[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 107 (Thursday, June 26, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6297-S6298]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 605--COMMEMORATING THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERLIN 
         AIRLIFT AND HONORING THE VETERANS OF OPERATION VITTLES

  Mr. DeMINT (for himself and Mr. Bayh) submitted the following 
resolution; which was considered and agreed to:

                              S. Res. 605

       Whereas in spring of 1948 Berlin was isolated within the 
     Soviet occupation zone and had only 35 days' worth of food 
     and 45 days' worth of coal remaining for the city;
       Whereas military planners in the United States and the 
     United Kingdom determined that 1,534 tons of flour, wheat, 
     fish, milk, and other food items would be required daily to 
     feed the 2,000,000 residents of Berlin;
       Whereas military planners determined that 3,475 tons of 
     coal and gasoline would be required daily to keep the city of 
     Berlin heated and powered;
       Whereas, on June 1, 1948, the United States Air Force 
     created the Military Air Transport Service, the predecessor 
     to Air Mobility Command, to organize and conduct airlift 
     missions;
       Whereas, on June 26, 1948, ``Operation Vittles'' began when 
     32 United States Air Force C-47 Dakotas departed West Germany 
     for Berlin hauling 80 tons of cargo, and the first British 
     aircraft launched on June 28, 1948;
       Whereas Major General William H. Tunner, a veteran of the 
     aerial supply line over the

[[Page S6298]]

     Himalayas in World War II, took command of ``Operation 
     Vittles'' on July 28, 1948;
       Whereas Major General Tunner pioneered many new and 
     innovative tactics and procedures for the airlift, including 
     the creation of air corridors for ingress and egress, 
     staggering altitudes of the aircraft, and implementing 
     instrument flight rules which allowed aircraft to land as 
     frequently as every 3 minutes;
       Whereas one pilot, 1st Lieutenant Gail S. Halvorsen, who 
     became known as the ``Candy Bomber'', initiated ``Operation 
     Little Vittles'' to bring hope to the children of Berlin, by 
     dropping handkerchief parachutes containing chocolate and 
     chewing gum as a symbol of American goodwill, ultimately 
     resulting in more than 3 tons of candy being dropped in more 
     than 250,000 miniature parachutes;
       Whereas, on Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, airlifters 
     reached the pinnacle of ``Operation Vittles'' by delivering 
     13,000 tons of cargo, including the equivalent of 600 
     railroad cars full of coal, setting the single day record for 
     the Berlin Airlift;
       Whereas 39 British and 31 American airmen made the ultimate 
     sacrifice during the Berlin Airlift, and 8 British and 17 
     American aircraft were lost;
       Whereas airlifters delivered more than 2,300,000 tons of 
     food and supplies on 278,228 total flights into Berlin;
       Whereas the Soviet Union was forced to lift the blockade in 
     light of the success of the 15-month airlift operation;
       Whereas the Berlin Airlift marked the first use of airpower 
     to provide hope and humanitarian assistance, and to win a 
     strategic victory against enemy aggression and intimidation;
       Whereas the enormous effort and cooperation of the Berlin 
     Airlift laid the foundation for a deep and lasting friendship 
     between the people of the United States and the people of 
     Germany; and
       Whereas, today, air mobility continues to play a vital role 
     in United States foreign policy by helping to advance freedom 
     and alleviate suffering around the world: Now, therefore, be 
     it
       Resolved, That Congress--
       (1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift 
     as the largest and longest running humanitarian airlift 
     operation in history;
       (2) honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women 
     who participated in and supported the Berlin Airlift;
       (3) commends the close friendship forged between the 
     American, British, and German people through the Berlin 
     Airlift; and
       (4) applauds the men and women of the United States Air 
     Force's Air Mobility Command, who, in the best traditions of 
     the Berlin Airlift, still work diligently to provide hope, 
     save lives, and deliver freedom around the world in support 
     of the United States's foreign policy objectives.

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