Berlin Airlift

Berlin Airlift

Between November 1947 and 12th June 1948 RAF Schleswigland served as the northern post in the Berlin Airbridge campaign conducted by the allies. Up to 32 four-engined heavy aircraft operated from the airfield during this period.

The Berlin Airbridge lasted for 462 days, being the largest humanitarian air transport task in history. When the operations began on June 26, 1948, probably nobody thought that by the end 2.3 million tons of supplies would have been transported into a Berlin that had been cut off by the Soviets. Finally the Russians gave up the blockade. On 12 May, the first trucks and freight trains rolled again into the city, on many of them was written: "Hurrah, we are still alive!"

The Handley Page Hastings was put into service in November 1948 and it was the largest plane the RAF used during the Berlin Airlift. Its large cargo space was badly needed. The Hastings was deployed at RAF Schleswigland airfield near the small village of Jagel in Schleswig-Holstein. First there were 7, then after January 1949 14, and from July 1949 onwards 24 planes flying to Berlin-Gatow, mainly to bring in coal.

The 297 Squadron Hastings concentrated on delivering coal to the blockaded city until October 1949, when the airlift tailed off after the Russian blockade collapsed. On return flights the Hastings brought back manufactured goods from Berlin factories.

After the end of the Berlin blockade the Hastings were still used to fly to Gatow until the 1970's. Today one of 5 surviving Hastings aircraft is in the Allied Museum in Berlin.