H. Res. 398 
In the House of Representatives, U. S., 
November 3, 2009. 
Whereas pursuant to mutual agreement among allies con-
cluded at the Potsdam Conference following the uncondi-
tional surrender of Adolf Hitler’s National Socialist 
(NAZI) regime on May 8, 1945, the German capitol of 
Berlin was divided into four zones of military occupation 
controlled by the United States, the Soviet Union, Great 
Britain, and France; 
Whereas in a bid to maintain leverage over Germany by per-
petuating its economic instability, and in opposition to 
the United States’ Marshall Plan and the allies’ proposal 
for a new, more stable German currency, then Soviet Dic-
tator Joseph Stalin ordered a blockade of Berlin on June 
22, 1948; 
Whereas Stalin’s blockade prohibited all ground access to the 
city, blocking the people of Berlin; 
Whereas three 20-mile-wide free air corridors had been 
agreed on November 30, 1945, to provide unfettered ac-
cess to Berlin along accepted flight routes; 
Whereas the Soviet regime insisted that the Western Allies 
allow food and medicine to be supplied to these sectors 
only through Soviet-controlled East Germany, effectively 
allowing Soviet control over West Berlin;
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Whereas President Harry S. Truman ordered the stationing 
of U.S. B–29 Superfortresses at British airfields on June 
28, 1948; 
Whereas Britain’s Foreign Minister Ernest Brevin, at the 
suggestion of Commander Sir Brian Robertson, proposed 
employing a military airlift as an alternative to an armed 
convoy through the Soviet sector to provide humanitarian 
relief to Berlin’s traumatized and beleaguered population; 
Whereas General Lucius Clay, then United States military 
governor of Germany, and Major General Curtis LeMay, 
Commanding General of the United States Air Force in 
Europe, requested Douglas C–54 Skymasters, the largest 
transport plane available to the United States Air Force, 
to help supply the colossal strategic air mission; 
Whereas the first Skymasters arrived at Rhein-Main Air 
Base on June 28, 1948, and were immediately loaded to 
begin Operation Vittles to convey supplies to Berlin; 
Whereas the Soviet regime publically derided the airlift, an-
nouncing that it would be impossible to carry out and 
maintain such an operation, characterizing the mission in 
the East German press as, ‘‘the futile attempts of the 
Americans to save face and to maintain their untenable 
position in Berlin’’; 
Whereas Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand joined 
Great Britain and the United States in what became the 
largest humanitarian operation ever undertaken by the 
United States Air Force; 
Whereas Lt. General William Turner, honored in the Air 
Cargo Hall of Fame for his tactical brilliance as com-
mander of the Berlin Airlift, was called upon to lead the 
Berlin Airlift and worked tirelessly to ensure that the air-
•HRES 398 EH 
craft he commanded supplied the besieged city of Berlin 
with essential supplies including coal, heating oil, medi-
cine, and food from July 28, 1948, through the official 
conclusion of the mission on September 30, 1949; 
Whereas the Berlin Airlift resulted in the total delivery of 
1,783,573 tons of supplies by the United States and 
541,937 tons of supplies totaling 2,300,000 tons deliv-
ered on 277,569 total flights to Berlin; 
Whereas the United States Air Force’s C–47s and C–54s 
alone logged 92,000,000 miles in the Berlin Airlift; 
Whereas the commitment of the United States to aid the be-
sieged people of Berlin resulted in the tragic loss of 101 
allied personnel, of which 31 were United States casual-
ties; 
Whereas the following Air Force units, aided by the United 
States Navy and Army, are known to have contributed to 
the success of the Berlin Airlift— 
(1) HHS1Air Life Task Force; 
(2) 10 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(3) 11 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(4) 12 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(5) 14 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(6) 15 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(7) 29 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(8) 39 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(9) 40 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(10) 41 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(11) 47 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(12) 48 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(13) 53 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(14) HHS 60 Troop Carrier Wing; 
(15) HQ 60 Troop Carrier Group;
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(16) 60 Troop Carrier Group; 
(17) HQ60 Maintenance Support Group; 
(18) 60 Maintenance Squadron; 
(19) 60 Supply Squadron; 
(20) 60 FIN DIS UT; 
(21) 60 COMM Squadron; 
(22) 60A police Squadron; 
(23) 60 Food Service Squadron; 
(24) 60 Install SQ; 
(25) 60 Motor Vehicle Squadron; 
(26) 60 Base Services Squadron; 
(27) 60 Medical Group; 
(28) HHS A B Group; 
(29) HQ61 Troop Carrier Group; 
(30) HQ313 Troop Carrier Group; 
(31) HHS61 Troop Carrier Wing; 
(32) HQ317 Troop Carrier Group; 
(33) HQ317 Maintenance Supply Group; 
(34) 317 Maintenance Squadron; 
(35) 317 Supply Squadron; 
(36) HHS 317 A B Group; 
(37) 317 Communications Squadron; 
(38) 317A Police Squadron; 
(39) 317 Food Services Squadron; 
(40) 317 Installation Squadron; 
(41) 317 Motor Vehicle Squadron; 
(42) 317 Base Services Squadron; 
(43) 317 FIN DIS UT; 
(44) 317 Medical Group; 
(45) 330 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(46) 331 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(47) 332 Troop Carrier Squadron; 
(48) 333 Troop Carrier Squadron;
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Whereas German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer noted that the 
Berlin Airlift ‘‘was a truly visible sign that America rec-
ognized her duty to be the leader of free nations and 
wanted to fulfill it.’’; and 
Whereas the determined actions of the Berlin Airlift sent a 
clear message to the Soviet Union that the United States 
held an unquestionable commitment and unwavering re-
solve to prevent tyranny in Europe: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the 60th anniversary of the Berlin 
Airlift, and commends all of the operation’s United 
States veterans for their valor and determination to rep-
resent the noble ideals that thwarted the fall of the Iron 
Curtain over Berlin’s western strongholds; 
(2) honors the veterans of the Berlin Airlift who 
lost their lives to bring the means of survival and suste-
nance to civilians under siege in the service to their 
country; 
(3) commends the spirit of collaboration which 
characterized this united allied operation involving both 
military and civilian aircraft and crews; and 
(4) honors the men and women of the United States 
military whose continued dedication to the ideals of in-
tegrity, compassion, and liberty upholds the honorable 
legacy of the United States Armed Forces, as illustrated
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by the Berlin Airlift, and renews our faith in the power 
of freedom and goodness to prevail over tyranny. 
Attest: 
Clerk.