Berlin Airlift Device

Berlin Airlift Device. This service device was a unique military decoration authorized by the United States Department of the Air Force to recognize the extraordinary efforts of United States Air Force personnel during the pivotal Berlin Blockade. It was awarded specifically to individuals who participated in the Berlin Airlift for a minimum of ninety days between the critical dates of the operation. The device is a small gold-plated metal miniature of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster transport aircraft, symbolizing the primary workhorse of the massive aerial supply mission.

Description and design

The device is a meticulously crafted, gold-colored metal representation of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster, the four-engine transport aircraft that formed the backbone of the Allied airlift effort. It measures approximately 3/16 of an inch in height and 5/16 of an inch in width, designed for subtle display on a service ribbon. The design was created under the authority of the United States Department of the Air Force and approved by the United States Air Force heraldry office. Its specific depiction of the C-54 distinguishes it from other service devices and directly connects the award to the iconic imagery of the airlift over the skies of Berlin.

History and background

The device was established in 1949 following the successful conclusion of the Berlin Blockade, a major crisis of the early Cold War initiated by the Soviet Union. In response to the Soviet blockade of all land and water routes into the Western sectors of Berlin, the United States Air Force, alongside the Royal Air Force and other Allied air forces, executed the unprecedented Berlin Airlift. This massive logistical operation, also known as Operation Vittles, delivered millions of tons of vital supplies like food, coal, and medicine to the isolated citizens of West Berlin. The creation of this award was a direct result of this historic humanitarian and military achievement, intended to honor the specific contributions of American airmen.

Criteria for award

The award criteria were precisely defined by the United States Department of the Air Force. Eligibility was restricted to members of the United States Air Force who were assigned or attached to units participating in the Berlin Airlift for a period of at least ninety days between June 26, 1948, and September 30, 1949. This period encompasses the entire duration of the official airlift operations in response to the Berlin Blockade. Service credit was granted for duty performed within the geographical area of the airlift, which included key airfields like Wiesbaden Air Base, Rhein-Main Air Base, and Tempelhof Airport.

Notable recipients

While awarded to thousands of service members, several notable military leaders who participated in or commanded aspects of the airlift were recipients. This includes General Curtis LeMay, who served as commander of the United States Air Forces in Europe during the initial phase of the operation. Other distinguished recipients were Lieutenant General William H. Tunner, who took over command of the combined Combined Airlift Task Force and vastly improved its efficiency, and Major General Joseph Smith, the first commander of Operation Vittles. Countless crew members of the Military Air Transport Service and tactical units also earned the device for their repeated flights into Tempelhof Airport.

Display and wear

The device is worn on the ribbon of the Air Force Overseas Ribbon – Short Tour or the Air Force Expeditionary Service Ribbon, centered on the service ribbon bar. When worn on the uniform, it is placed above any bronze or silver service stars that may also be affixed to the same ribbon. Regulations from the United States Department of the Air Force stipulate its placement and prohibit its wear on any other service medal or ribbon. Its design as a miniature aircraft allows for immediate visual identification of the wearer's participation in the historic Berlin Airlift when viewed alongside other military decorations.

Category:Military awards and decorations of the United States Category:Berlin Blockade Category:United States Air Force awards