Berlin Airlift: West Defies Soviet Siege
The Soviet Union blockaded all road, rail, and waterway access to West Berlin on June 24, 1948, attempting to force the Western Allies to abandon the city. In response, the United States and Britain organized an airlift that delivered up to 8,893 tons of supplies per day through three narrow air corridors. At the operation's peak, an aircraft landed at Tempelhof or Gatow airfield every 30 seconds. American pilot Gail Halvorsen became known as the "Candy Bomber" for dropping small parachutes of chocolate and gum to Berlin children. The airlift lasted 462 days, completing 278,228 flights and delivering 2.3 million tons of food, fuel, and supplies. The Soviets lifted the blockade on May 12, 1949, having achieved none of their objectives. The crisis accelerated the formation of NATO and the permanent division of Germany.
June 24, 1948
78 years ago
Key Figures & Places
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