Synopsis
The Western powers airlift of supplies to Berlin during the Soviet Blockade of Berlin. Operation Plain Fare. The Berlin blockade. Post Second World War. Germany. Soviet Iron Curtain.. Deutschmark. 24 June 1948. airbridge. Rosinenbomber, or 'raisin bombers'), 2 million West Berliners with food, fuel and other supplies. At its height one plane reached West Berlin every 30 seconds. The Airlift officially ended on 30 September 1949, fifteen months after its protracted beginnings in June 1948.…
Uploader's description on archive.org
Details
- Running time
- 10 minutes
Reviews on the Internet Archive
★★★★★ · That's Air Commodore R.N.Waite (Rex Waite) · larkrise · 2009-11-23
A great archive. If it is repetitive that is how it felt to the airmen and ground crews. This film was made before the short Sunderlands were taken off the airlift due to winter weather conditions. At minute 01.21 you see an air commodore sitting at a desk using the telephone. That is Air Commodore R.N.Waite, also known as Rex Waite. Later at 07.33 he is seen on the tarmac walking next to Lord Tedder. He has a walking stick as he suffered from lumbago. He had been with the Control Commision for Berlin as the senior air officer and when the blockade was imminent he put forward a logistical…
★★★★★ · History · Nikonwilly · 2010-01-24
When the blockade first started the U.S. under U.S. Military Governor, Lucius Clay wanted to force the issue and use ground troops to break the blockade, but British Foreign Minister, Ernest Bevin proposed the air lift. Berlin needed 2000 tons of necessities every day to run, Clay assigned Major General Curtis E. LeMay to attempt it. The U.S. had only 100 Douglas C-47 ( Gooney Birds) available which was barely enough to supply the U.S. military personal in Germany, but LeMay managed to lift twice the needed amount on a test run and the operation was on. LeMay requested through Clay and the…
★★★ · "The Airlift carries on!" · uniQ · 2011-05-12
Rousing "information" film produced by the Royal (British) Air Force lauding its work (parenthetical mention of the USAF is given) in the Berlin Airlift. Surprizingly, this film has essentially no Cold War Commie-bashing. Listen for the airmen singing "I've Got Sixpence", and the single spoken line in the entire piece: "You are cleear to take off...". Oh and it was "passed" by the British Board of Film Censors.
