminedtogopersonallytoBerlinatonceandshowtheflag.RememberingHitler,andbeingwell
awarethatdictatorsregardliberaldemocraciesassoft,itwasthesecondmostemotionallydisturbingflightIhadeverbeen
on,becausedictatorsmakemistakesandUncleJoemightbetemptedtouptheanteonMonty.Fortunatelyhebackeddown
andgroundedallSovietaircrafttillMontyhadreturnedtoLondon.Iwrote“secondmost”abovebecausetheworstocca-
sionwaswhenwewerestruckbylightningbetweentheAlpsandPyrenees,andcaughtfire;butthatdidnotinvolveBerlin
andsoisnotpartofthisarticle.RevertingtoBerlin,onthe5thAprilwehadbeenrightinattheverystartoftheCold War.
AprocessthenstartedofNo.24SquadronbeingorderedtodetachcrewsfortheAirlift;whichwhen wewereunableto
meetitscommitments,calledthecrewsback.BetweenthismovingaroundIstartedoutonloadingDakotasatWunstorf
withsuppliesforBerlin,butthistookonanactivityofitsownbecauseIhadlivedandworkedformyfamily’sbusinessin
theGerman-speakingpartofSwitzerlandandfoundmyselfapparentlytheonlyRAFpersoninonbasewhowasableto
speakGerman!
Itwasadoddle,persuadingGermantruckdriverstoceasereversingintoDakotafuselagesandbucklingthedoors.This
wasmorepleasantthanunloadingfreight,andmyhandsdidn’tevengetdirty.ButwhenWarsawcalled,somefolkwere
perplexedtofindIwasnowonmywaythereandnotontheAirliftatall.TheTransitmessforpersonnelstayingovernight
atGatowwasverypleasant,especiallythebarstools.SoIcanclaimthatIwasatleastat,evenifnotontheAirlift;tan-
glingwithityoumightsay.CarryingofficialForeign OfficemailwewerealwaysgivenprecedenceoverAirliftfreight-
carryingaircraft–totheirannoyance,Ihavenodoubt,buttheyweretoomuchinaweofourofficialstatustoactuallysay
anything.IremembertwocontrastingimpressionsofthePoles.ThestaffatOkecieairfieldwereastonishinglyfriendlyto-
wardsus.TheconstantrainuponthemofCommunistpropagandaseemedtohavehadnoeffectatall.Theywereconsis-
tentlyveryfriendly;ouruniformscontrastingwiththeirs.PerhapstheyrememberedthatinSeptember1939wehadstarted
WorldWarTwofortheirbenefit;thoughthisbroughtasharplessonforusnottogiveguaranteestocountriesonecannot
actuallyhelpifGermanyisgeographicallyintheway.Theotheroccasionwasratherdifferent.ThePolishcourierswere
usuallyanuncommunicativelot.WhereasourKingsMessengerwouldleavetheaircraftandstrollaroundtheGatow
adminbuilding,leavinghisbagsonanaircraftseatwithanRAFRegimentchapcompletewithloadedriflesittingnextto
it.ThePolishchaphadtocarryhisbagsintotheairportwithhim,doubtlessfeelingdecidedlyuncomfortablewithallthe
Airliftfolkinuniformmillingaroundhim.AsIwasthecrewmemberinchargeofpassengersIfeltIoughttotryand
engagetheminconversation.TheF.O.chapinhiscamelhairshortiecoatwiththeleatherbuttons,andanOxbridgeaccent
wasinvariablyaffableandkeentocomparenotesontheplaceswe’dbothbeento.I’msorryIdidnotknowGeoffSmithat
thatstagewhenservicingourAircraftatGatow.Anyway,returningtothePoles,ononeoccasionweweredescendingto
Gatowfromtheshatteredcitytoitseast;overthemanyrooflessbuildingslookinglikeemptymatchboxes.ThePolehad
actuallyinitiatedaconversation,onhiswaytotheloothroughthegalleywherehehadnoticedmycopyofthebook“I
ChoseFreedom”bythefleeingRussiandissident VictorKravchencko.HesaidVKdidnotexistandthewholebookwas
US-manufacturedpropaganda.Isubsequentlywasstandingbyhisseatlookingoutofthesamewindowandinanunwisely
flippantmannercommented,“That’sthecityJoeStalinistryingtokickusoutof”.ThePolishchapthensurprisedmeby
bristlingandsayingthatifIvisitedthePolishembassyinLondonhe’dhavemetoldthetruthaboutthepresentsituation.
Myjawdropped,annoyedthathethoughtmesuchafoolastodothat.SurelyMI5hadpeoplewatchingwhowentinand
out.AndifIwasonVIPflightsIwouldknowinadvancewhowasduetoflywhereandwhen.ThePole’slinewasthe
usualonethattheWestwaschangingthecurrencyofthethreeWesternzoneswithouttakingaccountoftheRussianzone.
Ididn’twishtohearallthisoveragainasIknewtheRussianzonewasstructuredinaccordancewithMarxisttheorywhich
couldnotbecoordinatedwiththeWest.
WhenItoldthisstorytoanMI5contactsometimelater,heroaredwithlaughterandsaid,“Youdon’tthinkwe’veever
beenadequatelystaffedtowatchallCommunistembassiesallthetimedoyou? Continuedonpage10.
Page10
BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION
BobNeedham-TheAirlift-OnandOff.-Continuedfrompage9,
Idecidednotto,astheseincidentswerewellknown,nothingnewhademergedandIcouldn’tseethatareportfromme
wouldachieveanythingnew.IfewyearslaterIwasinMoscowwhereIfounditimpossibletodiscussTheAirliftatall.
IwaswithagroupoffellowQuakers,andtheRussianlinewastheusualonethatifwesoughtpeaceweshouldworkwith
theSovietsasQuakerismwasareligionandallreligionisfalse.WhenIsaidthatonleavingtheRAFIhadqualifiedat
UniversityasaProbationandPrisonparoleofficer,theydidmakeanattempttosubornmesoIdidreportthistothe
Embassy.TheysaidIwasbeingseenasapotential“sleeper”onthestaffofsomeprisonwhereconvictedRussianspies
mightbeheld.TheEmbassyweresatisfiedthatforthereasonoffbeingaQuakerIwasimpervioustopropagandawhatever
it’ssource. But,IthenhadaninterviewattheHomeOffice;theyacceptedmypositionandnowattheageof84Ihave
heardnothingmore!
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AUTUMN REUNION & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013.
TheAutumnReunionwillbeheldatEastwoodHallnearNottingham.ItisapopularvenuewithBBAAmembersandhas
beenonceagainsuggestedbymembers.ItwillbeheldfromThursdaythe19thtoSundaythe22ndofSeptember2013and
applicationformshavebeenmailedseparatelytomembers.IfyourequirefurtherapplicationformspleasecontactMrs
JanetHowardat80ParkStreet,KingsCliffe,PeterboroughPE86XN.
TheformatwillbesimilartoothereventswiththeAnnualGeneralMeting beingheldonSundaymorningofthe22nd
September2013.Wewillberememberingthe65thAnniversaryofthestartoftheBerlinAirliftatthisReunion.
OneimportantitemattheAnnualGeneralMeetingwhichwillhavetobediscussedandresolved istheproposedclosure
oftheAssociationin2014.ItwasproposedattheAGMheldatTillingtonHall,Staffordin2009thattheAssociation
shouldcarryonforupto afurtherfiveyearsto2014.SeveralmembersoftheBBAACommitteehavealreadystatedthat
theydonotwishtocarryonafter2014,soinlinewiththeBBAAConstitutionadecisionwillhavetobemaderegardinga
windingupdate,disposalofBBAAfundsandartefactsplusthelayingupanddeconsecrationoftheBBAAStandard,
——————————————————————————————————————————————————————
AN EVENING AT RAF BRIZE NORTON.
ByJohn Collier.
SometimeagoourChairmanwasaskedifwecouldsendaBBAArepresentativetoa“BerlinAirliftGuestNight”inthe
RoyalAirForceBrizeNortonOfficer’sMess.HavingacceptedtheinvitationGeoffSmith,ourChairman,GeoffSmith
foundthatthewasunabletoattendandaskedifmywifePatandmyselfwouldgoinhisplace.Wereadilyagreedandhav-
ingcontactedthematBrizeNortonIwasaskedifIwouldspeaktothemregardingmytimeontheBerlinAirliftandwould
itbepossibleformetoprovideasmalldisplayofrelevantitems.Thiswasnogreatproblem,soIsettoandputtogethera
collectionofphotographs,aircraftmodelsofthetypeusedontheAirliftandIalsomanagedtoobtainanRAFKitBag
similartothetypeusedtodelivertheearlyloadsofcoalintoBerlin.(Seethephotographsonpage7)However,the
eveningturnedouttobeamuchlargerandgranderoccasionthanwehadexpectedbecausethePrimeMinisterwas
originallyincludedamongsttheguests,butunfortunatelyhehadtocancelhisvisitafewdaysbeforeevent.Thismeant
howeverthattheVIPSuitewasnowvacant,soitwasallocatedtous.Itwasveryposhandleftuswonderingwhohad
previouslyoccupiedtheroomswhichincludedpeoplesuchastheRussianPresident,MargaretThatcherandtheirHonorary
AirCommodorethePrincessRoyal.WehadbeenmetonarrivalinthereceptionareabytwoOfficerswhoescortedusto
theMessandinsistedoncarryingourluggageanddisplaymaterial.ThereshouldhavebeenaflypastbytheBattleof
BritainFlight’sDakota,butunfortunatelyduetoweatherconditionsthathadtobecancelled.TheRAFCentralBand
playedthroughouttheeveningwithaverywiderepertoireofmusicwhichincludedaverylivelyrenditionofthePostHorn
Gallop,whichproducedverylivelybangingonthetablesandencores. Patandmyselffoundthatwewereseatedinvery
distinguishedcompany.IsatbetweentheStationCommanderGroupCaptainLushingtonandWingCommanderJamesthe
MessPMC.PatsatbetweenWingCommanderJamesandhiswife.SeveralOfficerswerebeing“DinedOut”thatnightand
boththeStationCommanderandtheSupport GroupCaptainspokeabouttheparticularOfficersinquestionandtheirca-
reers.AfterthatitwasmyturntosayafewwordsabouttheBerlinAirliftandIwasveryconsciousoftheamountofdrink
thatwasavailable.IthadstartedwithaChampagneReception,followedbywhiteandthenredwinewiththemeal.Port
andLiqueursafterwhichwealladjournedtotheBar!PatandImanagedbyturningdownsomeoftheoffersofrefillsat
themealandtheLiqueurs,butbymidnightfeltourbedcallingandmadeourexcuses.Wehadthoroughlyenjoyedthe
eveningandweremadeverywelcomebyalltheOfficer’spresentwhowerealsoveryinterestedaboutanythingwecould
tellthemabouttheAirlift.IhadhopedthatImighthavebeenabletoaskifHerrHeinz-GerdReese’sSonRobertcould
havejoinedus,buthavingspokentohismotherLindaafewdaysearlierIlearntthathewasondutyinAfghanistanuntil
nextmonth.Wehopemostsincerelythatthiswillbehisfinaltouroutthere.OursincerethankstotheCommanding
OfficerandallatRAFBrizeNortonforareallymemorablevisit.
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