- Type of Memorial
- Composite
- WMR Reference Number
- 46462
- Description
- Thirty-nine trees in memory of the 39 British and Commonwealth men killed during the Berlin Airlift and a smaller copy of the memorial at Berlin Tempelhof Airport comprising a curved stone monument surmounted by metal eagle, wings outstretched. column extends upwards at centre and at each side. eagle is mounted in centre. Nearby are two plaques on brick bases with inscription, names and map of Germany showing airlift routes.
- Inscription
- Plaque one: THE BERLIN AIRLIFT / 1948-149 / WHEN ON THE 24TH JUNE 1948 THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT BLOCKADED ALL THE ROAD, RAIL AND CANAL ROUTES INTO / WEST BERLIN, ONLY THREE AIR CORRIDORS REMAINED OPEN / FOR FIFTEEN MONTHS IN ORDER TO PROVIDE FOOD AND FUEL TO THE TWO MILLION INHABITANTS ON THE CITY / ROYAL AIR FORCE, BRITISH CIVILIAN, COMMONWEALTH AND AMERICAN AIRMEN FLEW OVER TWO MILLION THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND TONS OF SUPPLIES INTO BERLIN AND CARRIED THOUSANDS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN / THE SICK AND THE OLD TO REFUGE IN WEST GERMANY / BECAUSE OF THE OUTSTANDING SUCCESS OF THE 'AIRBRIDGE' THE SOVIETS GAVE UP THEIR FRUITLESS QUEST TO / STARVE THE CITY INTO SUBMISSION AND ON THE 12TH MAY 1949 THE BLOCKADE WAS LIFTED. WEST BERLIN AND PROBABLY / ALL OF GERMANY WERE SAVED FROM SOVIET COMMUNISM. AFTERWARD, THE NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY / ORGANISATION (NATO) WAS FOUNDED AND THE MARSHALL PLAN WAS IMPLEMENTED TO HELP REBUILD WESTERN EUROPE/ FORTY TWO YEARS LATER THE CITY OF BERLIN AND GERMAN WERE REUNTIED AND WITH THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET / COMUNISIM MOST OF EUROPE RETURNED TO DEMOCRATIC GOVERNMENT / THIS MEMORIAL SIMULATES THE 'AIRBRIDGE' INTO AND OUT OF BERLIN FROM THE WESTERN ZONES WITH THE THREE / AIR CORRIDORS STANDING PROUD OF THE MAIN STRUCTURE. THE EAGLE REPRESENTS THE BRITISH AND COMMONWEALTH CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIRST VICTORY OF THE COLD WAR. / 12TH MAY 2001 THE BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION.
Plaque two: THE BERLIN AIRLIFT/ 1948-1949/ AS IN ALL FAMOUS VICTORIES THERE WAS A PRICE TO PAY. SEVENTY BRITISH, COMMONWEALTH AND AMERICAN AIRMEN,/ TOGETHER WITH EIGHT GERMAN CIVILIANS WERE KILLED DURING THE AIRLIFT./ THE THIRTY NINE ROYAL AIR FORCE, BRITISH CIVILIAN AND COMMONWEALTH AIRMEN WHO DIED ARE COMMEORATED/ BY THIS PLINTH AND THE THIRTY NINE TRESS PLANTED BEHIND IT./ IN MEMORIAM/ 28TH JUNE 1948-30TH SEPTEMBER 1949/ (NAMES)/ 12TH MAY 2001/ THE BRITISH BERLIN AIRLIFT ASSOCIATION