Monument Details

Berlin Airlift Memorial (Luftbrückendenkmal)

Details:

The monument is located at the eastern edge of the small park that occupies Platz der Luftbrücke, directly across the street from the former Tempelhof airport. The monument is separated from the grass by a stone surface. Monument

This gray concrete monument, called the Luftbrückendenkmal, rests on a black stone base that is encircled with a metal band that lists the name of the aviators and service members who dies during the Berlin Airlift. This metal part of the monument has oxidized and turned green. The base of the monument is surrounded by a flower garden. The monument itself is a large curved structure that features three "claws" (on the left and right sides as in the middle), which represent the flight patterns that the U.S., U.K., and France, followed during the operation. The monument has been nicknamed the "Hunger Rake" or "Hungerharke" by Berliners. The monument was dedicated in 1951 and was designed by Eduard Ludwig.

Monument Text:

Sie Gaben Ihr Fur Die Freiheit Berlins Im Dienste Der Luftbrücke 1948/49

Capt. W.R. Howard Capt. W.A. Rathgeber Sgt. B.J. Watkins Cpl. N.H. Thies 1^stLt. R.H. Boyd 1^stLt. R.M. Wurgel 1^stLt. W.F. Hargis Capt. B.E. Phelps T/Sgt. L.C. Wells AD/3 H.R. Crites Jr. 1^stLt. L.A. Wheaton Jr. 1^stLt. R.P. Weaver 1^stLt. C.B. Ladd 1^stLt. E.S. Erickson T/Sgt. C.L. Putnam 1^stLt. R.C. Stephens 1^stLt. L.V. Williams Capt. J.M. de Valentine Maj. E.C. Diltz Pfc. R.E. Stone Sgt. R. Winter Cpl. G.S. Burns 1^stLt. C.H. King 1^stLt. W.T. Lucas 1^stLt. G.B. Smith 1^stLt. R.W. Stuber Capt. J.A. Vaughn Civ. C.H. Hagen Pfc. J.T. Orms 1^stLt. R.C. von Luehrte 2^ndLt. D.J. Leemon T/Sgt. H.F. Heinig Sold. R.C. Marks F/Lt. H.W. Thompson M.C. D.F.C. Nav. II. L.E.H. Gilbert Sig. II. S.M.L. Towersey Eng. II. D.W. Watson Pi. I. F.I. Trezona F/Lt. J.G. Wilkins Sig. III. B.A. Lough Sgt. C. Dowling Nav/O. A.J. Burton F/Eng. K.A. Seaborn Capt. W. Cusack C. Taylor Rad/O D.W. Robertson N/O M.E. Casey Capt. G. Utting Eng. T. Supernatt Eng. D.I Griffin Eng. E. O’Neal Sig. II. J.D. Grout Capt. R.J. Freight Sgt. J. Toal F/Lt. M.J. Quinn N/O. J.R.L. Sharpe Eng/O. H. Paterson Capt. P.C. Goulding 1^stO. H.T. Newman Rad/O. D.J. Edwards Capt. R.M.W. Heath F/O. K.A. Reeves Mas. Sig. A. Penny Capt. W.R.O. Lewis Nav/O. E.L. Carroll AD/O. E.G. Wood F/Eng. J. Anderson F/O. I.R. Donaldson Nav. II. W.G. Page Sig. II. A. Dunsire Eng. II. R.R. Gibbs F/Lt. G. Kell W. Duhring H. Fielder K. Schlinsog H. Schwarz K. Zulsdorf