Berlin Airlift Protest Letter

Where was the Royal Air Force?

The shameful and unbelievable failure to send any representation to the recent 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift has left a very bitter taste in the mouths of many, including the thirty or so former Royal Air Force personnel who took the trouble (at their own expense!) to travel to Berlin to join the Berliners and the other Allies at the commemorative ceremonies. Nearly all the ex RAF veterans who attended had served at RAF Gatow and were well aware of the appreciation and friendship shown towards the RAF by the Berlin people, who, to this day, have not forgotten the efforts of those who helped them in their hour of need.

On the evening of 26th June, to mark the official day the airlift began in 1948, an opening ceremony took place at the Allied Museum. The USAF, as expected, was well represented by the following: The US Ambassador, two 4-star generals and some other senior officers, some uniformed other ranks and an Air Force dance band with singer, playing music of the 40's. The main attraction, however, was the group of 8 or 9 original aircrew who had taken part in the blockade and had been flown over from the USA for the occasion. Some of them were proudly wearing, like badges of honour, caps emblazoned with the names Celle, Wunstorf or Fassberg---all former RAF bases from which they had operated! There was also a French presence. We British "poor relations" joined them as we looked desperately around for the UK contribution. We had one retired AVM and two uniformed officers--the Group Captain Air Attache from the Berlin Embassy and a Wing Commander from Ramstein airbase!!
All credit to those gentlemen, who must also have felt a little isolated!

On the following morning, wreaths were laid at the Airlift Memorial at Tempelhof Airport in honour of those who had given their lives. Once again there was the same very high USAF profile with the addition of an extremely smart guard of honour from the German Air Force whose members laid wreaths. Our French friends also attended and laid wreaths. The two RAF officers of the previous evening were present as was the Brigadier Defence Attaché from the local British Embassy. For the second time in 24 hours, our ex-RAF contingent was left to feel extremely let down, embarrassed and angry!!

Would it be possible to have straight answers to the following questions?

Why was there such a lack of interest by MOD in this event? Someone must surely have realised its importance. MOD had already been informed in plenty of time by the Berlin organisers as to the intended programme. The latter could not understand the disinterested attitude of the UK element and said as much to us.

Why was no effort made to send someone of Air Rank to represent the Royal Air Force?

Why was there no government minister or even the British Ambassador Berlin in attendance

Why didn’t we at least have a token Royal Air Force guard of honour present?

Why couldn’t a few, if not all, of OUR surviving airlift veterans been flown over by the RAF or at public expense to join up with their former colleagues from the USA and thus complete the picture of what this whole effort was about ?

I take no pleasure in writing this but so many of my RAF friends and civilian contacts,both British and German, have been shocked by the Government’s (and by extension MOD’s) lack of sensitivity in this matter that I feel duty bound to bring it to your attention. I look forward to a reply!

Yours sincerely,

John Donnelly WO(Ret’d)