On the 26th of June, 1948, the Berlin airlift was commenced as a reaction to the Soviets´ blocking all access to the town. Two million people had to be supplied with food, clothing and fuel exclusively by air - a feat previously unheard of in aviation history.
The airlift was a unique endeavor in terms of both logistics and politics. During its 462 days, the allied forces flew an overall amount of more than 2.5 million tons of supplies into Berlin – an average of 5000 tons per day.
When the activities reached their peak, airplanes landed in Berlin every 90 seconds, in all kinds of weather. If a pilot failed to land on one of the improvised runways, he had to start through all over again and return with his cargo. There was no time for second landing attempts.
Due to a long-term cooperation with the team of American historians who are organizing the official exhibitions in honor of the airlift’s fiftieth anniversary, we have access to an impressive body of film footage. In addition to official sources from the U.S., Great Britain, Russia and Germany, we are able to include authentic material filmed by American pilots who participated in the airlift.
Some of the pilots are still alive, such as Gail Halverson, who rose to fame as the "Candy bomber". Halverson built little parachutes from paper tissues, loaded them with sweets, and threw them from his plane during landing.
In "Berlin Heroes", we are covering the subject from Allied and German points of view that are going to be contrasted with voices from former opponents from Moscow and East Berlin and supplemented by newsreel footage of Western and Eastern TV stations.
Moreover, we take a close look at everyday life in Berlin, 1948. The black market, spy networks, political propaganda – life at the beginning of a Cold War which would go on for 40 years.
Length: 30 mins.
© VIDICOM Media Productions
Dr. Peter Bardehle - Hofweg 49 - 22085 Hamburg - Germany
Phone: +49 40 222133 / Fax: +49 40 22715757
E-Mail Vidicom