An Extraordinary Naval Base in the Shadow of RAF Gatow

While the runways of Tegel, Tempelhof, and Gatow were nearly continuously operational, a notable story was unfolding in the background of this aviation activity. At the onset of the Berlin Airlift, Berlin perhaps received the most unique temporary naval base in Germany. To support the Avro Yorks, Dakotas, and C-54s of the RAF, the Royal Air Force employed seaplanes of the Sunderland and Hythe types to supply West Berlin. The RAF converted the club grounds of the United Forces Sailing Club into the naval base HMAFV Daedalus, so that the seaplanes landing on the Havel could be serviced and refueled. Thanks to this base, which was directly connected to the Gatow airfield via pipelines, the RAF seaplanes could transport up to 5,600 kg of supplies to Berlin per flight. However, with the freezing of the Havel starting on December 15, 1948, the operation of this improvised naval base was temporarily halted.

The yacht club located on these grounds, which has been welcoming German members since 1970, now bears the name German-British Yacht Club (DBYC) and looks back with pride on its history in the context of the airlift.