Riverside in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
The Berlin Airlift
26 June 1948 30 September 1949
C-47 277,569 Flights Delivered 2,325,509.6 Tons C-54
First Battle of the Cold War
Hoping to force the Allies to abandon Berlin, the Soviet Union instituted a land and water blockade of the city. This was their effort to take control of Germany and the rest of Europe. President Harry Truman and General Lucius Clay deemed it vital the Allies remain in Berlin. England, France and the U.S.A. responded with the airlift to supply over 2 1/2 million Berlin citizens with food, fuel, medicine and the hope of remaining a free society. The Army, Navy and Air Force united to make this first mission of the fledgling U.S. Air Force a success. The result of this massive airlift was stopping the spread of Communism in Europe. Berlin remained free, N.A.T.O. was spawned, and U.S. foreign policy was set for years to come. Thirty-one Americans lost their lives in aircraft related accidents.
They Will Never Be Forgotten
Ralph H. Boyd · Harry Crites, Jr · Joel M. DeVolentine · Edwin C. Diltz
Eugene Erickson · Karl von Hagen · Willis F. Hargis · Herbert F. Heinig
William R. Howard · Charles H. King · Craig B. Ladd · Donald J. Leemon
William T. Lucas · Robert C. von Luehrte · Johnnie T. Orms · Billie E. Phelps
Charles L. Putnam · William A. Rathberger · George B. Smith · Royce C. Stephens
Donald E. Stone · Robert W. Stuber · Norbert H. Theis · James A. Vaughn
Bernard J. Watkins · Robert P. Weaver · Lloyd C. Wells · Lowell A. Wheaton, Sr
Leland W. Williams · Richard Winter · Richard M. Wurgel
Erected by the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Patriots & Patriotism • War, Cold.
Location. 39° 46.725′ N, 84° 6.859′ W. Marker is in Riverside, Ohio, in Montgomery County. Monument (Memorial #1000/1001) is in the Memorial Park of the National Museum of the United States Air Force, with museum access off Springfield Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1100 Spaatz Street, Dayton OH 45431, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Troop Carrier Tactical Airlift (a few steps from this marker); Dedicated to CMSgt Bill Cannon (within shouting distance of this marker); Dr. Ned J. Lindsley Ph.D. (within shouting distance of this marker); 603d Air Control Squadron (within shouting distance of this marker); United States Air Force Academy Class of 1959 (within shouting distance of this marker); Red Eagles (within shouting distance of this marker); Gold Star Families Memorial Monument (within shouting distance of this marker); 96th Bomb Group Association (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.
Also see . . .
1. The Berlin Airlift (NATO). (Submitted on October 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Berlin Airlift (Harry S. Truman Library & Museum). (Submitted on October 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 172 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 13, 2021, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.