Title:BERLIN AIRLIFT : the story of a great achievement [Main Title]
Film Number:COI 177
Other titles:
Summary: The breaking of the blockade of Berlin by the Allied airlift of 1948-1949.
Description: The film concentrates on the technical achievement and (though primarily concerned with the RAF's role) on the elements of international cooperation rather than on the political circumstances that necessitated "this most outstanding transport achievement in the history of aviation". An opening sequence of general freight handling/aircraft film and maps, accompanied by a scene-setting commentary, is followed by a lengthy sequence (with film of routine and bad weather flights etc) on the use of RAF Sunderlands flying between the Elbe and Berlin's lakes. Next comes film of the types of land aircraft used by the RAF, and an impression of some of the cargoes (grain, cars, coal, newsprint, mail) and notable visitors (Tedder, Bevin) they carried, also of the many nationalities cooperating in the lift. The impact on Berlin is suggested by film of children playing "Airlift", hausfraus shopping at well-filled stores, distribution of gifts of sweets etc. Film closes with tribute to those killed in the airlift, and notes that although the blockade has now been lifted, the airlift carries on.
Production Details: Control Commission for Germany (Information Services Division) (Production sponsor)
Central Office of Information (Production sponsor)
British Movietone News (Production company)
Personalities, Units and Organisations: Bevin, Ernest (person)
Tedder, Arthur William (person)
Royal Air Force (regiment/service)
Keywords: aircraft, British - seaplane: Short Sunderland (object name)
operations, British air - movement: Berlin airlift (object name)
society, International - charity: Berlin airlift (object name)
society, German - ethnic (object name)
berlin airlift (event)
Germany & Berlin, Berlin (geography)
Physical Characteristics: Colour format: B&W
Sound format: Sound
Soundtrack language: English
Title language: English
Subtitle language: None
Technical Details: Format: 35mm
Number of items/reels/tapes: 1
Footage: 954 ft; Running time: 11 mins
