LETTERS

LETTER OF THE MONTH

Airlifts and airdrops

Reader Joseph Nicholas is correct when he writes (Letters, August) that the main focus of the Allies’ attempt to break the Soviet Union’s blockade of West Berlin in 1948–49 was an airlift, with planes full of food and other essential materials landing regularly at Tempelhof airport. But it should not be forgotten, and I mention this in partial defence of your crossword setter, that there were also airdrops. One of the best known was Operation Little Vittles.

This was the brainchild of American pilot Gail Halvorsen