NEWSLETTER No.37 Website:- www.bbaa-airlift.org.uk Formed 9th September 1994 December 2012

Chairman, Geoffrey W. Smith Committee: Secretary: John Collier. Treasurer: Mrs Janet Howard N.W. Representative: Jack P. Steele Media & Website: Colin R. Cottle David Hildred: NMA Laison & Ceremonial

Editor:- Geoff Smith. 12 Tyesdale Court, Bretton, THE CHAIRMANS COLUMN Peterborough PE3 9XZ. Tel:- 01733 262599 Introduction. Email:- [email protected] Website:- www.bbaa-airlift.org.uk Bernard Howard: We have to report that Bernard sadly died on the 3rd November this year. He was an Associate Member of the BBAA and valued husband of our Treasurer Janet Howard. He will be missed greatly by all who knew him, especially by those members who attended Reunions and the visits to . Since becoming an Associate Members he has promoted the history of the BBAA and the Airlift in many areas including the military and media participation. Tempelhof & Tegel Airports: The latest news we have about the current situation at the now disused Tempelhof Airport is that it may finally be redeveloped as a huge public garden area. We understand (not confirmed) that two Architects have been awarded a contract to draw up plans for this scheme. We will publish more details when they are to hand. Tegel Airport was scheduled for closure but due to construction delays at the new Airport bring built to the south of the city it will now close in 2013. See the report on page 4. BBAA Website: The BBAA Website has now had more than 8,750 hits. In other words more than 1,500 people have looked at the site in the last twelve months. We now receive numerous enquiries and complimentary comments via this route. Several people have said that they find it very informative & most useful when looking for information & details about the Berlin Airlift. U.S. Airlift Veterans Newsletter: We have heard from Lewis Dale Whipple, the Vice-President of the US Berlin Airlift Veterans that he has not been very well recently. We wish him better health for the future. After chatting to his colleague Mike Doyle who we met in Berlin during our recent visit in May we have now made arrangements to exchange Association newsletters. Full details will be published in later newsletters. Remembering the 28th June 1948: Next year on the 28th June 2013 will be the 65th anniversary of the start of the British contribution to the Berlin Airlift when RAF Dakota aircraft flew from RAF Wunstorf in the British Zone to RAF Gatow with supplies for Berlin. We areTHE hoping that CHAIRMAN’S we can mark the occasion with COLUMN a Remembrance Ceremony at the BBAA Memorial located at the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. This will depend on the redevelopment of our new memorial site at this time. Fl Lt Ken Weadon has reminded us of the event he took part in which was an important part of the Berlin story. He was one of the aircrews of RAF Dakota’s KN442 & KP217 which flew to Berlin from Wunstorf on the 18th and 19th June 1948 carrying the new D.Mark which replaced the old Reichmark. It was soon after this event that the Soviets closed the land and waterway routes from the Western Zones to Berlin. On page 3 BBAA member Tom Henshaw tells his story of how he and some of his colleagues were within seven days of either being released from the Army or going on leave when they were suddenly moved to RAF Wunstorf where they immediately began loading supplies to Berlin on to RAF Dakota aircraft. Geoffrey W. Smith. Chairman.

THE COMMITTEE WISH ALL MEMBERS OF THE BBAA A MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY & PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR Page 122 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION . WEEKENDSecretary’s REUNION Notes 2013 The date and location of the Annual weekend Reunion for 2013 will be confirmed to members as soon as the proposed events commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the start of the Berlin Airlift are to hand. An application form for this Reunion will be sent to members as soon as possible. If another application form is required please contact Janet Howard at 80 Park Street, Kings Cliffe, Peterborough PE8 6XN. A booking form will also be published on the BBAA Website at www.bbaa-airlift.org.uk. ————————————————————————————–———————————————————— SUBSCRIPTIONS Members are reminded that subscriptions are due on the 1st January each year. The Annual Rate is now £15.00, wherever situated. Cheques should be made payable to the BBAA and sent to:- The BBAA Treasurer, Mrs Janet Howard, 80 Park Street, King’s Cliffe, Peterborough PE8 6XN Inside This Issue However, if you wish to pay by Bankers Order. The details are as Chairman’s Column - Page 1. follows:- Tempelhof Airport. Redevelopment? - Page 1 Payable to: Weekend Reunion 2013 - Page 2 British Berlin Airlift Association. Subscriptions - Page 2. Bank:- Lloyds/TSB Bank PLC Maidenhead. BBAA Email Database - Page 2 Account No. 1223532 Fassberg Airlift Museum Liaison officer - Page 2. Sort Code: 30-95-36 The day my Airlift started by Tom Henshaw - Page 3. —————————————————————————————— Members Personal Airlift stories on Film - Page 4.. Cold War Museum, Berlin. New location - Page 4. Fassberg Berlin Airlift Museum. The new Berlin Brandenburg Airport - Page 4 We have heard from Paul Hicks ,the Curator at the Fassberg Berlin Proposed redevelopment of the BBAA Memorial site at Airlift Museum that they have now closed for the winter period. The the National Memorial Arboretum, - Page 5. museum had more than 8,500 visitors in 2012 and the construction Centre Spread Photo’s - Pages 6/7. works for the new car park have started and hopefully will be ready BBAA Shop details - Page 8. 28th June 1948.The day the Airlift started - Page 8. for the start of the 2013 season. 2012 Annual General Meeting at Horwood House - Page 9 The museum has also appointed a new Liaison officer, Malcolm Aircraft & Airbases Booklet - Page 10. Cross who will also be involved in finding participants for the 10 Years of the BBAA & Briefing Booklets - Page 10 TREATY exercises to be held at Fassberg. National Memorial Arboretum Appeal Fund- Page 10 —————————————————————————————–— The first Hastings to land coal at Tegel - Page 11 FLORRIE BALL Airlift Websites - Page 12 No 30 Squadron on the Airlift - (Buck) Taylor. Page 12 We understand that Florrie Ball, the wife of BBAA member Bill Ball has not been well recently. She has just completed twelve days of intensive radiotherapy for lung cancer and is now at home recuperating. We send her our best wishes for a speedy recovery. ———————————————————————————————————————————————— EMAIL DATABASE We have now set up a database of members Email addresses & telephone numbers. This will enable us to contact members more easily and also help to reduce the cost of mailing letters etc. Many members have indicated their willingness to be included in the database. If you are willing to have your Email address on our database would you please contact Colin Cottle the co-ordinator. His Email address is: [email protected] ————————————————————————————————————————————————– BRIEFING BOOKLET We have upgraded our popular Briefing Booklet on the Berlin Airlift. It is now 16 pages and includes photos of the BBAA Memorial at Alrewas, together with some of the British Airlift aircraft. It also includes details of Berlin Airlift museums and lists the British and Commonwealth casualties. The cost is £3.00 each,

OBITUARIES Godfrey Coates - Gatow/Fassberg - RAF Regiment - No. 3 Armoured Car Squadron - Died 28th September 2012 Bernard Howard - Associate Member - Army Pay Corps, Germany - Died November 3rd 2012 Page3 11 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION THE DAY THE BERLIN AIRLIFT STARTED by Tom Henshaw RASC/RASO - Wunstorf. I was in No 62 Company RASC (Air Despatch) We became proud holders of the Air Despatch title after spending a few hours throwing panniers out of a grounded one-engined Dakota. The instructors were impressed by our enthusiasm as we hurled panniers at anyone who came within range. One week from demob, all leave and demob was cancelled and we moved out to Wunstorf near in Germany expecting to drop panniers on Berlin! A high-ranking RAF officer walked us down a line of 8 Dakotas.“These are what you will be loading in the morning” he said. The RAF Regiment were very pleased to welcome us as they had been told that they would have to do the loading if the experts did not turn up. The next day we loaded 200 llb sacks of flour into the Dakotas, easy, but as trade increased and heavy rain turned the field into mud, life became more difficult, especially when a tired young driver reversed his lorry into the wing of a Dakota! This meant that all lorries had to stop 20yards away and we had to carry 200 pound sacks through lots of mud. Experienced drivers were soon brought in to drive the last 20 yards. I waited while the Pilot checked that his cargo was secure, and sadly he said that all he had to do was fly to Gatow two or three times a day without offering the real workers a ride to Berlin and back. “Bring your lads here at 2pm and I will take you for a ride” he laughed. This did my street-cred a lot of good as my three fellow loaders were highly chuffed. We droned our way to Gatow, no traffic on the roads, nothing moving on the railway, strings of moored up barges on the water- ways. We rattled along the hurriedly assembled metallic PSP landing strip at Gatow to the unloading point where to our delight a gang of No 62 Company were waiting to unload. A few minutes later we clattered our way into the air. The air- crew consisted of a Flight Sergeant Pilot, no Second Pilot, Navigator, Wireless Operator or Flight Engineer. Our Pilot was very efficient and friendly. “ Have you ever flown a plane?” he asked, “never been in one before” I said, “Oh, come and sit in the second Pilots seat and I will give you a flying lesson.” I listened eagerly to every word of wisdom and he finished by saying that once airborne there was not much to do but stay on the present compass setting and make sure that the automatic horizon was kept level. Eventually he said that he was going to visit “George” and I was not to do anything silly while he was gone, I asked how I could do anything silly when he had just put it on Automatic Pilot, he put it back on manual, “She is all yours” he said as he went back to the primitive toilet. Proudly I sat there, the happiest man in the British army, this was even better than when I once drove a Tram through the centre of Hanover. Suddenly, without any warning the left hand engine cut out and the Dakota slid away to the left. I did not have time to panic as I hauled on the Joystick until we were back on a level horizon. The Pilot hurried back pulling his trousers up, like someone taking part in a Sack race, I dare not tell you what he said, “Oh dear me, what have you done?” but not in those actual words. Feeling rather pleased with myself, I tried to be casual and told him that the “Fan thing” out there had stopped going round, but not to worry as the hori- zon was level. Yes, he said, but look where we are going, not far away at the edge of our air corridor on a converging course were 2 MIG fighters waiting for us. He did not let me fly the plane again. Our Pilot said that he thought there was a fuel blockage as the engine had cut out on his last trip, but he could easily land on one engine. Because of the foul weather, our loading gang had been doubled by the addition of 4 RAF lads. At 2am early one morning we sat in the canteen waiting for the next Dakota to need loading, the canteen was nearly empty at that time of night, just one lady behind the counter. The gang was arguing about what day it was and I closed my eyes and drifted off towards the land of nod. “It must be the 4th of July” said a voice, “ its my 20th birthday” I said waking up, a cheer went up, they decided that we must celebrate, pay day had gone by without anyone noticing and between us we could only raise 4 pence. “I will go and see what the old lady can do for 4 pence” said the chap on my right, I can`t remember his name but he was a good inside left. A few seconds later he was back, looking angry, “The miserable old cow just laughed at me and told me to go back and sit down” he fumed. Once more I began my journey towards nod. “Many happy returns of the day” said this most attractive young lady, as she put a tray with 8 mugs of tea in front of me. A minute later she appeared with a tray piled high with sandwiches, cake and biscuits. When we had eaten everything, there on the tray was the forgotten four pence. I shall always remember my 20th birthday. No 62 Company RASC left the airlift when the Civilian air contractors and the RAF Avro Yorks took over. Before leaving, I asked my loading gang to pose alongside a Dakota for a last photograph. By the time I had raised my camera and got them in focus, they were all urinating into a bucket. I took the picture to remind me of the lovely idiots I had been working with. A few months later I was demobbed and back home during the celebrations my mother suddenly appeared with a handful of photos. I had not realised that my loving mother was doing my unpacking, “Disgusting!” she said looking at the smirking loading gang trying to fill the bucket She promptly hurled all my photos onto the blazing fire! ======Page 124 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION BERLIN BRANDENBURG AIRPORT - OPENING DELAYED The opening of the new Berlin Brandenburg Airport has been delayed once again. It was scheduled to open in June this year, but will not now open until October 2013. It is being built to replace three of Berlin’s airports, Tempelhof which closed in 2008, Tegel and Schonefeld. Part of Shoenefeld Airport including one of the two existing runways will be incorporated into the new airport. Tegel Airport which was due to close this year will now close in 2013. The new airport will be called Willy Brandt Airport after the former Mayor of Berlin and German Chancellor. The main terminal building will be situated between the two runways and on top of the underground railway station which has rail connections to the main railway station in Berlin. The ILA Berlin will continue to be held every two years here on the Southern section of the airfield. ———————————————————————————————————————————————– THE COLD WAR MUSEUM - BERLIN The Cold War Museum Berlin Exhibition Centre which was formerly situated at Harnekop to the north-east of Berlin has now been relocated to a new site at Kunersdorf which is to the East of Berlin. It was formerly a secret Telecommunications Bunker and was used by the former East German government until the reunification of Germany After 1990 the bunker became surplus to requirement and all the equipment was removed. The bunker was sealed and the remaining buildings served as accommodation for refugees and the surrounding land was used as an ostrich farm. The Rũsterbusch e.V Association now intends to open the bunker to the public as a museum and relic of the Cold War. The official opening of the museum took place on the 30th July 2011 at 11am with a welcome by Mrs Anna Edith Haase Further information can be found on the Cold War Museum’s website at www.thecoldwarberlin.info ———————————————————————————————————————————————– AIRLIFT VETERANS INTERVIEWS ON FILM We have been approached by a company who are recording on DVD video interviews of British veterans to produce an online military history archive. The interviews will be placed on a website for use by schools, libraries, museums and the general public. Each person interviewed will receive a DVD copy. The interviews will be filmed in high definition This will not be a scripted agenda, just veterans personal stories and memories of their time on the Berlin Air- lift in 1948/49. The filming will be carried out at suitable locations in the UK, such as museums etc. We need to know who will be interested in sharing their stories about their time on the Berlin Airlift. In order to arrange these interviews and if you are interested please let our Webmaster Colin Cottle know as soon as possible at: Colin Cottle, 27 The Crescent, Cranham, Essex, RM14 1JZ. Telephone: 01708 224560. Email address: [email protected] ——————————————————————————————————————————— News Clips from the U.S Task Force Times, Tuesday January12th 1949 * C54 Douglas Skymasters are getting their 200 flying hours check at the USAir Force RAF Maintenance De- pot at Burtonwood in England. It is a time consuming operation, but essential to maintain the serviceability of the aircraft. The engines are subjected to a 500lb air pressure test and if a leak is detected the cylinder is changed. * Corporal Alison Fisher aged 23, Engines Mechanic based at RAF Gatow has been awarded the BEM (British Empire Medal) by King George after being cited in the New Year’s Honour’s List for “Devotion to Duty” * RAF Gatow - Berlin “RAF Evacuates 240 Berliners Daily to the Western Zone. The willingness of German people to assume the responsibility of providing homes for elderly Germans, displaced persons and under- privileged children is shown by the evacuation of 240 Berlin residents daily from Gatow to the British Zone. * Weather Report: Weisbaden & Rhein Main - Cloudy with showers - Max Temperature 39 degrees. Tempelhof & Gatow - Cloudy with showers - Max Temperature 38 degrees. ======Page 115 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM Proposed BBAA Site Redevelopment We have now been offered a site which will be close to the main entrance roadway. Eventually this new site will be on the pedestrian route from the new Car Parking area to the refurbished and enlarged .Visitor Centre The redevelopment of the entrance area to the Visitor Centre is now under way. It started with the removal of the BBAA Eagle on the Memorial to be placed into storage for the duration of the alterations. The blue granite panels at the base of the memorial will also be removed and reused at the new location. Tests will now be carried out to see if it is possible to lift the memorial to transport it to and re-erect it at the new location. Thirty-nine new trees will have to be planted to replace the existing trees which we are advised will not survive being lifted and replanted. It will not be feasible to have the trees in two rows as in the original site and we are in consultation with the NMA about this. One suggestion is that the trees could be planted to replicate the three Air Corridors to Berlin with the BBAA Memorial representing the city of Berlin. See the drawing below. New Name Plaques will be required and we have looked at the types of plaque being used at new sites such as the Falklands Memorial and the South Atlantic Task Force, see page 6. The Arboretum authorities consider that these plaques with withstand inclement weather far better than the existing plaques have done since they were first erected ten years ago.

Pedestrian access From the new Car Park to the Visitor Centre

======Page 126 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION

National Memorial Arboretum Mystery Photo. Does anyone remember the occasion and the The new style wall plaque now being used at the NMA location? We first asked this question in issue No. 17 in December 2002

Opening of the Burtonwood Heritage Centre 29th May 2002 Annual Reunion - September 2012 With the Mayor & Mayoress of Warrington Bletchley Park - Waiting for the introduction Plus BBAA Members About the Wartime History of the Secret Coding Left, Jack Steele; Centre Frank Stillwell; Right Jean Eastham & Communications Centre

Annual Reunion - September 2012 Annual Reunion - September 2012 The BBAA Group arrive for the guided visit A walk in the grounds of Woburn Abbey At the former wartime secret Code Breaker’s unit Alec Chambers, Geoff Smith, Romilly Waite, Hugh & Betty Roberts at Bletchley Park, near Milton Keynes Page 7 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION

Page7 11 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION

The Air Corridor from Hamburg. The above map was supplied by Wing Commander T.R.Holland of No 230 Wg Cdr Tom Holland and Frank Cattle at Squadron, Sunderland Flying Boats. It shows the Northern Air Corridor from Lake Havel in Berlin after flying in from Finkenwerder on the River Elbe, Hamburg leading to Berlin. The Sunderlands Hamburg. Tom says that they were getting a were the only aircraft that were allowed to fly this route to and from Berlin. breath of fresh air whilst their Sunderland All other aircraft had to use the central corridor when returning from Berlin aircraft was being back loaded.

Kings Cliffe Airfield Memorial with two of the fighter aircraft used at the airfield in 1939 - 1945 depicted. A U.S. Mustang is on the left and a RAF Spitfire is on Annual Reunion - September 2012 the right. The memorial was supported from it’s early Some of the BBAA members at the Saturday Evening Banquet. conception by Bernard Howard.

In the gardens at Woburn Abbey Corr! Nearly missed it! - Well done Delia! Perhaps, someone should have gone to Specsavers Page 128 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION BBAA Shop. Items for sale A Unique Day in RAF History Friday `11th July 2008 The Royal Air Force marked its 90th anniversary in style with its biggest ever parade for the presentation of new Queen’s Colours to the RAF in the United Kingdom and the RAF Regiment. Months of dedicated preparation and weeks of drill for around 800 personnel fell into place for the presentation made by the Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, during a visit to the Royal International Air Tat- too at RAF Fairford, Gloucestershire. Rain which had plagued parade rehearsals for mostCloth of Badge the week even stayed away for most of the day – although a quick drenching was unfortunately in store(Members for personnel only) and spectators duringAssociation the final Tie five minutes. Large £2.00 UK - £3.00 overseas (Members only) Small £1.50 UK - £2.50 overseas Cravat (Members only) 61 Squadron Standards£11.50 UK were on display on the parade ground and personnel welcomedWith the magnetic Queen clasp in the pres- £12.50 overseas £2.50 UK £3.00 UK - £4.00 overseas ence of 5,000 invited guests which included proud£3.50 families, overseas serving members of the RAF and its various asso- ciations and charities. To place an order, write to BBAA Treasurer Mrs Janet Howard, 80 Park Street, Kings Cliffe, Peterborough PE8 6XN The event was the largest RAF parade since the Queen conducted a ‘Silver Jubilee’ Review of the RAF at RAF Finningley,======Yorkshire in 1977. After the Royal salute four Typhoon aircraft flew past in formation, and the Queen was invited toTHE review DAY the Parade. THAT The THE Colours BERLIN were then escorted AIRLIFT by the Queen’s STARTED Colour Squadron (63 Squadron RAF Regiment), augmented by other(Geoff Royal Smith – AirAircraft Force Electrician) Regiment squadrons and 34 Squadron RAF Regiment. They were supported by two further squadrons made up of RAF personnel from around the United RAF Gatow Berlin, 28th June 1948: Kingdom. It was a fine bright day when Taff Baker, John Walker and myself walked through the woods from the Airmen’s Mess after Abreakfast drumhead to No1 blessing Hangar service where the was Electrical held for & Instruments the new Queen’s Section was Colours based. followed by a short speech from the th Queen.We anticipated “I am very the usual pleased routine to be jobs presenting of checking my the Colour aircraft to on the the RAF Station in this, Flight, your an 90Avroanniversary Anson and Percival year. Proctor. TheThe RAF Section can at be this truly time proud consisted of the of a level Flight of Lieutenant service it in provides charge, a and Corporal the considerable Electrician, threesuccesses Aircraft it has Electricians achieved. four ItWAAF continues Electricians, to be an Two example Instruments to other Flight AirMechanics Forces. and one German Instruments Technician. ————————————————————————————————————————————Two of the WAAF’s went to the Battery Room to check the Aircraft batteries that had been on charge overnight and the- Peterother G.two Marriott WAAF’s writes: reported to Hangar No 4 where they would service the aircraft flying in from the UK and other locations. IWe believe were Iaware was thethat youngest the situation Civil in Berlin Ground was Engineer deteriorating on the because Berlin we Airlift had helped serving to unload with Sir two Alan RAF Cobham’s Dakotas a few Flight days Refuellingearlier and afterwards Ltd, based found at Tarrant out that Rushton, they had Dorset been carrying during the 1948/49. new Dmark which replaced the old currency. InNow, May our 1948 daily I wasroutine 17 was years immediately old, but now shattered at aged when seventy we were-seven all told I still to remembergo immediately it well! to Hangar No 4 and help to turn round some RAF Dakota aircraft that were flying in supplies from Wunstorf in the British Zone. We helped to unload these aircraft and get them on their way back to Wunstorf and stayed there as other aircraft were now coming in until nearly midnightTO and ALL then THOSE were told WHO to go TOOK back to PART our quarters IN THE and AIRLIFT report back to Hangar No 4 at 6am the next morning. This routineWITH of twelve FOOD hour AND shifts OTHER carried on SUPPLIES with the RAF THEY Gatow HAD Ground TO SHIFT Crews and British Army personnel from the nearby Kladow Barracks doingTO the SAVE unloading A CITY of goods. WAS We THE carried TASK on checking & servicing the aircraft and back- loading of passengers and equipmentAND TO until HAVE more RAF A LIFE Ground WAS Crews ALL were THEY brought DID over ASK from the UK and the German labour under the supervision of the BritishCOMING Army took TOGETHER over the unloading IN THIS of theTIME aircraft. OF NEED After the UK based GroundALL Crews WHO arrived WERE from the INVOLVED UK we were HAVE then able SOWN to adopt THE the SEED three shifts pattern of eight hours per day which continued right throughNO ONEto the STOODend in September BACK AND1949. SAID ‘NO, NOT ME’ —————————————————————————————————————————————————BUT ALL WERE AS ONE TO HELP THEM STAY FREE -- BERNARDWE ALL DID OUR HOWARD BIT, SOME- Died FROM 3rd A LONG November WAY OFF 2012 Bernard didn't serve duringSENDING the war, OUR but was LANC’S in the British TO WUNSTORF Army for National AND Service. TO TEMPELHOF He was in the Army Pay Corps and served in Germany. HeTHE always FORCES had a huge FROM interest THE in EASTMilitary THEN matters PUT was UPvery A much GREAT involved WALL in the creation of a War Memorial at the local airfieldTO atPREVENT Kings Cliffe ANY near ESCAPE, his home. See BECAUSE the photo IT on WAS page7 SO TALL The Kings Cliffe Airfield duringWHEN the 1940’s ATTEMPS- was RAFWERE and MADE, also USAF TO having FOIL fighterTHE PLOT aircraft based there. The airfield was also one of theFEAR last military MADE bases THE that PEOPLE Major Glenn AFRAID Miller TO and BE his SHOTArmy Air Corps Band played at before his fatal flight to France inBUT, 1944. WITH THANKS FROM ALL ON A JOB WELL DONE Bernard carried out a lot of fund raising for the memorial to enable it to be constructed and also for the maintenance of the SIXTY YEARS ON, THAT MEANS EVERYONE!! memorial. Since becoming an Associate Member of the BBAA he has been a tremendous supporter in many ways. He provided Display Boards and many photographs illustrating the history of the Berlin Airlift and the British Berlin Airlift Association. These have been displayed at the National Memorial Arboretum and many events inP.G.M. the Peterborough area including a number of 1940’s Weekends. He will be greatly missed and attended the recent visitJersey, to Germany C.I. in May 2012 and also the Reunion at Horwood House near Milton Keynes in September this year. 2008 Bernard’s funeral was held at All Saints Church in Kings Cliffe on Saturday the 24th November 2012. ======Page 119 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION AGM 2012 : Held at Horwood House Hotel, near Milton Keynes on Sunday 23rd September 2012

1) Apologies received: Dennis King, John Holdcroft, Jean Eastham, Stan Wilkinson, Peter Beswick, Ken Weadon, Bob Cherry, 2) Members who have died since the Reunion in May 2011 - The obituaries were read at the Saturday Evening Banquet as follows: Sqn Ldr Zeke Hacke - Wunstrof/Fassberg/Lubeck - Pilot No 30 Sqn G Eddie Stockton - Gatow/Fassberg - RASC William John Tams - Flight lines - Gatow Maj Gen D.M. Ralston - Fassberg/Lubeck – South African Air Force. Mrs Jean Love - Widow of Mike Love - Skyways Operations & Air Traffic Manager. Flt Lt Alan Melvin - GCA Gatow Mrs Betty Rolley - Widow of John Rolley - Glider Pilot Regt. Anthony Proverbs - Wunstorf/Buckeburg - Royal Signals Regt. Gerry R. Clash - Wunstorf/Lubeck - Air Traffic Control 3) The Minutes of the previous AGM held at Eastwood Hall Nottingham in May 2011 were read and approved. 4) Matters arising from the minutes: Are all covered in the following items. 5) Officer’s Reports. a) Chairman: The Chairman Geoff Smith commented that the attendance this year was greater that the 2011 meeting. He welcomed guests to the meeting Paul Hicks, the Chairman of the Fassberg Berlin Airlift Association, Bernhard & Marion Grabowieki and David Pickersgill. b) Treasurer: The Treasurer Mrs Janet Howard presented the BBAA accounts for the year ended in 2011. She asked members to note that following the information from Royal Mail that the cost of postage stamps was to in- creased considerably in the near future she had purchased a quantity of stamps in advance to save on future mailing costs c) Secretary: The Secretary John Collier reported that the membership had reduced during the year as reported in the Obituaries List d) The N.W. Representative had reported that the possible closure of the BBAA Display at the Burtonwood Heritage Centre, nr Warrington had not happened and the Heritage Centre had been revitalised by the appointment of new management and everything was now running very well. e) Website & Media: Colin Cottle reported that the BBAA website was receiving many visits. The number of people looking at the site had now risen to almost 8,500 and a number of enquiries from the general public were being received. The visit to Germany in 2012 was also covered. He also reported that the Email News was also working very well. 6) BBAA visit to Germany in May 2012. Geoff Smith reported that the coach visit had gone very well with only a few minor problems. The visit to Berlin included the traditional ceremony at Luftbrϋcke Platz, Tempelhof, a visit to see the new Cold War Museum exhibition and also an evening of entertainment & BBQ with the British Berlin Military Train group held in Hangar No.4 at the former RAF Gatow. Then it was on to the Harz Mountains with visits to Goslar, Bad Harzburg where the members visited the Town Hall, courtesy of the Mayor and then a steam train trip up the Brocken Mountain. The final evening was held in Diksmϋde, Belgium before returning to the UK.

7) Newsletter: The Printer David Black who had printed the newsletters for the BBAA in recent times had indicated that he was about to retire, but was hopeful that he would be able to recommend a replacement Printer in good time for the next edition due to be issued in December 2012. Late News: We have now been contacted by the new Printers RTW Printers who have now taken over the printing business of D Black at Corby and have said that they will be pleased to continue printing the newsletters for us.

8) The National Memorial Arboretum redevelopment: The NMA had stated that due to increasing visitor numbers they were planning to enlarge the Visitor Centre and would have to relocate the BBAA Memorial which was at present situated at the entrance to the Visitor Centre. After a number of meetings with the Director and the Grounds Development Officer several suggested new locations were rejected as not suitable. We have had another meeting and looked at the new site the NMA are now proposing/ (See the drawing on Page 5. 9) Memorabilia and Exhibitions: The possibility of a BBAA Berlin Airlift exhibition to be located at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum in August 2013 and also others at various locations was discussed. Continued on page 10 Page 121010 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION AGM 2012 - Continued from Page 9. 10: The future of the BBAA. At the AGM at Tillington Hall, Stafford in 2009 the members accepted the proposal by Gp Capt Colin Parry that the Association carry on for up to a further five years to 2014. The Berlin Airlift did not come to an end with everything stopping on a particular date. The majority of flights were ceasing during August 1949, although some carried on through September and a few into October, so the end of August 2014 would be the 65th Anniversary of the end of the Airlift and seems to be an appropriate date to commemorate the event. Possibly, a number of events to coincide with this anniversary could be arranged. Fassberg for instance always commemorate the last flight to Berlin on the 27th August each year. Various suggestions for winding up the Association had been received from members such as: a) the Deconsecration from sacred to secular use of the BBAA Standard and placement into safe-keeping. The National Memorial Arboretum, the Imperial War Museum at Duxford and the RAF Museum Hendon had been approached. All have said that they are not able to store or put on display the Standards of Associations. However, both the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum and the Newark Air Museum have said that they would be interested in providing a display area. The Newark Air Museum also has a Handley-Page Hastings TG517 which flew on the Berlin Airlift with No.47 Squadron. They also have a link with the Allied Museum in Berlin. Also, the long term future of the BBAA Airlift display at the Burtonwood Heritage Centre also needs to be resolved. Other sites mentioned were the RAF Museum at Cosford and the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington. 11) Election of Officers. All the existing Committee members had agreed to continue for a further 12 months and David Hildred said that he would be pleased to be the Liaison Officer regarding the redevelopment and moving of the BBAA Memorial at the NMA, plus the future of the BBAA Standard and the location of future BBAA Display Centres The new Committee therefore is: Geoff Smith – Chairman: John Collier – Secretary: Mrs Janet Howard - Treasurer - Jack Steele – N.W. Representative:. Colin Cottle – Website development. David Hildred – NMA & Ceremonial Liaison Officer 12) A.O.B. Several members suggested a return to Eastwood Hall near Nottingham for the next Reunion & Annual General Meeting. The meeting closed at 12 noon ———————————————————————————————————————————————— A NEW BBAA BOOKLET We have a new Booklet entitled AIRCRAFT & AIRBASES of THE BERLIN AIRLIFT 1948 - 1949. With personal recollections by Air & Ground Personnel. It is A5 size and has a total of 62 pages and has been com- piled over the past eighteen years by our late Chairman Sqn Ldr Frank Stillwell & current Chairman Geoff Smith from the time the BBAA was first formed in 1995. It includes stories and also photographs supplied by many members of the BBAA, some of whom however, sadly are no longer with us. The booklet is available from - Geoff Smith, 12 Tyesdale Court, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 9XZ. The cost is £7.00 each including postage ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— BBAA - THE FIRST TEN YEARS: We have produced a booklet describing the first ten years of the BBAA: It contains a potted history from 1994 to 2004 and a number of photographs, which include the May 2004 group visit to Germany to commemorate the 55th Anniversary of the end of the . The cost is £5.00 each and includes postage. Both booklets are available from:- Geoff Smith, 12 Tyesdale Court, Bretton, Peterborough PE3 9XZ. ——————————————————————————————————————————————————— THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM The Arboretum recently welcomed its millionth visitor and on the 17th May 2011 celebrated the 10th year since it was first opened by the Duchess of Kent in 2001. Following the opening of the Armed Forces Memorial by HM The Queen in October 2007 the visitor numbers have increased dramatically from around 20,000 to now 300,000 per annum and the NMA is now fully managed by the Royal British Legion. The increase in numbers has caused the Arboretum to plan for the future by submitting a scheme to redevelop the car park and entrance area , enlarge the Restaurant, and create an “Armed Forces Pavilion & Heroes Square”. An appeal for donations to help fund the new concept was launched this year by HRH Prince William, who is now the Duke of Cambridge. The appeal is going very well with donations & pledges being received from trusts, companies and also many of the Royal British Legion branches. If you wish to make a donation it can be made through the Arboretum’s website www.thenma.org.uk A cheque can be sent to the NMA Appeal Office, 1 Fitzgerald Road, London SW14 8HA. Cheques should be made payable to the NMA Appeal. The Armed Forces Memorial now carries the names of over 16,000 Service men & women who have lost their lives since 1948, including some of those who were lost during the Berlin Airlift in 1948-1949.. With the present ongoing conflict in Afghanistan more names are being added all too frequently. ======Page 11 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION

THE FIRST HASTINGS TO LAND COAL AT TEGEL? (N/L19b) (By Wg Cdr Peter Major)

The fact is not in dispute, Hastings TG 521 landed at Tegel during the evening of the 18th November 1948. It was not planned at all - the destination was Gatow! After that stories differ, but as I was the 2nd pilot on the aircraft I feel that my version must be as good as any. At a distance of fifty plus years it is difficult to remember exactly what went wrong. Did the navigator have an equipment failure? Did Fronhau beacon go off the air? It was only our second sortie on the Airlift and our first by night, so everything was a little strange and new. Looking at the plot now, I feel that we must have been off track to the north of Fronhau and maybe further along the corridor than we thought. Turning south on ETA, we held at 2,000 feet until it was estimated that we had passed Tegel and then began our descent. Shortly afterwards, just where they should have been, ahead and out to my side were runway lights. I reported the sighting to the captain who accepted that it was Gatow, called finals and received permission to land. The first indication that something was amiss was when we taxied to the unloading area and found that the aircraft parked ahead was an RAF Dakota. By the time we stopped engines and climbed out there was another Dakota behind us - something was very wrong we now thought, but at least they were friendly faces and spoke our language. The American who welcomed us expressed his surprise at seeing a Hastings as he thought that we Brits were operating into Gatow. It was then our turn to admit surprise that we had slotted in between two Dakotas and landed at Tegel - all under the control of Air Traffic at Gatow! However, all ended happily. There was no accident and the Berliners got their nine and a half tons of coal. The interview next morning with the Squadron Commander was not such a happy occasion, but we never went astray again. ———————————————————————————————————————————————— FASSBERG AND THE PENNEY TWINS Our story - By John Penney We were conscripted in October 1946 and after six weeks of Basic Training were posted to Catterick Camp in North Yorkshire to join the Royal Signals Regiment, where we were to train as Field Linemen. It was the winter of 1946/47, an extremely long and cold winter with heavy snow for many weeks. There was no thrill in laying cables on the Yorkshire moors, sometimes at night in the cold and wet conditions The training course was completed in early 1947 and we were posted to Germany, to the British Army of the Rhine (B.A.O.R.) to join the 11th Air Formation Regiment, after which we were sent to RAF Guterslöh. After a short stay at Guterslöh we were sent further east to RAF Fassberg where we were to be part of a small Care & Maintenance party working alongside the Royal Air Force and RAF Regiment personnel on the station. Life here was pretty quiet. In 1948, a few weeks before the start of the Berlin Airlift I had a job checking all the hangars to make drawings of the location of all the communications cables and terminals etc. After what I thought was a job well done, I was told to do them all once again. I remember thinking at the time that this was a ‘Make Work’ project. However, it proved useful when the Airlift started. Before the Dakotas arrived we spent many hours making the airfield ready and there were numerous cables to be installed My brother Joe worked on up-grading the Flying Control facilities. After the Dakotas left to go to Lübeck we had many further changes to make when the U.S. Air Force arrived. Some of the things we remember were: The improvement in the food after the Americans arrived. The Bob Hope Show, with the dancing group ‘The Rockettes’ direct from the New York Radio City Theatre. Having, much to the delight of the U.S. personnel, to march daily from our Billets to our Signals Office - (Only the Linemen). John Penny has also sent the following details about some of the responsibilities and activities carried out by the Air Formation Signal Regiment on the Berlin Airlift. Fassberg. No.139 Line Troop were at Fassberg and their commitments included Scheun A.F.P. Dump, Celle Airfield and 106 R.A.F. Police Flight in Celle. On the 18th July 1948 Dakotas of RAF Transport Command arrived, followed soon after by aircraft from the civilian Air Charter companies. Prior to this cables were laid for the B.A.B.S. (Blind Approach Beacon System) ======Page 12 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION No 30 Squadron on the Airlift By T.W.R. (Buck)Taylor - Lǘbeck I spent eight months at RAF Lǘbeck as a W.O. Aircraft Fitter with No. 30 Squadron which was one of four squadrons that had been flying routes to Germany, Malta, Egypt and the Near East until the Berlin Airlift started at the end of June 1948. They had previously been at Wunstorf and Fassberg and I was posted into “Technical Control” which worked three eight hour shifts daily. We had in our Section on the wall in front of us the “Serviceability Board” with all the data of the 52 Dakota aircraft we were looking after. Each week three or four of these aircraft returned to the UK for major inspec- tions and any necessary repairs that were required. When these aircraft returned to Lǘbeck they also brought back dozens of replacement wheels complete with tyres. We liaised with the Operations Unit next door to us and also the Flight Lines to determine the number of aircraft that were serviceable and the departure times for their flights to Berlin. We also had a Duty Engineering Officer who was available in the room next door to us. One day there was an Operations Order issued to change units of the resident British Army garrison in Berlin. The unit was to be replaced by the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Before commencing my shift at midday I walked over to the flight lines to watch the Welsh Guards boarding the aircraft to take them to Berlin Gatow. Four aircraft were on the tarmac ready with starboard engines running, entrance doors open awaiting their passengers. The aircrews and the passenger coaches arrived. The troops, married families and the Regimental Mascot, The Goat were all lined up as the Air Movements officer read out the passenger manifest. “Regimental Seargeant Major and Mrs Taff! Get aboard quickly please”. The RSM responded with “Come on dear, quickly does it” She moved towards the small Dakota steps then stopped with one foot on the bottom step. She was obvi- ously frightened with the engine running and so close to the door. ”I can’t do it she said” “Corporal” was the instruction. “Please put the lady in the aircraft”. Two large Corporals with their hands on her rather large posterior assisted her rather rapidly into the passenger cabin and finally, with the rather embarrassed Regimental Seargeant Major they were all ready to go. The whole operation took quite a number of days moving the Regiment, with their families plus the Goat together with all the military equipment ———————————————————————————————————————————————— AIRLIFT WEBSITES There are numerous Websites with reference to the Berlin Airlift Some of those which may be of interest to members are listed below. You may know of others that could be useful - Please let me know. Ed. You know ours of course - bbaa-airlift.org.uk Alliierten Museum, Berlin - www.alliiertenmuseum.de Gatow Old Boys - www.gatow.org Find a friend - www.servicepals.com Forces Reunited - www.forcesreunited.org.uk The Berlin Airlift Television documentary 1997-1998 - www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/cats/berlinairlift/xb20-01.htm Details of Headquarters No 46 Group, Wunstorf, Fassberg, Gatow, Lübeck and Schleswigland - www.britains-smallwars.com/cold-war/berlin-airlift.htm HQ BAFO & 2nd TAF - Bad Eilsen Association & Reunion - www.badeilsen.org.uk - Contact Geoff Lipscombe Interpreters Dilemma - www.tonycunnane.co.uk Royal Air Force Regiment Service Club - www.easynet.co.uk/feeley/history_halwarren.htm ————————————————————————————————————————————————– Members are reminded once again that subscriptions are due on the 1st January each year. The Annual Rate is £15.00, wherever situated. Cheques should be made payable to the BBAA and sent to:- The BBAA Treasurer, Mrs Janet Howard, 80 Park Street, King’s Cliffe, Peterborough PE8 6XN However, if you wish to pay by Bankers Order, the details are as shown on page 2 of this newsletter:- Payable to: British Berlin Airlift Association. Bank:- Lloyds/TSB PLC, Maidenhead. Account No. 1223532 Sort Code: 30-95-36 Note! Would you please remember to amend your existing standing order if it is still paying the earlier subscription amount of ten pounds. A small number of members are still having to send a separate amount of five pounds to the Treasurer —————————————————————————————————————————————————————– Photographs We would like to thank the following for supplying photographs for this issue of the newsletter: Colin Cottle - Joyce Rahim ————————————————————————————————————————————————– Note! The views and opinions expressed by contributors within this newsletter are not necessarily those of either the Editor or the British Berlin Airlift Association. ======