A Different January Than Expected

Despite the harsh winter, the measures introduced in the fall had shown their full success in January. However, the initial signs were quite different. In mid-December, the water-based air bridge came to a halt due to the freezing of the waterways. At the same time, the continuous day and night operation of the aircraft crews began to take its toll, and accidents became more frequent. The technical and human challenges that the Allies mastered in January 1949 were impressive. Pilots had to fly under difficult weather conditions and with limited visibility. The ground crews worked tirelessly to quickly unload the airplanes and prepare them for takeoff again. This required extraordinary coordination and discipline. Consequently, in January, the American Air Force began rotating their first crews, while simultaneously further optimizing ground operations.

Together with the unique ground-controlled approach system using GCA radar at Gatow airfield for Berlin, January became one of the most successful months of the airlift. On January 1, 1949, the Combined Airlift Task Force (CALTF) reported a new weekly record since its formation with 41,287 short tons, and on January 13, the second-highest daily record since US Air Force Day with 6,678.9 short tons across a total of 755 flights. By the end of the month, the airlift operation had achieved its highest monthly tonnage since the start of the airlift.