Chronology of the Berlin Airlift
During the Berlin Blockade and the Airlift in the years 1948 and 1949, one can find a great deal of data and many events worth mentioning. So much so, that we can only provide you with a selection here.
1948
| June 19-29: | All land, rail and water connections between the western zones of occupation and Berlin are blocked. |
| Juni 21-28: | On average 38 American airplanes per day fly to Berlin in order to supply the American troops in the city. |
| June 25: | The first British airplanes are transferred from England to Wunstorf. |
| June 25: | Official beginning of the American “Operation Vittles”. |
| June 28: | The Americans and British fly in the first goods destined for the population of Berlin – a total of 268 tons* on this day. |
| July 9: | Three fatalities in conjunction with the first deadly accident, as an American C-47 crashes in the vicinity of Wiesbaden. |
| July 27: | The first chartered flight by a British private airline company takes part in the Airlift. |
| July 29: | General William Tunner arrives at Wiesbaden and sets up headquarters. |
| August 12: | With 707 flights, over 4,724 tons of supplies are flown into Berlin. In so doing, the Anglo-American air fleet surpasses the 4,500 ton mark for the first time, representing the targeted minimum daily tonnage requirement for the city. |
| Sept. 19: | The RAF’s (Royal Air Force) first fatal accident. Five people die in a crash at Wunstorf. |
| October 14: | Establishment of the Combined Airlift Task Force (CALTF) under the American General William Tunner as Supreme Commander, and the British Air-Commodore Merer as Deputy Commander. |
| November 5: | The first airplane lands at the new Tegel airport, constructed in only three months. |
| December 16: | French combat engineer units detonate the tower of a Soviet-controlled radio transmitter that had been obstructing the flight path into Tegel airport. |
1949
| February 18: | The 1,000,000th ton* since the start of the Airlift reaches Berlin. |
| February 26: | On this day, more than 8,000 tons are flown to Berlin in 902 flights. |
| March 11.: | The Royal Air Force (RAF) flies the 50,000th civilian out of Berlin. |
| April16: | The absolute highpoint of the entire Airlift is achieved in the so-called Easter Parade. In 1,398 flights, more than 12,940 tons are flown to Berlin within 24 hours, so that on average an airplane loaded with supplies landed every 62 seconds. |
| May 12: | The blockade of Berlin is lifted. Automobiles and trains can again travel into the city. The Airlift to Berlin is nonetheless continued. |
| June 26: | The Airlift continues until ample reserves exist in the city. |
| July 2: | The 2,000,000th ton is flown to Berlin via the Airlift. |
| August 1: | The official deconstruction of the Airlift facilities begins. |
| Sept. 30: | Last Airlift flight to Berlin by the U.S. Air Force. |
| October 6: | Last Airlift flight to Berlin by the British RAF. |
* All figures mentioned in the chronology in tons are in U.S. short tons (1 short ton = 907 kilograms)