The Grampound Times
Summer 2006 (Edition 42 - Carnival Edition)
Our community in Cornwall
THE BERLIN AIRLIFT - MY STORY
By ROGER VIVIAN.
Remembering my colleagues during 1948 – 1949 when most of our service was spent as part of ‘Operation Plainfare’ at Royal Air Force Station Lubeck, in Schleswig Holstein, looking after Douglas Dokota C47’s of No. 10 Squadron. Our job was to ensure the engines and airframes were always in perfect running order each time the Dokota’s took to the air ( mostly several times day and night)
The aircraft carried mainly food and coal on the outward journey to Gatow in the British Sector of Berlin, bringing out sick children for treatment and recuperation within Western Germany.
I remember well the whine of the starter motors followed by the distinctive roar of the Pratt and Witney engines when they burst into life - the aircrews from Britain, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa who drove themselves to the limit - the meals in the Mess where one could eat breakfast in the evening, dinner at 3am and lunch or afternoon tea at 7am - the trips to a Baltic Sea Resort when we had short, but valuable time off - the white socks or stockings the frauleins wore, some of whom were friendly, some not!
After it was all over, I was honoured to be amongst those asked to join the Berlin Airlift Parade in London where we were reviewed in the courtyard of Buckingham Palace by His Majesty King George the Sixth and Queen Elizabeth (the late Queen Mother ). From there, we marched through the City of London to the Guildhall “with bayonets fixed and flags flying” to receive the Freedom of the City from the Lord Mayor, followed by a most sumptuous banquet given by the citizens of London and attended by, amongst other famous dignitaries, Sir Winston Churchill.
The achievement of the airlift in sustaining life and hope in Berlin, in the days when access by road, rail and water from the West was impossible due to Russian action should never be forgotten. Many lost their lives to achieve the Airlift’s success. I wonder where all my friends from those days long ago are now - so many years on!
© 2006 Grampound with Creed Parish Council