By the end of 1948, the airlift was faltering. Supplies were running dangerously low, Berliners were bracing for the worst, and the Soviets were still watching the skies.

In this final episode, veterans reflect on how a fragile operation held its nerve, how cold weather, hostile threats and tight air corridors tested every crew, and how the lessons learned in those months would shape aviation for generations to come.

You'll hear how the Allied response — improvised at first, then relentless — forced Stalin to blink first, and how those who served were later welcomed back to Berlin by the very people they helped to keep alive.

Featuring first-hand accounts from: Tom Holland, John Curtis, Dick Arscott, Fred Danckwardt, Freddie Montgomery, and William Ball.

This podcast was made possible thanks to the dedication, skill and expertise of some wonderful volunteers.

• Podcast Executive Producer: Scott McDonald
• Series Advisers: Martin Bisiker, Kate Haddock
• Series Researchers: Danny Booth, Eamonn Bownes, David Mishan
• Audio Production: Will Graves, Liz White
• Music: Iain Kitching, Tim Laulik-Walters
• Narrator: Alfie Jepp

If you value our work, please consider supporting the Legasee Archive: www.patreon.com/LegaseeEducationalTrust.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The scale of the Berlin Airlift was almost unimaginable, and so were the risks. With West Berlin on the brink and winter setting in, Allied forces had to move fast, adapt quickly, and work against the odds.

In this episode, veterans recall the early days of Operation Plainfare: the crushing shortfall in supplies, the perilous flying conditions, and the loss of comrades. You'll hear how aircraft began landing every three minutes, how a disused airstrip became a vital new airport in record time, and how even the lakes of Berlin were pressed into service.

But it wasn’t just about logistics. This was a battle of wills, a moment when Anglo-American cooperation, German resilience and French ingenuity were put to the test under the shadow of Soviet pressure.

Featuring first-hand accounts from: John Eddy, Dick Arscott, Leo Hatcher, Larry Lamb, David Edwards and Fred Danckwardt.

This podcast was made possible thanks to the dedication, skill and expertise of some wonderful volunteers.

• Podcast Executive Producer: Scott McDonald
• Series Advisers: Martin Bisiker, Kate Haddock
• Series Researchers: Danny Booth, Eamonn Bownes, David Mishan
• Audio Production: Will Graves, Liz White, Tim Laulik-Walters
• Music: Iain Kitching, Tim Laulik-Walters
• Narrator: Alfie Jepp

If you value our work, please consider supporting the Legasee Archive: www.patreon.com/LegaseeEducationalTrust.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 1948, the Soviet Union blockaded all road, rail and river routes into Western-controlled Berlin, cutting off trade and food supplies in a bold attempt to force the Western Allies out of the city. With just 45 days' worth of provisions left, two million Berliners faced the terrifying prospect of starvation. Allied troops stationed in Berlin were vastly outnumbered; the only way to reach the city was by air.

Within just three days, Britain and America launched an unprecedented operation. What followed was the first battle of the Cold War: a relentless, round-the-clock airlift to keep a city alive.

In this episode, Jean Eastham, Leo Hatcher, David Edwards, Len Hurst, Tom Holland and Fred Danckwardt share their vivid recollections. To listen to any of their interviews in full, visit www.legasee.org.uk

This podcast was made possible thanks to the dedication, skill and expertise of some wonderful volunteers.

• Podcast Executive Producer: Scott McDonald
• Series Advisers: Martin Bisiker, Kate Haddock
• Series Researchers: Danny Booth, Eamonn Bownes, David Mishan
• Audio Production: Will Graves, Liz White
• Music: Iain Kitching, Tim Laulik-Walters
• Narrator: Alfie Jepp

If you value our work, please consider supporting the Legasee Archive: www.patreon.com/LegaseeEducationalTrust.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.