Memorial  Fifty
two years after the end of the Berlin Blockade on the 12th May 1949, a
Memorial and Grove of thirty-nine trees was unveiled at the National Memorial
Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire on Saturday the 12th May 2001 by the British
Berlin Airlift Association.The memorial, along with a Remembrance Book in St Clement Danes Church, London is the only one in the UK that remembers the thirty-nine British and Commonwealth personnel who died on the Berlin Airlift. There are several in Germany, with the principal one at Luftbrücke Platz, Tempelhof, in Berlin. The UK memorial is a replica, in miniature of the one in Berlin and is surmounted by a carved wooden eagle. It was funded by donations from members of the British Berlin Airlift Association, members of the general public and by a generous donation from the Airlift Gratitude Foundation in Berlin. A total of seventy eight people were killed during the operation, of which thirty-one were American, eight were German civilians and thirty-nine were British, Commonwealth and Civilian air and ground crews. The dedication was preceded with a fly-past by the BBMF Dakota and the memorial plaque was unveiled by the Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Peter Squire GCB DFC AFC ADC RAF. The service was led by the Venerable J. Hewitt Wilson CB MA, former Chaplain-in-Chief, Royal Air Force and Rev. Peter Furness MA, Padre of the British Berlin Airlift Association. Music for the service was by the Royal Air Force College Band, Cranwell. After the Last Post and Reveille by trumpeter Cpl Simon Carter, RAF, thirty-nine white doves were released. |
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Over 150 veterans of the Airlift, together with wives and friends were present, many of whom had been hosted to a buffet lunch at RAF Stafford by the Expeditionary Logistic Wing. The wing had also provided on-site assistance at the National Memorial Arboretum in preparing for the dedication. Former Airlift squadrons were represented by serving officers of the Royal Air Force. Also in attendance were members of remembrance associations in Germany from Berlin and Fassberg. The grove of thirty-nine trees stand as a tribute to the personnel who were killed on the Airlift and are fruit trees, which will blossom in May to commemorate the end of the blockade on the 12th May and bear fruit to represent the supplies of food and other commodities flown into West Berlin. The memorial simulates the 'Airbridge' into and out of Berlin from the western zones of Germany with the three corridors standing proud of the main structure. The eagle represents the British and Commonwealth contribution to the first victory in the Cold War. The memorial Sculptor was Andy DeComyn and the eagle was made by Peter Benson and his team of the Essex School of Woodcarvers. |
