Glider pilot Regiment involvement in Berlin airlift

Discussion in 'Veteran Accounts' started by Kiwi Sapper, Apr 3, 2022.

  1. Kiwi Sapper

    Kiwi Sapper Active Member

    Can anyone confirm whether pilots of the Glider pilot Regiment were involved in the Berlin airlift.
    If so is there any records of those involved if this is the case??
     
  2. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Unless someone already has that specific information on Operation Plainfare to hand, you would need to make a list of all the RAF transport squadrons who took part.

    You should find most of what you are looking for here. Berlin Blockade - Wikipedia

    Then you will need the Operational Record Books (ORBs) and their Appendices of each Sqn for that time period. If you are lucky, they will be free to download from Kew.

    Search results: operational record books | The National Archives

    The ORBs will detail the crew on each flight and appendices should have a monthly list of all crew on the squadron.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
  3. AndyBaldEagle

    AndyBaldEagle Very Senior Member

    They were indeed, and one is reported to have been killed while doing so, he was Sgt Joseph TOAL, who died on 16th July 1949 when the aircraft he was in crashed. He is buried in Berlin War Cemetery.
    I think they were often used as second pilots, and they were all qualified pilots of course
     
  4. horsapassenger

    horsapassenger Senior Member

    The Berlin Air Lift ended on 12th May 1949 when the blockade was lifted. As you correctly state Toal was killed two months later on 16th July
     

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