NEW ZEALANDER DESCRIBES AIR LIFT TO BERLIN

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 August 1949, Page 8

NEW ZEALANDER DESCRIBES AIR LIFT TO BERLIN

WELLINGTON, August 2 (P.A.).— If planes were more than 20'seconds off schedule they were kept out ot the stream of air traffic for fear they would spoil the whole movement, said Group-Captain P t . J. Cohen, A.F.C., when describing the meticulous timing necessary for the, Berlin air lift after his arrival at Wellington by the Rangitiki from London today. * . Only throe airfields were being used by the Western Powers in Berlin, said Group-Captain Cohen, and, as each had only one strip in use, one plane was landing and one taking off every 90 seconds. The planes were in. at three minutes intervals round the clock.

Operation Well Disciplined The operation, though equivalent to the 1000-bomber raid every 4.8 hours, was simple. It was just a matter of discipline; of making those engaged on the lift realise that a minute was too long a time to play with. Group-Captain Cohen said he had been in the Transport Command for two years. In June last year they began the job of supplying the army by air. About a week later it was decided to supply 2,250,000 people by air. This meant flying 5600 metric tons a day in place of the 100 that had been handled. With American aid, however, 800 tons a day was handled. For this transport job the Royal Air Force used about 40 Yorks, 50 Dakotas, and 12 Hastings. Civil planes included about 12 Tridents, 12 Lancastrian tankers (which flew nothing but fuel), and a number of Altons.

Coal is Largest Item The largest item flown into Berlin was coal, which represented about two-thirds of the tonnage carried on the air lift. At the same time every conceivable commodity was flown into the city, including raw materials which when turned into manufactured goods were flown out again. One lift for which his command was responsible was the -transportation of all the component parts of a power station, totalling about 8000 tons. The biggest thing lifted was a prefabricated part 22 feet long and four feet square and 8000 lb. „ " Royal New Zealand Air Force crews employed in the air lift were flying Dakotas. Many other New Zealanders were also taking part, though they were scattered throughout the whole Royal Air Force organisations. MR ATTLEE PRAISES N.Z. AIR CREWS

WELLINGTON, August 2 (P.A.).— The part of New Zealand air crews in the Berlin air lift is praised by the British Prime Minister (Mr Attlee) in a message received by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser). “Now that the great enterprise of the Berlin air lift is drawing to its close may I send you our warmest thanks for the part that New Zealand crews have played in it,” Mr Attlee says. “They have given a striking example of the spirit of co-operation which animates our Commonwealth. I hope you will convey to the officers and men who have taken part in the operation an expression of the gratitude we owe them.”

Mr Fraser said today that he would like to pay a very warm tribute to the British and American air forces for their extraordinary achievement in organising the air lift, which he had had the. opportunity of seeing in action for himself during his visit to Berlin last year. New Zealand was glad to have been able to contribute towards the successful execution of this striking and valuable operation.