The Airlift on the Ground

The Berlin Airlift was an impressive demonstration of what British and American aircraft, pilots, technicians and ground personnel were capable, but it was also an impressive feat of logistics on the ground. It was truly a mammoth task – rapid unloading, inspection and refueling of every just-landed aircraft to quickly get it ready for the return flight. At Gatow Airfield in particular, hundreds of Germans worked ceaselessly every day to load supplies onto trucks. Considering that a single American C-54 aircraft could carry up to seven truckloads of coal, food and other goods, the physical strain for the German auxiliary personnel was enormous. Simultaneously, the work – during ongoing flight operations – carried with it a great risk of injury or even death. The many casualties among workers and auxiliaries attest to the danger. However, work at the airfields remained highly sought-after as it was one of the few opportunities to make a living in the blockaded city.