Labourers Instead of Machines

Loading and unloading aircraft, which landed at Gatow Airfield, was a seemingly easy task. But in fact, it required utmost precision. The ground personnel were under enormous pressure, as all aircraft had to adhere to a tight timetable in order to make space for the following aircraft. The German personnel responsible for loading were organised in clearly structured convoys, and each person had a specific position in the unloading procedure. In the spring of 1949, these work procedures were so well-integrated at Gatow Airfield that a US C-54 aircraft loaded with food was unloaded in just 16 minutes, whereas unloading coal only took 12 minutes. Due to its smaller size, it took only 8 minutes to unload a British York aircraft. In order to prevent damage of aircraft, no machines were used for loading and unloading, even though exceptions were made for the transport of particularly heavy equipment and machine parts.