The Berlin Airlift was a huge success by successfully moving supplies into Berlin by air avoiding the blockade entirely.
Successes and Failures
The Airlift was such a success due to the massive amount of provisions dropped in Berlin in order to help the suffering citizens. On April 16, 1949, 1400 flights brought in 13,000 tons of supplies in once day, which was giant compared to the original need of only 6,000 tons in order to survive. 541,936 tons were delivered by the Royal British Air force totaling to 2.3 million tons. The overall total the U.S. delivered was 1,783,572 tons of supplies.
There were approximately 277,569 flights taken, and C-47s and C-54s blew approximately 92 million miles in order to drop off supplies, every 90 seconds a plane would land or take off in Berlin. The amount of supplies moved into Berlin totaled more than any amount moved before train or convoy, ultimately giving a more effective was of transporting goods.
Ironically giving the Allies and Americans a great alternative, through the actions of the Soviets. With the Airlift being overwhelmingly successful the Berlin Blockade was ineffective and eventually stopped. Allies shut out all exports from Germany into the Soviet Zone, this forced economic pressure to crash back on Russia. And since the Blockade was a complete failure Stalin decided to lift the blockade in a compromise. A council of foreign ministers, which had met before to discuses the post world war was held in exchange for the stopping of the blockade. Stalin could not risk shooting down the planes and realized the failure of the PR causing him to lift the blockade on May 12, 1949.
There were approximately 277,569 flights taken, and C-47s and C-54s blew approximately 92 million miles in order to drop off supplies, every 90 seconds a plane would land or take off in Berlin. The amount of supplies moved into Berlin totaled more than any amount moved before train or convoy, ultimately giving a more effective was of transporting goods.
Ironically giving the Allies and Americans a great alternative, through the actions of the Soviets. With the Airlift being overwhelmingly successful the Berlin Blockade was ineffective and eventually stopped. Allies shut out all exports from Germany into the Soviet Zone, this forced economic pressure to crash back on Russia. And since the Blockade was a complete failure Stalin decided to lift the blockade in a compromise. A council of foreign ministers, which had met before to discuses the post world war was held in exchange for the stopping of the blockade. Stalin could not risk shooting down the planes and realized the failure of the PR causing him to lift the blockade on May 12, 1949.
