On June 26, 1948, the United States launched the Berlin Airlift, known as "Operation Vittles". In response to the Soviet Union’s total blockade of road, rail, and water routes into West Berlin, the massive humanitarian and military operation used aviation to deliver millions of tons of food, coal, and medical supplies to the isolated city. [1, 2]
Historical Context & Events
- The Soviet Blockade: On June 24, 1948, Soviet forces sought to starve the Western-allied sectors of Berlin into submission and force them out of the divided city. [1, 2, 3]
- The Allied Response: Unable to safely use ground troops without sparking World War III, U.S. and U.K. forces utilized Allied airspace to circumvent the blockade. U.S. General Curtis LeMay oversaw the massive logistical feat. [1, 2]
- The Scale of the Mission: At the height of the operation, Allied planes were landing in the city every few seconds. Over the course of 15 months, American and British aircraft delivered over 2.3 million tons of critical supplies. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- The "Candy Bombers": U.S. pilots—most notably Lt. Gail Halvorsen—famously dropped small parachutes with candy and gum to children waiting near the airfields, transforming the airlift into a symbol of hope. [1]
- The Outcome: Realizing the Allies could sustain the operation indefinitely, the Soviet Union finally lifted the blockade in May 1949. The successful mission secured a major early victory for the West in the Cold War. [1, 2, 3]
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