Autumn and winter at Gatow airfield: The flights become more challenging

With the onset of the cold season and the approaching winter, the flying conditions for the pilots of the Royal Airforce and the South African Airforce traveling to and from Gatow rapidly deteriorated. The risk of flight accidents, often with fatal consequences, increased steadily. Fatal accidents also occurred at Gatow airfield. By the official end of the airlift, 17 members of the Royal Air Force died in the crash of three Douglas C-47 Dakotas, an Avro York, and a Handley Page Hastings.