| 词条 | RAAF Squadron Berlin Air Lift |
| 释义 |
|unit_name=Berlin Airlift Squadron RAAF |image=File:RAF C-47s at Berlin-Tegel 1948.jpg |image_size=280 |caption=RAF C-47 Dakotas during the airlift, similar to those operated by the RAAF |country=Australia |branch=Royal Australian Air Force |role= |dates=1948–1949 |motto= |notable_commanders= Cyril Greenwood |command_structure= |garrison=Lübeck, West Germany |garrison_label = |aircraft_transport=C-47 Dakota }} The Berlin Airlift Squadron was a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) transport squadron formed to participate in the Berlin Airlift. The unit operated for one year, between August 1948 and August 1949, and was raised specifically for the operation, drawing crews from two existing RAAF transport squadrons. It flew over 2,000 sorties during the airlift, without loss. HistoryIn mid-1948, the Soviet Union placed the occupied city of Berlin under blockade, following a dispute with the western powers, cutting off the city's land supply route. As a humanitarian disaster loomed, a large-scale airlift was planned by the western powers to fly in aid to the city’s population. To support the effort, the Australian Government offered aircraft and aircrews to bolster the Royal Air Force's contribution.[1] The Berlin Airlift Squadron was formed at RAAF Richmond in August 1948 from 10 Dakota crews drawn from No. 36 and No. 38 Squadrons.[1] In late August, the crews travelled to the United Kingdom as passengers in Qantas flying boats.[2] The Australian contribution to the airlift, from September 1948, was designated Operation Pelican.[3] At the outset, it had been planned that the Australians would deploy their own aircraft and ground crews for the operation; however, due to the inability of the RAF to fully crew its own Dakotas, the decision was made for the Australian contribution to be limited to just aircrew who would utilise British aircraft. [4] After receiving training at Bassingbourne,[6] in the UK, the aircrew moved to Lübeck, West Germany on 14 and 15 September. The first Australian flight into Berlin occurred on 15 September 1948, and was flown by the unit’s commanding officer, Squadron Leader Cyril Greenwood. Australian aircrew undertook missions over the course of the next 11 months. The 2,062nd and last flight was completed on 26 August 1949.[2] To increase the payloads of each sortie, co-pilots were removed from the crews and were eventually sent back to the United Kingdom, to ferry several Bristol Freighter aircraft, which had been recently purchased by the RAAF, to Australia.[5] Flying via the {{convert|32|km|mi|adj=on}} wide Hamburg corridor into Gatow, and then later the partially completed Tegel airport in November and December 1948,[6] a total of 6,041 flight hours were tallied, with the squadron carrying 6,964 passengers, and delivering {{convert|8,000|tonnes}} of supplies.[7] On arrival in Berlin, the aircraft were unloaded by German workers. On return, the aircraft were sometimes diverted to Schleswig and Hamburg, when Lubeck was closed.[8] Flights were undertaken in all weather, at all hours.[9] In addition to the Berlin Airlift Squadron, the RAAF also contributed crews on rotation to the Avro York-equipped No. 24 (Commonwealth) Squadron RAF.[10] The Berlin Airlift Squadron returned to Australia via the United Kingdom, where they were accommodated at Manston, before returning to Australia aboard an RAF York,[11] on 24 October 1949. Weather and interference from Soviet aircraft posed a threat to the operation. No fatalities or losses were suffered by the squadron, although one Australian was killed during the operation while serving on exchange with No. 27 Squadron RAF.[2] A total of 41 personnel were contributed initially, of which 16 were rotated home part way through the deployment, with six personnel being sent as replacements;[10] two members were decorated with the Air Force Cross for their role in the airlift.[12] Commanding officer
Notes1. ^Eather, Odd Jobs, pp. 29–30 2. ^1 2 3 RAAF Historical Section, Maritime and Transport Units, pp. 181–182 3. ^Clark, Operation Pelican, front cover 4. ^Eather, Odd Jobs, p. 30 5. ^1 Eather, Odd Jobs, p. 31 6. ^Eather, Odd Jobs, pp. 30–31 7. ^{{cite news |author=O'Malley, Brendan |title=State role in Berlin blockade |newspaper=The Courier Mail |via=ProQuest |date=3 September 2009 |page=70}} 8. ^ Eather, Odd Jobs, pp. 35–37 9. ^{{cite news |title=Group Captain Cy Greenwood, OBE, AFC: Obituary |author=Macaulay, Ron |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |via=ProQuest |date=6 May 1999 |page=34}} 10. ^1 2 {{cite web |url=http://airpower.airforce.gov.au/APDC/media/OAFH-Images/Snippet_11.pdf |title=RAAF Participation in Berlin Airlift 1948–49: Operation Pelican |publisher=Royal Australian Air Force |accessdate=24 September 2018}} 11. ^Eather , Odd Jobs, p. 37 12. ^{{cite news |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55467335 |title=RAAF aircrews come home without a scratch |newspaper=The Australian Women' s Weekly |via=Trove |author=O’Sullivan, Georgina |date=19 November 1949 |volume=17 |issue=24 |accessdate=29 October 2018}} References
External links
6 : Berlin Blockade|RAAF squadrons|Military units and formations established in 1948|Military units and formations disestablished in 1949|Non-combat military operations involving Australia|History of the Royal Australian Air Force |
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