Remembering the Berlin Airlift

The commemoration of the Berlin Airlift takes place every year at Temelhof Airport. In 1948 the Soviets set up a blockade enclosing West Berlin preventing food and other supplies from being brought in. The allies responded by airlifting food and supplies to the West Berliners for over a year, including Rosinenbombe (candy bombs) for the children. This year was the 60th anniversary of the end of the blockade. Laura, John, and I spent the afternoon taking in the ceremony. After asking a woman to take our picture, we began a conversation with her and learned that she lived through the airlift as a child. She said that she is still grateful to the Americans and asked us to pass on our thanks to those of our grandparents generation.

Walking through the hanger out onto the airfield

For a long time after its construction, Tempelhof was one of the 20 largest buildings in the world in terms of square footage

An American children's choir performing

Laura and John, right before we met the woman

Special groups of children were actually selected to stand out in the field area to catch the Rosinenbombe that were dropped on this flyover