NEWSLETTER No.38 Website:- www.bbaa-airlift.org.uk Formed 9th September 1994 June 2013

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 Dennis King: Sadly, we have to report the death of another BBAA stalwart, Dennis King from Leicester. Dennis died in the Glenfield Hospital, Leicester on the 4th April 2013. He had been a stalwart supporter of the BBAA and had spent many hours at the National Memorial Arboretum helping with the maintenance of the Memorial and the Trees. Our thoughts are with his wife Iris and family. 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 2014. BBAA Website: The BBAA Website has now had more than 9,700 hits. The numbers of people looking at the site in the last twelve months have increased rapidly. 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 Airlift. Fassberg Berlin Airlift Museum. We have heard from Paul Hicks ,the Curator at the Fassberg Berlin Airlift Museum that they have been closed for the winter period. The museum had more than 8,500 visitors in 2012 and the construction works for the new car park has now been completed and is ready for the start of the 2013 season. The museum has also appointed a new Liaison officer, Malcolm Cross who will also be involved in finding participants for the TREATY exercises to be held at Fassberg The Allied Museum, Berlin: A report from Herr Bernd von Kostka at the Allied Museum in Berlin says that the Handley-Page Hastings that they have on display at the Museum was cleaned and repainted last year. They are looking forward to seeing BBAA members in 2014 for the 65th Anniversary of the end of the Airlift RememberingTHE CHAIRMAN’S the 28th June 1948: COLUMN The 28th June 2013 was the 65th anniversary of the start of the British contribution to the Berlin Airlift when Royal Air Force Dakota aircraft flew from RAF Wunstorf in the British Zone to RAF Gatow with supplies for Berlin. We were hoping that we could have marked the occasion with a Remembrance Ceremony at the BBAA Memorial located at the National Memorial Arboretum, but with the improvement works now under way there, this Ceremony was not possible. Remembering the 60th Anniversary 28 Sept 2009: A special service of commemoration to mark the 60th anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift took place today at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire. The service, which marked the final British flight of the Airlift, was held in the presence of Veterans Minister Kevan Jones, the new Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Dalton, and 500 veterans, families and current Service personnel. The service paid tribute to the many servicemen and women who served on the airlift in the air and on the ground, supporting operations to keep the population of West Berlin alive during the Soviet Blockade of 1948-1949. The 39 British and Commonwealth personnel who lost their lives during the airlift, also known as “Operation Plainfare”, were also remembered. Geoffrey W. Smith. Chairman. ======Page 2 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION . WEEKENDSecretary’s REUNION Notes 2013 The Weekend Reunion will be held at Eastwood Hall, near Nottingham Thursday 19th to Sunday 22nd September 2013 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. Inside This Issue Cheques should be made payable to the BBAA and sent to:- Chairman’s Column - Page 1. The BBAA Treasurer, Mrs Janet Howard, Fassberg Airlift Museum Liaison officer - Page 1. 80 Park Street, King’s Cliffe, Weekend Reunion 2013 - Page 2 Peterborough PE8 6XN Subscriptions - Page 2. However, if you wish to pay by Bankers Order. The details are as BBAA Email Database - Page 2 follows:- National Service & the Airlift at RAF Gatow- Page 3. Payable to: Berlin Revisited by Peter Mathews - Page 4.. Proposed redevelopment of the BBAA Memorial site at British Berlin Airlift Association. the National Memorial Arboretum, - Page 5. Bank:- Lloyds/TSB Bank PLC Maidenhead. Centre Spread Photo’s - Pages 6/7. Account No. 1223532 BBAA Shop details - Page 8. Sort Code: 30-95-36 The Airlift - On & Off - By Bob Needham Page 9 —————————————————————————————— Autumn Reunion & Annual General Meeting - Page 10. An evening at RAF Brize Norton - Page 10. EMAIL DATABASE National Memorial Arboretum , Update - Page 11 We have now set up a database of members Email addresses & tele- National Memorial Arboretum Plotholders Meeting and phone numbers. This will enable us to contact report- Page 12 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, ————————————————————————————————————————————————– Do you remember the 1st September 1995? This was the date of the first Annual General Meeting of the BBAA. It was held at the RAF Club, Piccadilly, London. It was attended by 232 members and guests of which several were from Berlin, South Africa, New Zealand & Australia. At the AGM the first Committee was elected consisting of:- Captain Alan D.B. Smith, Chairman. Sqn Ldr Frank Stillwell, - Secretary/Treasurer. John Collier - Assistant Secretary. Geoff Smith - Newsletter Editor & Publicity. Air Chief Marshal Sir Nigel Maynard agreed at this meeting to become the Association’s first President. ————————————————————————————————————————————————

OBITUARIES Eric W. Bowkett - Schleswigland - Navigator - Lancashire Aircraft Corporation - Died 11th December 2012 John H. Harvey - Celle - VHF/DF Operator - Died March 2013 Bernard Coward - Wunstorf - Fassberg - Lubeck - Radio Officer - Skyways Ltd - Died 18th March 2013. A.G. Hardy - Schleswigland - Signaller - 297 Squadron - Died March 2013. Dennis King - RAF Gatow - 54R Squadron RAF Regiment - Died 4th April 2013 Alan Tooby - Fassberg - WoP/TpO - Died 21st April 2013. S. Mike Williams - RAF Gatow - SHQ Admin - Died May 2013 Raymond Kettle - Wunstorf/Fassberg/Lubeck - Signaller - 53 Squadron– Died May 2013 Page3 11 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION NATIONAL SERVICE TO RAF GATOW By Dennis King - 54R Squadron RAF Regiment. We were waiting in line outside a hut near to the Main Gate at West Kirby, having finished our Square Bashing Initial Training and now waiting to find out what our future jobs were to be in the Royal Air Force. All the lads waiting were from my hut (billet), about thirty of us in total and each time some- one emerged they were asked. ‘How did you get on? What are you going to do?’ The usual answer was Engine or Airframe Mechanic. My turn came and I marched in and faced the officer’s sat behind a table. I stood for a moment whilst they conferred and then the senior officer said. ‘You have two choices, either the RAF Police or the RAF Regiment’. I was stunned at this! After being an ATC cadet and keen to work on aircraft, or to be close to them, in frustration I chose the RAF Regiment. Little did I realise at the time that my decision would pay dividends later. I was posted to the RAF Regiment Battle School at Wombleton in Yorkshire. A more desolate station would be hard to imagine. It was close to the North Yorkshire Moors and was a former RAF airfield that once had Halifax bombers and had become disused owing to the surrounding terrain being too dangerous for heavy bombers. The following three months were rigorous and we received intensive training on the use of Rifles, Bren and Sten Guns, 2” Mortars, Grenades and PIAT (anti-tank) weapons. We also did twenty mile route marches in full kit and general Field Craft. Sometimes we spent all night on the moors, but curiously the best food we had was when it was brought to us by lorry in hot tins. The food at the base station was awful; all this training was leading up to the “dreaded day” when we would be on the Assault Course. When this day happened and then was over the feeling of relief and euphoria was incredible. Nobody wanted to go through all that again! After a 7 day’s leave I then joined 15/16 LAA Squadron at RAF Doniford, Watchet and did the full course on Bofors Anti -Aircraft guns, followed by a driving course. Watchet was a pleasant small camp on the edge of the Bristol Channel and I was beginning to think that this would be where my two year’s National Service would end. I was completely wrong! We were told one day that we were off to RAF Burtonwood, prior to going overseas. Just on week later we were off to the port of Harwich and sailed on the troopship “Empire Parkeston” to the Hook of Holland, where after disembarking, followed by a meal we boarded a train quite unsure where we were going to apart from being told “somewhere in ”. Progress on the train was very slow and in the evening we stopped at RAF Gutersloh for the night. The next morning we resumed our journey on a more uncomfortable train with wooden slatted seats. Several hours later we stopped and had to leave the train whilst it was searched. Further on we were distressed to see children running alongside the train begging for food as we were now travelling at just above walking pace. The children seemed to be from a collection of ramshackle huts and sheds along the railway embank- ment. We slid open the windows and tossed out whatever food we could spare and wondered what could have brought them to such a state. Eventually we arrived at Buckeburg and a couple of days later flew into RAF Gatow in Berlin on the 23rd June 1948 just a day before all the land routes into Berlin were closed. As members of 54R Squadron we were quickly put to work driving Thorneycroft 3 Tonners and with a crew of 4 or 5 Germans our job was to backload any RAF aircraft that had arrived with food etc for Berlin with goods manufactured in the city for export to the western zones. This had to be a very slick operation as the turn-round time was extremely critical. With aircraft landing on average one every three minutes, working most days of the week 8 to 12 hour shifts it was extremely tiring, but what kept us going was that nothing on this scale had been done before and with the variety of different aircraft and loads it was an amazing operation. As I said earlier, I thought that joining the RAF Regiment had spoilt my chances of ever being around aircraft. How wrong could I have been!

Air Marshal Tedder inspecting the Guard at the Main The main entrance to RAF Station Gatow in 1948. Gate during a visit to RAF Gatow in 1949. Viewed from the Spandau/Kladow road. Page 4 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION BERLIN REVISITED By Peter Mathews Queen’s Royal Regiment. Our Platoon completed training and was then sent to Germany on the 6th June 1948, the fourth anniversary of D-Day. We joined the 2nd Battalion of the Queen’s Royal Regiment in Dortmund and were overawed by being with men who had seen so much action in war-time . They were preparing for a return to the UK and demobilisation. We were to replace them and felt very much as boys amongst men. After a couple of weeks stay in Dortmund the regiment received orders to go to Berlin, when seven of us promptly contracted German measles (very apt we thought and were immediately sent to the Military Hospital so as not spread the disease. We listened to the wireless with mounting excitement in out hospital beds as the autobahn on which our trucks were travelling became more & more restricted so that what was a six hour journey took two days. The convoy of our trucks was threatened and harassed by Red Army soldiers in all sorts of ways, which we learned of later. Our Measles spots duly disappeared, but by then the route to Berlin was now firmly closed. The Russians were now blockading the city so that no food, fuel or people could move in or out and 2.5 million West Berliners were under siege. The sickly seven were ordered to join the regiment in Berlin by the only route now available, by air. We did not know that we would be amongst some of the first to travel in what would become a vast airborne armada which became the Berlin Airlift. We arrived at RAF Gatow which would become one of the busiest airports in the world and was set to explode into a centre for the greatest air supply operation of a city the world had ever seen. The next day, headlines in the Daily Express screamed “CRACK TROOPS OF THE QUEEN’S REGIMENT FLOWN INTO BERLIN”. Our Regiment was billeted in Berlin’s Olympic Stadium. Colonel East, our much respected commanding officer had been wounded in the First World War and had seen service in the Second World War at Dunkirk and El Alamein. As the 2nd Battalion he paraded us on the Platz in front of the Olympic Stadium. We were commanded as the 2nd Battalion to lay down our arms and then commanded again to take up our arms as the 1st Battalion. Later, when we were on leave, two ex Queen’s Regiment men noticed our pascal lamb badge an asked about the Regiment. “I was in the 1st Battalion said one of the lads”, “I was in the 2nd” said the other and “We were in both” we were able to chorus. Berlin at this time was mostly in ruins caused by the bombing and shelling of avenging armies and her inhabitants were in a parlous state. Young and old scribbled notes and pinned then on notice boards in public places, seeking news of lost relatives or friends in a city or postal service or valid postal addresses. As the Blockade tightened, power for light and heat supplied from the Soviet Sector was turned off by the Russians and food became scare as the winter approached. Sick children waited to be evacuated to the British Zone for treatment. Weeping parents waved them off as we watched from our guard posts. Berliners patched up their ruined homes and tore down every available tree to create some heat. Food was the main pre -occupation for them. Money was virtually valueless, so the Black Market became a way of life, if you had something to sell and we were constantly plagued with requests for cigarettes. The British troops were fed on a continuous diet of POM (dried potato) and dried fish. These were foodstuffs that weighed little, which was important for an aircraft’s payload. One day there was a rumour that real potatoes were being served in the cookhouse, so there was a near riot when POM was served yet again. Goodness knows what the Berliner’s had to eat, but it was not enough to sustain many, particularly the elderly who suffered as the winter began to bite. Duty at Gatow airfield was a punishing round of guard rosters and sleep was at a premium. Aircraft were landing every three minutes and the noise of aircraft engines became a background in our lives. We stood guard over the huge cargoes of food, including the everlasting POM. Thousands of tons of coal were shovelled out of propeller driven Dakota aircraft which then went to power the electricity generating stations in the western sector of Berlin. Finally, the Spring came and West Berliners began to grow vegetables wherever they could, carrots in window boxes , onions in the soil between the tramlines. The growers guarded their precious produce with a great ferocity. The Regiment was moved from the spacious, but unheated Berlin Olympic Stadium to the barely heated Schmidt Knoblesdorf Barracks in Spandau, but we still lived by candlelight during the hours of darkness. Around the corner was the old red brick prison where the seven Nazi war criminals including Rudolph Hess and Von Speer etc were imprisioned. Russian, American, French and British troops took turns monthly to supply guards to man towers high up on the Prison walls. From our vantage points we watched Hitler’s old associates tending their vegetable patches (yes, they were at it as well) as the weather gradually improved. The life of Berlin was gaining momentum among the vast heaps of rubble. Typhus from the bodies in the ruins had been a major worry, but now with time, the clearance began. Everybody worked, women in party frocks and high heeled shoes (probably all they had) worked clearing bricks and rubble all over the city. West Berliners began to realise that they had a future and the City began to blossom in more ways than one. Continued on Page 5. ======Page 115 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION Berlin Revisited: Continued from page 4: Meanwhile, a new and to our minds a over-keen 2nd Lieutenant arrived in our Company by the name of Lt. Millman. He played a major part in the Regiment’s life and retired with the rank of Brigadier. His sad death was reported in the regimental newsletter of May 2000. Also Corporal Wilson in the Battalion’s Signals section was a well known figure, later as a Lieutenant Colonel. He played a key role in running the Regimental Association. The months passed and the Soviet’s realised that they were not able to take over the city by starving it into submis- sion, the Blockade was finally lifted on the 12th May 1949. My story does not end there because my son gave me a Christmas present. He had listened or not listened to my stories about Berlin and how I was going to go back there some day. He finally called my bluff and gave my wife and myself a holiday in Berlin. Just to make me feel at home, he booked it for early February. So, for the first time in fifty-four years I landed back in Berlin. We stayed near the busy and fashionable Kurfurstendamm, near areas that I only remembered as piles of rubble. I revisited Schmidt Knoblesdorf Barracks in a horizontal snowstorm. The Barracks were still there including Corporal Wilson’s barrack block which is now a computer-training centre and the parade ground made sacred by our RSM is now a car park. I expected to see nothing of Spandau Prison as I had heard that it had been demolished. The massive central gate and the main part of the prison had certainly gone, but there was still some red brick buildings within a high wall that marked the site. The remainder, where the Nazi leaders had tended their vegetable patches was now a Supermarket full of exotic fruits and vegetables. The highlight of my visit to Berlin was a return to the Olympic Stadium which was being rebuilt. “Nobody goes in without permission” said the German watchman. I explained in my pidgin German learned some fifty years earlier, that I only wished to see the rooms where I had lived during that tumultuous time. His reply was a most positive “Nein”. A little man standing nearby intervened, handing me a safety helmet and without a word beckoned me to follow him completely ignoring the German watchman. He showed all that I wanted to see including our company’s old billets and explained that he was from Bosnia and the British Army had rescued him and his family from death at the hands of the Serbs. He refused to take any money, saying that what he did came from the heart! ——————————————————————————————————————————————— THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM Proposed BBAA Site Redevelopment In the BBAA Newsletter No 37 we showed he proposals for the new BBAA Memorial site to be located near to the main entrance to the Arboretum At the time of going to print the BBAA site is still untouched, but we have had a general update from the new Managing Director Sarah Montgomery as follows: After many years of endeavour at the National Memorial Arboretum, we are finally ready to begin work on our long awaited building development plans. Our works have now begun in earnest. We have reworked what was our overflow car park to create an improved Arboretum car park for all our visitors to use throughout the year. The new car park is situated past the main entrance along Croxall Road and will oper- ate as the main parking area for the future. There will be a number of spaces for disabled parking and also a “Drop off” point outside the Arboretum main entrance. Further preparatory work, including the widening of the main entrance to the Arboretum and the relocation of our office staff will be completed during the summer of 2013. The main works will begin following the completion of the preparatory works and the erection of safety hoardings. It is hoped that the work on the new Visitor Centre will be completed in Spring 2015 and the “Heroes Square” in the Autumn 2015, before an official opening late that year. The current Visitor Centre will remain operational throughout the building process and the 150 acre site will be open all year round as usual. —————————————————————————————————————————– AN INVITATION FROM LEGASEE Legasee wish to invite you to their Celebratory event on 13th September 2013 at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton, Near Bungay in Suffolk. The event is to mark the end of their 12 month British Berlin Airlift project. The project has been supported by their partners the Heritage Lottery Fund, the British Berlin Airlift Association, the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum, Bungay High School and the Scouts Association. The event is our way of thanking all our veterans, partners, volunteers and students who have helped enormously with the project. We are creating a permanent digital film archive of the experiences and observations as seen through the eyes of British Airlift veterans and the archive will be held at the Norfolk & Suffolk Aviation Museum. Contact: Juliana Vandrgrift on 01473 511874 or by Email: [email protected]. ======6 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION

THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL ARBORETUM The National Memorial Arboretum is now being redeveloped which means that the BBAA memorial site will be relocated from it’s present site as this area will become part of the new Visitor and Conference Centre. The master plan will include: The current Arboretum site doubled in size to 300 acres An inspiring new landscape with woodlands, lakes and water features and also:

 Organised footpaths and routes taking visitors directly where they want to go in a clear and logical way

 Memorials arranged in meaningful groups with space to expand as demand grows

 Principle memorials on sculptural mounds to act as gateways and landmarks

 The Arboretum as part of an enhanced riverside landscape between Burton-on-Trent and Tamworth, known as 'Central Rivers'. The aim is to develop an ambitious plan to create an environment worthy of Remembrance, equal to our famous national parks and gardens.

The British Berlin Airlift Association site will be located near to the entrance/exit road and will be adjacent to the footpath route from the Visitor’s Car Park to the new Visitor & Conference Centre. Tests are now being carried out to see if it is possible to move the existing BBAA Memorial to it’s new location as a complete unit rather than dismantling it and having to rebuild it again. At the new location we are hoping that a casualties names panel can be created on a wall similar to the one recently installed for the Falklands Memorial The Arboretum Authorities advise that this type of panel will weather better and not deteriorate as the ones used earlier have.

Photo below: Flixton Air Museum - BBAA Chairman Geoff Smith & BBAA Standard Bearer David Hildred with two Airlift veterans and pupils & teacher from Bungay School who are studying the Airlift history.

THE OLYMPIC STADIUM, BERLIN BBAA MEMBERS MARCH INTO THE OLYMPIC STADIUM FOR THE 50th ANNIVERSARY COMMEMORATIONS Page 7 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION

Page7 11 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION

Above - Artists impression of the new Restaurant area to be built At the new Visitor Centre at the National Memorial Arboretum.

IWM Duxford The pupils of Bungay School at IWM Duxford together with BBAA members at the Berlin Airlift day organised by Legasee as part of the Airlift in East Anglia promotion.

Can anyone help please? The photo above has been supplied by Neil Smith of the No. 51 Squadron Historical Society who are trying to identify the RAF Officer who was with No 51 Sqn at RAF Wunstorf during 1948/9. Contact [email protected] The three photographs, left: See the item on page 9 regarding the RAF Brize Norton visit by John Collier and his wife Pat and also the talk he gave regarding the Airlift. 1. The Display of Airlift photos, 2. Aircraft models, 3. RAF KIT BAG of the type initially used to transport coal to Berlin due to the shortage of suitable coal sacks 8 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 QueenBERLIN was invited to BRANDENBURG review the Parade. The Colours AIRPORT were then- escortedOPENING by the Queen’s STILL Colour DELAYED Squadron (63 SquadronThe opening RAF of the Regiment), new Berlin augmented Brandenburg by Airport other Royal has been Air delayed Force Regiment once again. squadrons It was scheduled and 34 to Squadron open in June RAF this year, Regiment.but a new opening They were date supported has been announced. by two further for the squadrons 27th October made 2014. up of RAF personnel from around the United Kingdom.It is being built to replace three of Berlin’s airports, Tempelhof which closed in 2008, Tegel and Schonefeld. APart drumhead of Shoenefeld blessing Airport service including was one held of thefor two the existing new Queen’s runways Colours will be incorporated followed by into a the short new speech airport. from the Queen.Tegel Airport “I am was very due pleased to close to this be presenting year, but will my stay Colour open tountil the the RAF new in airport this, youris open.. 90th anniversary year. The new airport will be called Willy Brandt Airport after the former Mayor of Berlin and German Chancellor. The RAF can be truly proud of the level of service it provides and the considerable successes it has achieved. The main terminal building will be situated between the two runways and on top of the underground railway station which Ithas continues rail connections to be an to example the main to railway other station Air Forces. in Berlin. ————————————————————————————————————————————The ILA Berlin will continue to be held every two years here on the Southern section of the airfield. - Peter======G. Marriott writes: I believe I was the youngest Civil Ground EngineerAIRLIFT on the WEBSITES Berlin Airlift serving with Sir Alan Cobham’s Flight Refuelling Ltd, based at Tarrant Rushton, Dorset during 1948/49. InThere May are 1948 numerous I was 17 Websites years old, with but reference now at to aged the Berlinseventy Airlift-seven Some I still of remember those which it maywell! 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 TO ALL THOSE WHO TOOK PART IN THE AIRLIFT Alliierten Museum, Berlin - www.alliiertenmuseum.de Gatow Old Boys - www.gatow.org Find a friend - www.servicepals.comWITH FOOD AND OTHER SUPPLIES THEY Forces HAD Reunited TO SHIFT- www.forcesreunited.org.uk The Berlin Airlift Television documentaryTO 1997 SAVE-1998 A CITY- www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/cats/berlinairlift/xb20 WAS THE TASK -01.htm Details of Headquarters No 46AND Group, TO Wunstorf, HAVE Fassberg, A LIFE WAS Gatow, ALL Lübeck THEY and DID Schleswigland ASK - www.britains-smallwars.com/coldCOMING-war/berlin TOGETHER-airlift.htm IN THIS TIME OF NEED HQ BAFO & 2nd TAF - BadALL Eilsen WHO Association WERE INVOLVED& Reunion - www.badeilsen.org.uk HAVE SOWN THE- SEEDContact Geoff Lipscombe Interpreters Dilemma - www.tonycunnane.co.ukNO ONE STOOD BACK AND SAID ‘NO, NOT ME’ Royal Air Force Regiment ServiceBUT ALL Club WERE- www.easynet.co.uk/feeley/history_halwarren.htm AS ONE TO HELP THEM STAY FREE —————————————————————————————————————————————————WE ALL DID OUR BIT, SOME FROM A LONG WAY OFF SENDINGAIRLIFT OUR VETERANS LANC’S TO WUNSTORF INTERVIEWS AND TO TEMPELHOF ON FILM We have been approachedTHE FORCES by a company FROM who THE are EAST recording THEN on PUT DVD UP video A GREAT interviews WALL of British veterans to pro- duce an online militaryTO history PREVENT archive. ANY The interviews ESCAPE, will BECAUSE be placed IT on WAS a website SO TALL for use by schools, libraries, museums and the general public.WHEN Each ATTEMPS person WEREinterviewed MADE, will TO receive FOIL a THE DVD PLOTcopy. The interviews will be filmed in high definition FEAR MADE THE PEOPLE AFRAID TO BE SHOT This will not be a scriptedBUT, agenda, WITH just THANKS veterans FROM personal ALL stories ON and A JOB memories WELL of DONE their time on the Berlin Airlift in 1948/49. The filming willSIXTY be carried YEARS out at ON, suitable THAT locations MEANS in the EVERYONE!! 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 ColinP.G.M. Cottle know as soon as possible at: Colin Cottle, 27 The Crescent, Cranham, Essex, RM14 1JZ. Jersey, C.I. Telephone: 01708 224560. Email address: [email protected] —————————————————————————————————————————————– Page 119 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION THE AIRLIFT - ON AND OFF - By Bob Needham I have not offered this article to the newsletter until now, because my part connected with the Airlift had a number of peculiar features which other people generally did not experience; with the exception of our Association chairman Geoff Smith, whom I did not know at the time but who knew our aircraft, as I will note below. I need to explain that I flew, or was flown, as an air quartermaster (AQM) with No.24 Commonwealth Squadron then based at Bassingbourn near Royston in Hertfordshire. Its crews were drawn from the Commonwealth’s countries and among its unique duties was the weekly diplomatic mail run to Warsaw and back, overnighting at Berlin Gatow where Geoff Smith and his colleagues serviced our aircraft. We were the only Western military aircraft – a Dakota – to enter Joe Stalin’s territory. Down the fourth Berlin air corridor, the eastwards one which hardly anybody was aware of. We carried the mail both for the Foreign Office in London and – astonishingly – the Polish Communist government in Warsaw. We were also the VIP squadron and I was AQM on Field Marshal Montgomery’s personal Dakota KN 628 at one stage. In this role we had already had a worrying experience at the very start of the Cold War when on the 5th April 1948 a Soviet Yak fighter buzzing Western aircraft in the air corridor as Stalin’s way of challenging the Western presence in Berlin, in flagrant denial of the Potsdam agreement, misjudged it’s approach and rammed a British European Airways Viking civil airliner, the collision bringing down both aircraft, aboard which everyone was killed. At Bassingbourn it was still dark and I was asleep in bed when the RAF police woke me up and said “Get dressed quickly, there’s a panic on, you’re going to Berlin”. I said “What’s the fuss? I’m always going to Berlin”. Monty was Chief of the Imperial General Staff and in his usual spectacular way – he always ensured the media were in attendance, I felt the person he most resembled was Laurence Olivier – and he was determined to go personally to Berlin at once and show the flag. Remembering Hitler, and being well aware that dictators regard liberal democracies as soft, it was the secondmost emotionally disturbing flight I had ever been on, because dictators make mistakes and Uncle Joe might be tempted to up the ante on Monty. Fortunately he backed down and grounded all Soviet aircraft till Monty had returned to London. I wrote “secondmost” above because the worst occa- sion was when we were struck by lightning between the Alps and Pyrenees, and caught fire; but that did not involve Berlin and so is not part of this article. Reverting to Berlin, on the 5th April we had been right in at the very start of the Cold War. A process then started of No. 24 Squadron being ordered to detach crews for the Airlift; which when we were unable to meet its commitments, called the crews back. Between this moving around I started out on loading Dakotas at Wunstorf with supplies for Berlin, but this took on an activity of its own because I had lived and worked for my family’s business in the German-speaking part of Switzerland and found myself apparently the only RAF person in on base who was able to speak German! It was a doddle, persuading German truck drivers to cease reversing into Dakota fuselages and buckling the doors. This was more pleasant than unloading freight, and my hands didn’t even get dirty. But when Warsaw called, some folk were perplexed to find I was now on my way there and not on the Airlift at all. The Transit mess for personnel staying overnight at Gatow was very pleasant, especially the bar stools. So I can claim that I was at least at, even if not on the Airlift; tan- gling with it you might say. Carrying official Foreign Office mail we were always given precedence over Airlift freight- carrying aircraft – to their annoyance, I have no doubt, but they were too much in awe of our official status to actually say anything. I remember two contrasting impressions of the Poles. The staff at Okecie airfield were astonishingly friendly to- wards us. The constant rain upon them of Communist propaganda seemed to have had no effect at all. They were consis- tently very friendly; our uniforms contrasting with theirs. Perhaps they remembered that in September 1939 we had started World War Two for their benefit; though this brought a sharp lesson for us not to give guarantees to countries one cannot actually help if Germany is geographically in the way. The other occasion was rather different. The Polish couriers were usually an uncommunicative lot. Whereas our Kings Messenger would leave the aircraft and stroll around the Gatow admin building, leaving his bags on an aircraft seat with an RAF Regiment chap complete with loaded rifle sitting next to it. The Polish chap had to carry his bags into the airport with him, doubtless feeling decidedly uncomfortable with all the Airlift folk in uniform milling around him. As I was the crew member in charge of passengers I felt I ought to try and engage them in conversation. The F.O. chap in his camel hair shortie coat with the leather buttons, and an Oxbridge accent was invariably affable and keen to compare notes on the places we’d both been to. I’m sorry I did not know Geoff Smith at that stage when servicing our Aircraft at Gatow. Anyway, returning to the Poles, on one occasion we were descending to Gatow from the shattered city to its east; over the many roofless buildings looking like empty matchboxes. The Pole had actually initiated a conversation, on his way to the loo through the galley where he had noticed my copy of the book “I Chose Freedom” by the fleeing Russian dissident Victor Kravchencko. He said VK did not exist and the whole book was US-manufactured propaganda. I subsequently was standing by his seat looking out of the same window and in an unwisely flippant manner commented, “That’s the city Joe Stalin is trying to kick us out of”. The Polish chap then surprised me by bristling and saying that if I visited the Polish embassy in London he’d have me told the truth about the present situation. My jaw dropped, annoyed that he thought me such a fool as to do that. Surely MI5 had people watching who went in and out. And if I was on VIP flights I would know in advance who was due to fly where and when. The Pole’s line was the usual one that the West was changing the currency of the three Western zones without taking account of the Russian zone. I didn’t wish to hear all this over again as I knew the Russian zone was structured in accordance with Marxist theory which could not be coordinated with the West. When I told this story to an MI5 contact sometime later, he roared with laughter and said, “You don’t think we’ve ever been adequately staffed to watch all Communist embassies all the time do you? Continued on page 10. Page 10 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION Bob Needham - The Airlift - On and Off. - Continued from page 9, I decided not to, as these incidents were well known, nothing new had emerged and I couldn’t see that a report from me would achieve anything new. I few years later I was in Moscow where I found it impossible to discuss The Airlift at all. I was with a group of fellow Quakers, and the Russian line was the usual one that if we sought peace we should work with the Soviets as Quakerism was a religion and all religion is false. When I said that on leaving the RAF I had qualified at University as a Probation and Prison parole officer, they did make an attempt to suborn me so I did report this to the Embassy. They said I was being seen as a potential “sleeper” on the staff of some prison where convicted Russian spies might be held. The Embassy were satisfied that for the reason off being a Quaker I was impervious to propaganda whatever it’s source. But, I then had an interview at the Home Office; they accepted my position and now at the age of 84 I have heard nothing more! ————————————————————————————————————————————————— AUTUMN REUNION & ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2013. The Autumn Reunion will be held at Eastwood Hall near Nottingham. It is a popular venue with BBAA members and has been once again suggested by members. It will be held from Thursday the 19th to Sunday the 22nd of September 2013 and application forms have been mailed separately to members. If you require further application forms please contact Mrs Janet Howard at 80 Park Street, Kings Cliffe, Peterborough PE8 6XN. The format will be similar to other events with the Annual General Meting being held on Sunday morning of the 22nd September 2013. We will be remembering the 65th Anniversary of the start of the Berlin Airlift at this Reunion. One important item at the Annual General Meeting which will have to be discussed and resolved is the proposed closure of the Association in 2014. It was proposed at the AGM held at Tillington Hall, Stafford in 2009 that the Association should carry on for up to a further five years to 2014. Several members of the BBAA Committee have already stated that they do not wish to carry on after 2014, so in line with the BBAA Constitution a decision will have to be made regarding a winding up date, disposal of BBAA funds and artefacts plus the laying up and deconsecration of the BBAA Standard, —————————————————————————————————————————————————————— AN EVENING AT RAF BRIZE NORTON. By John Collier.

Some time ago our Chairman was asked if we could send a BBAA representative to a “Berlin Airlift Guest Night” in the Royal Air Force Brize Norton Officer’s Mess. Having accepted the invitation Geoff Smith, our Chairman, Geoff Smith found that the was unable to attend and asked if my wife Pat and myself would go in his place. We readily agreed and hav- ing contacted them at Brize Norton I was asked if I would speak to them regarding my time on the Berlin Airlift and would it be possible for me to provide a small display of relevant items. This was no great problem, so I set to and put together a collection of photographs, aircraft models of the type used on the Airlift and I also managed to obtain an RAF Kit Bag similar to the type used to deliver the early loads of coal into Berlin. (See the photographs on page 7) However, the evening turned out to be a much larger and grander occasion than we had expected because the Prime Minister was originally included amongst the guests, but unfortunately he had to cancel his visit a few days before event. This meant however that the VIP Suite was now vacant, so it was allocated to us. It was very posh and left us wondering who had previously occupied the rooms which included people such as the Russian President, Margaret Thatcher and their Honorary Air Commodore the Princess Royal. We had been met on arrival in the reception area by two Officers who escorted us to the Mess and insisted on carrying our luggage and display material. There should have been a flypast by the Battle of Britain Flight’s Dakota, but unfortunately due to weather conditions that had to be cancelled. The RAF Central Band played throughout the evening with a very wide repertoire of music which included a very lively rendition of the Post Horn Gallop, which produced very lively banging on the tables and encores. Pat and myself found that we were seated in very distinguished company. I sat between the Station Commander Group Captain Lushington and Wing Commander James the Mess PMC. Pat sat between Wing Commander James and his wife. Several Officers were being “Dined Out” that night and both the Station Commander and the Support Group Captain spoke about the particular Officers in question and their ca- reers. After that it was my turn to say a few words about the Berlin Airlift and I was very conscious of the amount of drink that was available. It had started with a Champagne Reception, followed by white and then red wine with the meal. Port and Liqueurs after which we all adjourned to the Bar! Pat and I managed by turning down some of the offers of refills at the meal and the Liqueurs, but by midnight felt our bed calling and made our excuses. We had thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were made very welcome by all the Officer’s present who were also very interested about anything we could tell them about the Airlift. I had hoped that I might have been able to ask if Herr Heinz-Gerd Reese’s Son Robert could have joined us, but having spoken to his mother Linda a few days earlier I learnt that he was on duty in Afghanistan until next month. We hope most sincerely that this will be his final tour out there. Our sincere thanks to the Commanding Officer and all at RAF Brize Norton for a really memorable visit.

======Page 11 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION Notes on the Visit to the NMA on the 23rd April 2013 - By Janet Howard Geoff Smith, David Hildred, John Collier and Janet Howard met with Paul Kennedy (Curator of the NMA Museum) regarding the impending removal to a new site of the BBAA Memorial. To date it would appear that not a great deal of progress has been made, other than the removal of two plinths and what we noted were two tiles which seemed to have been removed and only laid back at the bottom of the Memorial. The drawing that Geoff had circulated at the Committee Meeting on 18th April was the agreed plan that Paul Kennedy and the one Contractors were working to. Work was progressing on the new car park on the opposite side of the road to the Arboretum. Entrance works, service diversions and port-a-cabins all had to be relocated before hoardings could be erected and work could commence which they anticipated would be this July. It would appear that the building contractors were concerned that if the BBAA Memorial was removed from it’s existing site to it’s new home there might not be enough space for the hoardings etc to be erected. At this moment we do not know whether the ‘Eagle’ may still have to go into store! For information the Building Project Co-ordinator is Stephen Thomas. David asked about the provision of further trees being purchased – in particular Iris King had expressed a wish that she would like to purchase a tree in Memory of Dennis. Paul Kennedy informed us that the NMA where not encouraging any further trees being purchased as a Memorial, However, they were suggesting the purchase of a ‘plaque’ or ‘tile’ which measured approximately 12” x 8” and would be secured in the ground of whichever Association the person may have belonged to. The wording could be quite personal to the individual. The cost was around £65 but do not know if this included administration and the work of installation this will need further investigation and perhaps when more is known an article for the Newsletter. We did walk and see ‘plaques’ that had already been laid and they did appear very acceptable. (Geoff did take photos of these). I asked about donations to the Royal British Legion with regard to Funds being held by the BBAA on its closure. This can be done and ‘ring fenced’ to protect the fund so that it would only be used for the upkeep of the Memorial. This again needs further investigation which I will do as soon as possible, I expect the people to contact are the RBL. After our meeting with Paul Kennedy we did walk around the Arboretum – John left as he wished to be able to drive home during daylight hours, Geoff, David and I stayed for the Plot Holders Meeting. Plot Holders Meeting Sarah Montgomery introduced herself – she had been working at the NMA since November 2012 but was not appointed Managing Director until 1 March 2013 Initially the NMA was seeing 50,000 visitors per year this had now increased to 300,000. The Key Aims: 1. To provide an Interpretation/Education Centre with exhibitions and talks about the sire and remembrance (a possible charge for this), Audio devices would be available. 2. Interviews were taking place on the 24th April 2013 to employ a “Head of Heritage and Learning”. 3. Exhibition Centre/Conference facilities. 4. A Pavilion to take seating for 300 persons daytime or evenings for functions & events etc. 5. A larger Restaurant and Café facilities. 6. To ensure that the Arboretum always matches the Visitors Centre. 7. The project is expected to cost £16 million June Beedham – Appeal Manager explained that £3.7 million is being provided by the Royal British Legion. The Appeal Council target was £12 million of which over £7 million has been already provided they still need to raise another £4million. They anticipate this will be done over a two year period. Several projects are in mind one being a ‘Hero’s Square’ adjacent to the existing chapel, Military, Livery and Individual Memorial Stones could be purchased ranging in price from £10,000 for Corporate, £3,000 for Military and Livery Corporations and £600 for individual. The Appeal Council where hopeful that £2 million could be raised through this project. It would appear that the Royal British Legion will underwrite costs until all Appeal money is found Main building work to commence July 2013 complete December 2014 official opening September 2015. In 2016 they will hold a full ceremony. Starting this Summer there will be ‘themed activities and trails’ linking various memorials together. A Series of bulbs have been planted giving seasonal changes. Flooding has been extremely bad this winter, the usual annual rainfall is 26 inches per year. This winter they had 26 inches in 5 months. Application is in to improve drainage in the main area – the NMA is actually in the flood plain. Problem with flooding this year has been extremely bad, some is still quite noticeable. Continued on page 12. ======Page 12 BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION NMA Meeting - Continued from page 11. Fortunately there was no loss on trees and work has been undertaken cleaning tide marks off Memorials. We were informed that an annual tree audit is undertaken every September and any new planting carried out during the winter months. On the 20th June 2013 it is hoped the Royal British Legion Trustees will approve the contract and price. A question was asked whether the chapel was to be enlarged – this was not going to be increased in size however the chapel would be glazed on one side which could be opened up with a canopy extending over it. It could be possible this would have extra seating although it was anticipated it would be ‘standing room only’. This work was costing over £1 million. A further question was raised regarding the request for donations in the main Reception area the wording of ‘suggested minimum donation of £5’ was felt inappropriate in today’s financial climate – this would be revisited over the next few weeks however, it was pointed out that it costs in the region of £4,000 a day to keep the NMA running. After questions the meeting closed at approximately 7.30pm Just a note one point that Geoff, David and I noted was that they failed to supply an Attendance Register at the meeting which to us seemed rather odd. Geoff also noted that there was only one person from the NMA he had seen there before, everyone else seemed to be new. There appeared to be several Associations, with one in particular, the Korean Veterans that will be standing down by the end of 2014 and they were concerned about the completion date as obviously work at the NMA would still be in pro- gress. I hope you find the above notes interesting please let me know if you have any questions – I am sure between us we will be able to find the answers. Janet Howard. ————————————————————————————————————————————————– 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 compiled 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. ————————————————————————————————————————————————– 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 - John Collier - Geoff Smith ————————————————————————————————————————————————– 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. ======