“Flying Pedigree female dogs”

After 8 months and as the end of winter neared, the Allied airlift had proven to be a resounding success. By this point, no one was considering abandoning the West Berlin populace. This sentiment was slowly making its way on the Soviet side as well, which is why the East Berlin trade union newspaper "Die Tribüne" began to switch its narrative. The article from February 16th mentioned the shortage of hospital beds, highlighting a genuinely existing issue. However, in the same edition, readers were also informed about the covert abduction of breeding female dogs from West Berlin by the RAF (Red Army Faction) with the help of the airlift:

‘Over the past few months, nearly all the pedigree female dogs in West Berlin's breeding facilities have been seized by members of the British occupying force. It was claimed that this was done to employ these animals in police service. [...] It has now been revealed that these dogs were exclusively transported via the airlift to enhance and augment breeding programs in England.’

As bizarre as this story may seem, there actually was a German dachshund that made it to England. WRAF Flight Officer Phyllis Mary Parsons had given the little dachshund 'Dakota' a new home in England after the end of the airlift. She and her unit received “Dakota" as a gift from Berlin civilians in appreciation of the contingent's role in the Airlift.