Biggest Logistical Flex Of All Time - Berlin Airlift

[@the_fat_electrician]

Started a B channel for angry rants called “the fat files” go check it out -Also it was 92 million miles not thousand

[@dimoivanov9673]

F socialism too

[@Tooinsecuretousemyrealname]

Humor is like food Communists don’t get it

[@BoiStudio]

Yes.

[@19112011100]

Love the content Bruddah! Would Ronald Spiers from the Airborn be a good one? Maybe the design of the P51 Mustang and how it was idea to prototype in 4 months?

[@jacksondavis8940]

Please talk about Admiral Willis A. Lee

[@bofwappy]

Side note about the candy for the kids. A pilot received a note from one of the kids. That said he was smaller then the rest and not getting any candy. He drew the pilot a map to his house and on his next run he flew the route and dropped the candy at his house. Captian Ernest Evans deserves a story. Great video!!

[@grigoris.7732]

I had the great pleasure of meeting him at an air show in Utah. Nicest old legend ever.

[@Volvith]

Heroes don't wear capes. They do, on more than one occasion however, wear the star spangled banner. o7

[@camillepowell5937]

Gale Halvorsen!!! He presented at my school!

[@mcm95403]

@the_fat_electrician - here is your next video..........

[@phoenixx913]

That's actually pretty dope.

[@NATO32Nations]

1 Australian, 39 British, and 31 American cargo pilots died during the Berlin Airlift. May they rest in peace.

[@arctictiger8690]

They died as heros.

[@lynngriffin2106]

🫡 🫡🫡

[@brantleysalem1237]

o7 To the fallen

[@NATO32Nations]

@Drekken-ow4kn All through accidents.

[@mvb88]

No osha back then. Work place accident

[@txusmc69]

Msgt Roy Benavidez deserves a video. Legendary Green Beret Texan that jumped into hell with just a med bag and a bowie knife. Was wounded 37 times but saved 8 men. His call sign Tango Mike Mike is now used as a moral boost when a Green Beret unit is in a desperate situation and let's them know help is on the way.

[@HistoryNerd808]

Guy was seriously the embodiment of the phrase "never say die."

[@gunswiththedutchman]

He absolutely deserves a video. Incredible warrior. The man is a legend!

[@justinlawson1621]

I just listened to the book about him "Legend" and really liked it.

[@scottlangseth8823]

I met hiim. He talked to my class in my high school.

[@Soapmaker19]

​@@scottlangseth8823Lucky! He never came to my high school but my US History teacher got a guy who survived the Bataan Death March to come talk to his classes every year.

[@SirMevan]

In high school I read a book of the first-hand accounts of survivors of the Atomic Bombs in Japan, and in the literal hours and days after the nuking of Hiroshima and Nagasaki the Japanese survivors (and one German pastor) saw American ships closing in and were TERRIFIED the Americans were coming to "finish them all off" and then were in utter shock when they saw medical teams and engineers leave the ships, repairing the city, trying to rescue trapped survivors, and patching up the wounded. My teacher remarked that, "We wanted to end the war, not destroy the country." Once Tokyo surrendered, we went in to save as many as we could. America sure as hell ain't perfect, but I have never heard of a victorious nation showing such support for their defeated enemy.

[@aeromtb2468]

didnt hear about this side

[@CdrChaos]

“We wanted to win the war, not destroy the country.” This is the part people seem to forget about WW2. America wanted the war to be over, they weren’t looking to destroy any more cities. But that’s what it took to FORCE the Emperor to finally surrender his nation and end the war.

[@manlyadvice1789]

That's what we call "Christian values."

[@marekhild7192]

i am sorry, but the bombs were only used to show the udssr that the usa has nukes. they did nothing in order to shorten the war. the japanese only surrenderd after the udssr attacked them in china/manchuria...

[@CdrChaos]

@@marekhild7192 Not true. The bombs are the reason why the Emperor defied the military leaders and offered to surrender to the Allies.

[@USofA]

I love that not only did the Berlin Airlift show just how capable the West was, but also how incapable the Communists were and how little they cared compared to the West.

[@magnustheman524]

More than that, it was an example of what Communism itself wants to be. Self sacrifice, each man has his skill and role, people of all walks of life joining together to make a single project bigger. And most of all to do it without charging the recipients for it.

[@Mtshaw1103]

ngl it seems not much has changed lol

[@candle86]

​@@magnustheman524just don't tell the communists about this because they pointed to the Soviet Union is not real communist like they do with China in Cuba and Venezuela in North Korea. None of them are true communists because anytime that communism fails to uphold the ideals that people have for it. It's never real communist

[@toddoverholt4556]

I don't know what's so great about capitalism. It's all bread and circuses here

[@shanewhite1977]

​@magnustheman524 self sacrifice right I remember it now all the Joseph Stalin told others to do for him like if he told you to disappear you would self sacrifice out of history or how all of the kgb and the ussr leadership they had to self sacrifice so much that they became millionaires and billionaires during and after the ussr or the self sacrifice of the Ukrainians in the Holodomor or in the battle for Stalingrad where Stalin Refuse to evacuate the civilians At the time where he could evacuate them all numbered four hundred thousand by the end of the battle, there was anywhere between ten and sixty thousand of them left so much self sacrifice

[@rafisanders]

I miss this type of America. When everything we did, was just to absolutely flex on the rest of the world.

[@voodoovince8001]

We no longer have reasons to flex anymore. Russia is a paper targe- i mean tiger, China is an economic manipulator that we have thousands of plans to deal with and the middle east is still the sandbox it once was.

[@script_crafter]

Now we have to “keep the peace” and all that boring (but very important) shit 😔

[@chrisferguson1911]

​@@script_crafterwe do it...but we don't have to. Plenty of problems in the states that could be helped before sending all of our...ummm..."aid" overseas.🇺🇸👍🇺🇸

[@SolidKore]

We still do. Watch Habitual Linecrosser I believe our military still stands for the right thing, it's the politicians that are cowards.

[@REDI____]

​@@chrisferguson1911did you miss the bitch slap that was America, literally making up anti air systems for Ukraine out of shit they have in storage

[@nickcruz8748]

Russian: Winter is coming American: So fucking what? Here's another thousand blue whales.

[@kaymurray8010]

😅

[@CordaroBlu]

Winter? Sounds like a problem... for a BROKEY

[@arthas640]

America: you're about to find out why we call this plane the "Sky Train"

[@tanall5959]

Russia: Winter is coming... America: That sounds like a 'you' problem.

[@DeflatedMeatball]

Russia: winters coming that'll stop them from doing this. America: maybe it'll stop you, sounds like a skill issue to me fam.

[@rudatkatzn9171]

British and American Kids raising Money was something I didn't know. But I did shed some tears when I heard it. I wasn't there of course, but hearing that so many people helped really warms my heart. Danke.

[@zara658]

"The American and RAF pilots are flying with the confidence of knowing that if one of these Soviets shoots them down that President Truman is going to bitch slap their entire country with the Sun." This line goes hard

[@andreatomasi3755]

See Russian plane putting himself on a intercepting course:"touch me, I fucking dare you bitch"

[@joez.2794]

Which is why he should've just done Option A from the start, IMO. Screw anybody who thinks *we* started it.

[@yeboxxx_channel_2505]

​@@joez.2794I don't know who you represent but I badly wanted to comment lol. If you Are talking about USA, yeah I mean, true. If USSR? Meh, really not a good country or a one that cared more than USA about people.

[@MadPirateShin]

Yeah, that line DOES go hard!

[@jackgeorge9478]

@@joez.2794 Amen brother

[@reaperking2121]

I’m Half German and Half American. And this is my favorite story in US history. My German moms loves it equally as much. Why ? Cause Berlin had no tactical purpose . 0 . Miles behind enemy lines it only had propoganda value and even there those could have been dealt with by simply evacuating civilians and then supplying the soldiers with food till the blockade broke . But the US did none of those things . Instead we sacrificed men, and airplanes to keep Berlin alive and to keep its people fed . Berlin stands today as a prosperous capital of a United Germany because the US was willing to sacrifice its own to make it happen. If you ask me it is the greatest triumph of the US millitary. Also I cannot understate how massive of a propoganda win this was for the US. It was the Berlin airlift that turned the US and England from an occupying enemy into friends. The fact that even today europe is still friendly with the US is a testament to success of the doctrine which created the Berlin airlift. Kindness creates friends l.

[@That9one1Guy]

"By its very existence and character, Berlin remains the most compelling argument for an open world. We are reminded of the many traditions of openness and democracy that have marked the history of this city. *Balloon pops in the background.* Amer- missed me." -Ronald Reagan, 1987, two months after he was shot.

[@MrVvulf]

My sister and I were both born in Germany while my father served at Teufelsberg (intelligence) until 1969.

[@Brandonthesnifferofall]

❤️🇺🇸

[@aaronbold8715]

@@That9one1Guy😂

[@KnightsWithoutATable]

It was also the ethical thing to do, which was major factor in the decision to do the airlift. The US and UK had destroyed these people's homes, their city, and their country during the war and now they occupied their country as victors of the war. It was their responsibility to care for them and defend them as if they were now members of their own country now. Asking them to leave Berlin, what little was left of their how would have been devastating and a failure to defend this new territory that was under the care of the US and UK. So, bringing in food and other needed supplies was the correct answer, as long as it was feasible. Thankfully it was and it let the UK and US show the people of Germany know that they were not going to be treated poorly and that their country would be rebuilt, just like the rest of Western Europe. Funny how doing the right thing also lets you practice for doing the right thing later and being prepared for preventing world wars from breaking out later. The Berlin Airlift taught the US and UK a lot about rapid logistics into a single airfield. I don't know how much is still used to this day, but I know that both militaries can do air bridges for ground force assaults and supply surrounded troops if they have an airstrip or even just a small field for air dropped supplies. There are some crazy things air supply has allowed post and even during WWII.

[@alexcannell9796]

Gail Halvorsen was actually reprimanded by his command until the press got ahold of it. He kept on doing it until the press got wind of it. He would wiggle his wings to indicate a candy drop from all the other planes flying into berlin. He died last year and was still doing candy drops in his 90's at air shows. Fucking cool guy.

[@SD457500]

I met him at an airshow many years ago; super cool man!!

[@davidharing6475]

I met him too as the Candy Bomber plane stopped by Waynesburg where my parents live and did a little candy drop of their own for the kids. Great guy.

[@jbjstyx]

I actually went to high school with his Grandson, So I met the guy a fair number of times

[@therasco400]

Not really. His command ended up with letters from the children addressed to the candy bomber they had no clue who was dropping them for ages.

[@TeufelHandlanger]

Halvorson was also dropping candy into East Berlin since there were kids there too, but that made the Soviets look even worse so they registered a formal complaint and Halvorson was ordered to stop the candy bombing into the Soviet sector.

[@BigBrotherMateyka]

The Airlift, in my opinion, was one of the most -- if not _the_ most -- heroic flexes in all of human history.

[@JeepWranglerIslander]

The next closest is the American evacuation of Kabul during the final days of Afghanistan. Despite it being a withdrawal the US moved 6 digits worth of Afghan refugees out of the country in a single week.

[@Vitamin_jp]

@@JeepWranglerIslanderare you talking about us leaving the taliban some $80 billion in military equipment? Or are you talking about Afghani’s literally hanging from landing gear? Maybe you’re talking about how the US didn’t tell any of its allies and abandoned their posts in the middle of the night, including abandoning helicopters in midflight because all communications and logistics were gone without warning.

[@Vitamin_jp]

@@JeepWranglerIslanderalso, for reference, 6 digits ain’t impressive, that what like Spokane airport does in a busy week. I’m actually disgusted that you would bring up quite possibly the greatest military disaster the US has ever seen and try and use that as a flex.

[@mrbigglezworth42]

@@JeepWranglerIslander You mean the absolutely disastrous sudden retreat from the country Biden initiated that hardly anyone in the Brass was aware they were going to do it until he just up and demanded it? That evacuation? The one that had photos so eerily similar to Saigon that it might as well be history repeating itself. That evacuation?

[@heylolp9]

As a German I must say "Then the Soviets got all pissy and built a wall through Germany(...)" sounds like the best summary of the entire european cold war

[@scurreith3667]

When communists build a wall to starve people, nobody bats an eye, but when orange man wants to build a wall, so that criminals stop coming into the country he’s “literally Hitler“ God I love watching the Hypocrisy play out from these wannabe utopian communists.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

No country has ever claimed to be Communist. That's blatant Capitalist propaganda. Communism is a _classless, moneyless,_ and _stateless_ society. This guy is too scared to simply read any source material. Don't be as weak as he is obviously is. There's not even any reason to think Communism is something to worry about. He's even just making shlt up along the way.

[@HATECELL]

Wall? That's a weird way to spell antifaschistischer Schutzwall. Or did you mean antiimperialer Raumteiler?

[@scurreith3667]

@@HATECELL Nah, we mean the anti escape communisminator

[@TFP360]

They got pissy pretty often

[@andrewmichaelson252]

The Candy Bomber guy passed away just last year in our town. He would do local news interviews and was super involved in the community literally until he died. Mr. Halvorsen was truly an incredible man.

[@stevecook413]

What town?

[@markweaver8845]

Provo Utah, I'm pretty sure.

[@Gump352]

I listened to his story on audio book. Awesome story

[@Zaka243]

O7

[@CybrosPrime]

o7

[@phantomwraith1984]

Russia: **closes all the land routes into berlin** America: "You know that the airport is on our side of the wall, right?"

[@lairdcummings9092]

Russia: *"Blyat!"*

[@lsswappedcessna]

Germans: "Don't forget the other airport that's also on their side of the wall" Russia: "Wait, what other airport?" *looks out the window and sees a bunch of West Germans building an airport quicker than the Amish can build a barn* "Well, fuck."

[@davemccage7918]

Russia: “FUCK!” [🤦‍♂️]

[@jeroenvaneijk2190]

In April 1945 you guys did more or less the same thing for us in the Netherlands with "operation mana and "operation chowhound". Always Rembered, always Grateful

[@dave131]

Never heard of that. Just read a summary. Thanks for the info.

[@ChellieHartman]

I had never heard of that either. Thank you for telling that part of the history. I knew about the Berlin Airlift and the Heylift but not about the Netherlands part.

[@timrogers2638]

As a retired Marine Corps Logistician, I'm not ashamed to say I get a little choked up at the herculean effort to accomplish the Berlin Airlift. Those people were heroes.

[@ANwk-eh7mg]

How difficult it all was. Every 3 minutes loaded and gone clearing the runway for the next 3 minute green light. The one thing that surprised is no alternate field or highway for a malfunctioning plane to land.

[@Gmorktron]

Tim Rogers... as a veteran and one who reads... thank you... to you and all those in logistics.

[@bransonwalter5588]

The funny thing is that the communists had their own reasons to believe it would fail: the Germans failed to do it for Stalingrad and they failed a year prior. No one at that point had above 25% success on deep cargo delivery... except the USA into China but the Russians didn't believe them.

[@madcrowlad3635]

Yea thats a funny thing people don't tend to think about just how stress inducing it is to get all the things grunts need from point a to point b be it air rail road or boat. and doing it in a timely manner get kinda queesy thinking about it.

[@cloudyaperture4910]

Man, I know logistics isn't as sexy as ground pounding but as they say, soldiers win battles, logistics win wars. Can't put warheads on foreheads if the warheads don't make it to the front line. Also food. Also fuel. Etc.

[@steviemaster]

as a german i have to say that i didn't know about at least half of this. Yes we learned about the Berlin Airlift in school but knowing this extent, knowing that kids in the UK and USA were raising money for the children of the "big bad evil guys"... it honestly makes me tear up. Thank you for sharing this kind of knowledge because school refuses to

[@tiagodecastro2929]

Even in school in the USA, they gloss over the Berlin Airlift a bit. It's mentioned, but nothing was taught beyond the fact that it happened. I consider that a huge shame because of what an incredibly impressive feat it was, logisitically and economically. The actual numbers were mind boggling

[@jjx9316]

This event truly shows how different the American and German people are. One side wants to unlife a race and the other feeds and clothes the defeated enemy.

[@BayouBoy2443]

The schools are controlled by communists who are actively trying to hide or downplay anything that shows communism for what it truly is: pure evil. So it makes sense most people today don’t really know these things

[@je__.]

ikr its wonderful and the whole story is literally the one of the most beautiful piece of histories ever recorded imo.. wonder why they havent made a movie bout it yet

[@Idk.lol7689]

​@@tiagodecastro2929thats history in general in the us especially when it comes to government failing its hidden deliberately

[@halonut96]

the entire operation is honestly one of the most beautiful acts of humanity we have ever done

[@howto1537]

I agree! Reminds me how important it is to support Ukraine now.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

I remember pilots talking about how they were not proud of what the did surfing the war but by god were they proud of their rolls in the Berlin airlift.

[@deeeeesp.]

​@@howto1537shut up

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

Why was USSA to weak to destroy communism? Like you have an army in Europe, you have nukes, just figth them. Democracy loves to support criminals.

[@davemccage7918]

And one of the best examples of how great communism can be! 🤗 I think my non-binary, gender studies, community college professor was right! I’m so sick of capitalism and being able to eat!

[@edwardloomis887]

Served in West Berlin a few years before the Wall came down. The airllift story was central to what we were taught our country would do to support the city. We knew if World War III happened, there may have not been a huge amount our brigade could do but like the airlift pilots, we were going to give it 110%. Happy 248th Birthday, America. Am so glad to have done a tiny amount to keep Berlin free.

[@macoyreiber4482]

While we're talking about airlifts, we should also mention the American version that ran concurrent to Berlin: Operation Haylift during the winter of 48/49 in the western US. In the first few weeks of 1949, a major blizzard hit the majority of the American West. Road and rail routes were blocked as snow built up, leaving communities, ranchers, and copious herds of livestock stranded without supplies. The national guard, regular army, and countless private contractors were brought in to clear snow and get to hay stacks. Loose hay is baled and hauled to air bases, where it is loaded into C-82 cargo planes and flown to stranded livestock. While many head still perished, this action saved incredible amounts of cattle and sheep. So not only were we so well trained and equipped that we could literally fly in the face of communism, but at the same time provide the same service we gave the Germans to American livestock. If that doesn't highlight the incredible ability of the US military in peacetime, I don't know what does!

[@josiahjosiah534]

Texas air national guard were here dropping round bales out of c130s after hurricane Ike, pretty awesome to watch and no cows were hit either

[@macoyreiber4482]

@@josiahjosiah534 that's awesome! Carrying on a heck of a legacy, too!

[@ilovejettrooper5922]

Okay, exactly how much *was* the U.S. *doing* that year?? Supplying Germany across the fucking ocean, was badass enough - now you tell me that we were doing that *while also* supplying the western half of our own country? Is there a full account of everything the U.S. was doing those couple of years??

[@quintrankid8045]

@@ilovejettrooper5922 Kinda doubles the irony of the Russians thinking we'd stop when winter came.

[@raikbarczynski6582]

East german resident here: first of all. thank you for this amazing video about this event. It cemented the friendship many germans feel towards the former western allies ( well except france because.. their are french :P ). A little addition to the vid: at first the former luftwaffe technicians didnt even have a german manual for repairing 20 different types of aircraft. they just did what they could and sent the plane back up. later they got manuals for them and well... those planes left the airfield in top condition after being serviced by men who a few years prior were their enemies. and to the point of the Candy bombers: in germany they had a nickname as well: Rosinenbomber meaning raisin bombers. and that little clip you showed of playing kids. yeah.. german kids were playing fucking airlift :)

[@raikbarczynski6582]

Oh and we made a movie about it. the english title simply is Berlin Airlift. but the german one: Die Luftbrücke - Nur der Himmel war frei meaning the airbridge - only the sky was free (translated literally) a better translation would be: only the sky remained because it was the only remaining way to get in those supplies

[@RoughNek72]

Nobody likes the french!!! 😆 🤣 😂

[@youdeservewhatyoutolerate]

To be fair, nobody likes the French. 😂

[@liquidrockaquatics3900]

@@youdeservewhatyoutoleratebeat me to it

[@adrianmartinez9406]

Yeah screw the French and their stupid baguettes 😂

[@wynnmatthews1858]

I met Col. Halverson once. His plane is a flying museum and gets maintenance at our local airport. He came to town once and recreated a candy bomb run for a bunch of school kids. He was an incredibly humble and genuinely approachable guy.

[@Gilhelmi]

I know he went to rest last year. Do you know what they decided to do with the plane? I hope it will remain a flying museum, or at least go to a good home.

[@wynnmatthews1858]

@@Gilhelmi I believe she's still flying. Shed a tear and raised a glass when I heard of his passing

[@FurbleBurble]

I came here from "European Reacts" to express gratitude for you making this video. This is an absolutely phenomenal story, so incredible that I just don't have the words. Everyone involved in this is a hero, even the kids that bought candy to send over. Compassion toward people who are or were enemies is a remarkable expression of love.

[@rdionne]

My grandfather is the current president of the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association, unfortunately so many of the veterans are now gone or too frail to travel but this year is the 75th anniversary and they must not be forgotten. Thank you fat electrician for doing this video!

[@simonp.316]

Their actions will never be forgotten! (even by an 80ies kid like me 😅). My parents and their families only endured these times because of great servicemen, pilots, ground crew etc. I will always be thankful for their service and sacrifices! Greetings and saluts from Berlin, Germany.

[@jimreilly917]

Your gramps is a LEGEND.

[@jackthorton10]

To the men who Airlifted a Miracle and showed Communism whose boss

[@andrewjohnson6907]

FART ELECTRICIAN!!!!!

[@traphimawari7760]

I salute them for their service, but most of all bless their souls for they truly are genuine kind people, they are literally the Mr.Beast of their era

[@McHaggis1488]

My great uncle (grandmother's oldest brother) Col. Victor Sandacz was a B-17 pilot during the war, then held the record for fastest run during the Berlin Airlift. He continued flying, was the first man to log 1000 flying hours in a B-52, participated in Operation Chrome Dome, and by the time he retired, was second in command of an airbase outside of Arlington, Tx.

[@jjohansen86]

With a name like Sandacz I assume he was Polish, or at least had Polish ancestry, which... look, the story you're telling already puts him at about 3000 points on the awesome scale, but in the context of WW2, any Polish connection is a couple more points.

[@gabrieltanner670]

I reckon the chubby electron guy is planning on doing a video on your great uncle now

[@etlarm5514]

​@@gabrieltanner670 i love the "Chubby electron guy" 😂 May i add a "tubby charge dude" too that name😂

[@candle_eatist]

Sounds like a badass man with a cool story to tell. Maybe the large potential fella can make a video on him one day.

[@tannernagley2887]

Electro-Santa better do a video on him now

[@whitepeaches2]

Growing up in berlin i remember hearing my grandmother telling me the story of the luftbruecke (german for air-bridge) and how she was always excited to see the little parachutes with the candy bars fall from the sky as a child. Even 4 decades later she teared up at the end and said she couldn't believe there are ppl in America and great Britain that cared about whether or not a little berlin girl starved to death. Now it made me tear up to see ppl still care about what happened all those years ago Thank you chubby electron guy

[@willdenoble1898]

Man…..as someone who works in the field of nursing, and works in a Long-Term Care facility, visualizing your grandma tearing up about whether Americans and the English cared about starving German kids made me tear up. Peace be with you.

[@connorphares8157]

This is a legitimate heartwarming story about people just being good to each other after such a dark time in history. So beautiful, why didn't I learn this in school

[@brendanrisney2449]

"They always talk about 'seizing the means of production.' What they never bother to tell you is that _people_ are also a part of that means of production and that they will seize you, too." That is an _amazing_ quote

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

They always talk about freedom. They never bother to tell you that the 5% will exploit the 95% and you can´t vote for good people or be free, ever. It´s a dictatorship.

[@KekusMagnus]

it's completely idiotic and entirely misses the point

[@brendanrisney2449]

@@KekusMagnusThe quote or actually "seizing the means"?

[@TOH_Fan]

No it isn’t. If you’d ever bother to read Marx, you’d realize that he is referring the *workers themselves* seizing the means of production. It’s a moronic take based entirely on American propaganda. I don’t even like Marx that much, but treating his philosophy as evil is stupid and purposefully ignorant. He had salient points in the 1860s and 70s, and much of his philosophy still applies, however limited it is.

[@brendanrisney2449]

@@TOH_Fan Regardless of the original meaning is the actual practical effects. You don't have to be evil for evil to use you. And even then, Marx's philosophy _itself_ was ignorant. It completely ignored the possibility of those with power in this new system just... doing the same shit as before, but under a new guise. Which is exactly what's happened each and every time.

[@NovusDawn1]

Halvorson was also known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" as he would rock his aircraft gently to signal to the children which plane was his in the beginning before operation Little vittles was officially started. When you become a cherished figure that brought joy and happiness to a generation of children during one of the darkest points in their lives you've done something right.

[@joshuaemig9988]

I'm a former Air Force Logistics, spent some of my service in Ohio and volunteered at the Air Force museum every year at the cold war wing. I consider the Berlin Airlift to be by far one of the greatest victories of all time and had been waiting for you to cover it. Not disappointed in the slightest!

[@liesdamnlies3372]

It’s easily one of the victories of all of history, because the US and UK didn’t have to fire a single shot to achieve it.

[@andrewyork3869]

​@liesdamnlies3372 One of the most important because of that.

[@VonBrachsenbruegge]

And thats just one reason why we love you guys, greetings from germany.. :)

[@TheMagusOfTheMagnaCarta]

Do you know what, despite all the transatlantic rivalry and name calling, i absolutely love it when the US and UK fist bump and say to each other "good job, dude"

[@andreatomasi3755]

You are my best buddy and I am the only one allowed to talk shit about your stupid ass

[@MrVedderman]

You're doing more for American History than our education system has done in a few decades. Thank you.

[@TwigSkits]

I’ve learned more about American history because of him compared to my teachers

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

The history of weak capitalism being scared of strong communism and never attacking. Giving half of Europe to communism because capitalism doesn´t have any money to win a war.

[@excellentcomment]

Can I get an Amen?!

[@mastick5106]

@@excellentcomment Amen! The only reason I learned much of anything about history in my high school years is because my parents bought me interesting history books and magazines to read on my own. Our history teachers were all sports coaches that had to teach at least one class (other than P.E.) to be eligible to coach, which worked out just as well academically as you'd expect - epic fail.

[@FaulconDeLacy]

To put it in perspective, they teach all the new Airmen in BMT about the Berlin Airlift. And to this day, its seen as one of the Air Force's most successful operations to date. As an Air Force veteran, I think it's cool people get to see another side of our service.

[@AMoistBum]

I was an AF vet as well and was a 2T2 (Air Trans). This airlift was apart of our heritage and it's cool to see my career field getting some light!

[@oz_jones]

For good reason. This was a huge flex

[@aj3751]

"Airpower anytime, anywhere" 🇺🇸

[@Fadaar]

Don't remember learning about it when I went through in Jan-Mar 2010 but it's been a while so maybe I just forgot about it. Good history lesson though, shows the true frightening power of American logistics when push comes to shove. Hell the whole of the 1940's was.

[@stuckgrenadepin.225]

And yet, 60 some odd years later, the Air Force wouldn’t even deliver mail to American troops for months on the front lines because they *MIGHT* get a flat tire and have to stay overnight while a spare is flown down by helicopter.

[@ryangiles2851]

I'm not crying your crying. This is beautiful. Also, I can't confirm yet but I think my grandfather was apart of that. He retired a Lt. Col. and he was apart of WW2 Korea Vietnam and he's been to Antarctica. RIP

[@williedog1127]

Hey there Fat Electrician, Man Im almost 67 years old and I get the biggest kick outta your untold history vids. I am a blue collar history buff and you hit a lot of topics that I have read and studied. The most important thing is you call it the way you understand it. And I haven't found anything wrong yet. Just wanted to wish you anf your family great and safe holidays. Keep up!!!! Oh I have your decals on all my vehicles and my wife had me put the Quack bang on her 4 runner. Enjoying my new coffee mug also. Keep us laughing. the world needs more of that. You otta run for president, you got our vote. Thanks, willie Dog!

[@the_fat_electrician]

Thank you happy holidays to you to

[@Andrewleedy133]

3​@@the_fat_electrician I like your videos and I found you from Brandon hererras video on the North Carolina broken arrow

[@martinwestphal3238]

German here. My Parents grew up in Berlin during the Airlift. Thanks for everything !

[@philipbaker5386]

My grandfather was a rail gunner on a dauntless for the Corps in Ww2, got out and hated civilian life so he re-enlisted into the USAF as a Loadmaster and was a part of the Berlin airlift.

[@nightraven836]

Tons of ex-military hate civilian life if I remember right, what with the lack of discipline and structure (not to mention job security) in the civilian sector..

[@rustomkanishka]

Guys like him make your country proud.

[@4T3hM4kr0n]

*tail gunner a rail gunner sounds a lot more badass though

[@philipbaker5386]

@@4T3hM4kr0n lol..

[@razorramona9963]

My dad flew this for 7 months. He said the approach to Tempelhof was tricky enough due to having to bank sharply to the left or right because planes leaving were coming straight out, but in heavy fog, which was often the conditions, sometimes that apartment building was right on you before you had much time to react. Come in too low, you'll crash right into it. Come in too high or hot and you'll miss your landing window, and that happened fairly often. He saw a plane in front of him once just drag it's wheels on the roof. 😵. Be said they made the run at least 4 times per day. Crews only had enough time between landing and take off to use facilities, grab a cup of coffee and a dry sandwich (hamburg of course), then often had only sea rations to eat all day, which consisted of a can of Spam, package of Ritz crackers, can of fruit cocktail, and package of 3 Oreos. Oh and a pack of Lucky Strikes, unfiltered no less. 🤢 Needless to say, we NEVER had Oreos, Spam, or fruit cocktail in the house when I was growing up 😂

[@P_Nut8421]

My great Uncle flew with the USAF as a.... yeah... Loadmaster.. with the Berlin airlift. he was in charge of making sure each plane had the right set of cargo to ensure proper delivery runs. this plane gets water, this plane gets coal, this plane gets food, this plane gets a little bit of everything. he told my dad that his crews were so good at sorting the cargo to be loaded that he effectively wasn't needed on the runways or the warehouses anymore. so he would hop into a couple of the planes to fly to Berlin and help organize the cargo as it was being unloaded and distributed.

[@fishanhunter]

Imagine starting and loosing a war, only to have the dust wiped off of you by the victor and stood back up on your feet, and handed a candy bar, i love it

[@markfinley3703]

That's why there was no insurgency to speak of in Germany or Japan. Berlin Airlift and Marshall Plan won the peace. We have forgotten how to win the peace. We need a new branch of the U.S. Military just to win the peace. Using combat troops to occupay an area does not work well, they have the wrong mentality for it. The right mentality for winning the war, but not for winning the peace. They should be kept on standby in the area to support the Peacekeeper branch.

[@yeboxxx_channel_2505]

​@@markfinley3703Am I thinking what you Are Thinking? Que the new Psychological and Psycholo-Physical Operations.

[@zaxscat5357]

​@@markfinley3703 there's no need for a new branch, pilots from both sides of the war who were shooting each other out of the sky, turned around and flew peacefully giving it all to support civilians in need

[@markfinley3703]

@@zaxscat5357 Yeah, the boots on the ground were a bit more hostile to the people who had been shooting at them. You could say they carried a grudge.

[@old_timey_prospector]

Like a dang fistfight in some cowboy flick. Brilliant.

[@ytucharliesierra]

There is actually an Airlift Memorial (Luftbrückendenkmal) in Berlin for this. The German term for this undertaking is "Luftbrücke" meaning airbridge and the German term for the candybombers was "Rosinenbomber", which translates into raisin bombers. Another both informative and entertaining video. Bravo! Cheers from Germany.

[@raikbarczynski6582]

we also made a movie about it in 2005

[@cbroz7492]

..the other memorial is in Frankfurt.

[@thedyingmeme6]

​@@cbroz7492Michigan? Or germany?

[@ytucharliesierra]

@@thedyingmeme6 Three actually: next to Berlin, Frankfurt at the Main (not at the Oder) and Celle/Hannover. Due to their shape they are nicknamed "Hungerharke" which translates into "hunger rake".

[@TheWabbitSeason]

There is also a display about The Berlin Airlift in the National Museum of the USAF at Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton, OH).

[@The_Cranky_Painter]

My grandfather was part of Operation: Manna from Heaven during WW2, the precursor to the idea of the Berlin Airlift. The commemorative medallion he got in the '70s meant more to him than his Bronze Star or Distinguished Flying cross he earned over Germany. The amount of amazing things the Army Corps did during that time frame never ceases to amaze me.

[@MsBritanie73]

My undergrad is in History. Focus was on Medieval/ Renaissance Europe. You are the best U S. History Prof I've ever had.

[@the_fat_electrician]

Thank you!

[@Kreigsmen]

Soviet logic: Wait for winter and if winter doesn’t fix it we’re fucked

[@HANKSANDY69420]

I mean it stopped Napoleon & the Germans, so if even _that_ doesn't work, then yeah, *they're pretty scewed.*

[@tricot6468]

and add more bodies

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

@@tricot6468and make it harder for people who want to actually have a decent life to escape from their hellhole of a home.

[@MayaWaddington-x7n]

You forgot the Swedes. I didn't even know that one until I saw a YT video a few years back.@@HANKSANDY69420

[@Maxwell_Brune]

@@HANKSANDY69420 Napoleon lost, because he couldn't stretch out the supply lines to the front. Soviets were kept afloat with Western supplies. Winter had little to do with it and the Winter War is the proof

[@michaelritzen8138]

Somehow, the Soviets were surprised that the US was capable of doing great logistical feats, while they had been one of multiple nations receiving lend lease aid, the US was building up their own forces, fighting on two fronts, massively expanding naval operations and still had shit over to convert supply ships into icecream ships for the troops just a couple of years prior. Geez, it's almost like that was a large part of what helped the soviets and allies win WW2.😅

[@andreatomasi3755]

This is a little biproduct of capitalism at war a proper fuckton of expandable resources that are just waiting to be leased at anyone remotely aligned with us for political bargaining power

[@atoriusv5070]

A little known fact is that the US provided several million tons of food, fuel, guns, etc each to the Soviets during lend-lease. The Russians would've collapsed and lost their war by starving to death, running out of fuel, and not even having boots for their troops to prevent them from losing their feet to frostbite/etc if the US hadn't backed them up and supplied them. All of this while supplying and funding Britain, France, and the Europe, Africa, Chinese, and Pacific military theaters plus two oceans of navy forces. The US ability to supply goods, weapons, and ammo is utterly mind boggling.

[@michaelritzen8138]

@@atoriusv5070 that is why it is so mind numbingly stupid when people go "surprised Pikachu face" whenever the US pulls of a little full scale invasion from the other side of the globe. With all the historical precedent that has been established, WHY ARE YOU STILL SURPRISED WHEN YOU FUCKED AROUND AND ARE ABOUT TO FIND OUT!

[@JoeSevy]

@@atoriusv5070 As was their ability to destroy German supply lines insuring the ghastly liberation photos from the camps. US and British... communist sympathizers handed the "Eastern Block" to the Soviets and planned to starve or otherwise exterminate 30 million German people. The targeting of supply lines to concentration camps was deliberate and the outcome of preventing supplies to reach the "victims" was no surprise. All they had to do was paint that outcome as "Nazi atrocities" to avoid responsibility. What the Soviets attempted to do with Berlin was SOP "allied" tactics and the Berlin Airlift demonstrates what the Nazis would have needed to be able to do in order to overcome that tactic. Hoover was pretty much a relatively nice guy who'd inherited his generation's version of JR Biden's CF ministry. If Roosevelt were still president I feel entirely confident that Berlin would have fallen entirely to the Soviets.

[@samhouston1288]

It's also worth mentioning just how much the US was building up our own forces. Before the war, the US military was smaller than Portugal's. IIRC, it was like 18th or 19th in the world with around 334,000 personnel. At the end of the war, it was one of the largest at 8 million strong. To say the US was an economic powerhouse during WWII is a massive understatement. Pretty much every factory was devoted to the war effort. Sewing machine companies (Singer) were making M1 Carbines while typewriter companies (Remington Rand) were making 1911 pistols. Ford was cranking out B-24 bombers, M4 Shermans, and M10 Tank Destroyers.

[@zedalba]

Halverson definitely deserves his own shoutout. He noticed those poor kids with faces pressed against the wire fence looking on in awe at the massive undertaking that would provide lifesaving food, clothes, and medicine. He approached them on a whim and was moved by their newly strengthened hope. A stick of gum that was part of his daily ration was split up and offered to as many kids as could feasibly share and the resulting excited gratitude awoke the spirit of compassion in young Halverson, who knew that he must do something more. The next time he flew over, a few chocolate bars and other sweets generously donated by him and other soldiers were tied up with handkercheif parachutes and tossed from Halverson's plane to the awaiting children. To signal his approach, he would dip each wing to signal to the children which plane to watch for. This was how he got his other nickname, Wiggle Wings.

[@armynation31B5V5P]

I am a US Army W-Berlin Brigade Soldier (89 to 91). It was the best duty with a great history. As a Military Policeman, working Checkpoint Charlie, it was so crazy looking at Russian and East German Soldiers every day. Then when Nov 8 hit and East Berliners were walking over. It was the biggest party ever. Even got me a few chunks of that asbestos wall near Charlie gate. I hope you didn't mind... I had wished to share with you. Tango~

[@simonp.316]

Thank you for your service, Sir! 👏 I am a born Berliner (1981, born in the district of " Tempelhof" where the airfield / airport was and raised in the district of "Neukölln" just some 800m from the border river of "Teltowkanal"). Always felt safe and protected because of guys like you.👍 Loved the open house days at Tempelhof airfield as a kid, the 4th of July parades, the Turner Tankers with their M60 Pattons and my late dad always liked to have a chat with some GIs as customers of his optician shop. The insignia of the famous Berlin Brigade is my favorite 😍. P.S.: There is an interesting book of the US SF detachments of the Berlin Brigade out there. "Special Forces Berlin" from James Stejskal. Super interesting 👌

[@rightcross]

You guys used to pick fights with us (Blue-Corders) at the Friendship club outside of Andrews barracks so you could arrest us, and then the CO would come get us out... XD Good times!!!

[@simonp.316]

@@rightcross 🤣 great story! 👏 I can imagine it, the MP arresting everybody.

[@QuantumS1ngularity]

When WW2 ended and my country was overtook by the soviets, my grandad was 14 years old at that time. While he was still alive, he used to tell me stories about how the soviets marching through our land as "saviors" and "liberators" were 100 times worse than the Germans, marching there 3 years earlier as so called "occupators". Everything our country had keeping its economy stable was drained from the USSR. Rose oil and tobacco alone were worth more than $5 billion... in 1947. That's $71 Billion in todays money. That is just from 2 products from the national reserve in less than 3 years. Btw the rose oil was sold to France a month later at quadruple the price. All of the reparations we had to pay to Greece and Yugoslavia over the period of 8 years, worth $70 million, were HALF of what the USSR was taking for their "liberation" service EVERY SINGLE YEAR. He spent the majority of his life living under soviet regime and hated every single piece of that rotten ideology. My other grandad was the same age and he was a colonel in our army. In 1968 he was just rising through the ranks and was sent to then Czechoslovakia alongside 10 000 other men from our army to support the "voluntary change of power" that was taking place there. When they got there they saw people wearing jeans and nice jackets, walking around all fancy looking. He asked them what were they celebrating, if there was some major national holiday and they responded that this is just how they dress and walk around everyday. This is to the bright contrast of the people here walking around with what they could've made themselves or have someone stich them something together. There were some clothing factories, but of course most of the products instantly left the borders towards Moscow. This was 23 years after WW2 and people here were still queuing with coupons for stuff like bread, flour, milk and some meat. That's when my grandad got his views turned 180 degrees and understood that communism is a system that exploits everyone for the benefits of the few and their ideology isn't to improve, but to prevent others from improving and keep everyone as miserable as them. So yeah - fuck communism is about as clear as i can put it.

[@songhan1586]

to many ppl nowadays don't understand this. Hopefully it turns around before its to late

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

Yea, it was the U.S.S.R. Not the U.S.C.R. This guy is lying because he's too scared to read source material, and instead is a shill for the wealthy elite. I don't think he knows it, but he's pushing blatant lies because he's too scared to learn about reality. Have the tiny bit of courage it takes to read source material. No country has ever claimed to be Communist: a classless, moneyless, and stateless society.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

@@songhan1586 : Are you really afraid of a classless, moneyless, and stateless society? To be fair, humanity is far from being mature or responsible enough to handle such a utopia, and this "electrician" is proof of that. He's too scared to even read any source material of he'd know that no country has ever even claimed to be Communist. Stop worrying about something that's never happened, and likely won't for centuries.

[@aylbdrmadison1051]

To be clear, I've read the history and you're not wrong about the USSR (not the USCR, lols) being an Authoritarian dictatorship, and like all dictatorships, it was anti-freedom. But don't believe the propaganda that convinces people there is only one political axis. There are at least three completely different axises at play in politics. Not just one overly-simplified axis that is incapable of explaining how any government functions. One axis is left/right (socialism/capitalism). Another is egalitarian-liberal/authoritarian-totalitarian (liberty/oppression). And another is progressive/conservative/regressive (progress/status quo/reversion). Here is another way of putting it.. 1) Wealth distribution: left/right (socialism/capitalism). 2) Power structures: liberal-egalitarian/authoritarian-totalitarian (freedom/oppression). 3) Social ideals: progressive/conservative/regressive (progress/status quo/ reversion). To further clarify the third category, progressives want progress (not afraid of their own species evolution), conservatives want to keep things as they are (most democrats are conservative now) and regressives want to drag society backwards (most republicans are now regressives; _make America great _*_again)._*

[@TimeCircleBlue]

@@aylbdrmadison1051I see thank you for that explanation, friend.

[@Golden_Spike]

I’m glad you mentioned the candy bomber. Colonel Halvorsen lived about 20 miles from me and I got the chance to meet him a couple of times. Very kind-hearted gentleman. Tremonton, Utah has a large mural on the side of a building downtown recognizing his accomplishments.

[@Khemtime]

He’s the Fat Electrician. He’s not going to miss out on the opportunity to talk about free candy dropping from the sky.

[@Redbikemaster]

I live in Utah and never knew this. Will be planning a drive out to there to see it, thank you.

[@HANKSANDY69420]

*W*

[@LtNduati]

The Berlin Airlift is one of my favorite stories from history, sometimes it can even bring a tear to my eye

[@g3arjammer837]

Please do a video on Francis Marion aka the Swamp Fox. He’s arguably the father of modern guerrilla warfare. The Rangers still use some of his tactics today IIRC. Guy is quite interesting and a military genius. Anyone who doesn’t know about him I highly suggest looking into him.

[@109FF]

Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, tail on his hat Nobody knows where the Swamp Fox at Swamp Fox, Swamp Fox, hiding in the glen He runs away to fight again

[@chrisyoung8301]

Should give Michael Thornton a consideration for a vid. He was a seal in Vietnam who, after a botched mission, swam carrying his injured senior officer and an injured south Vietnamese soldier for 3 hours in open water until he was rescued. He's the most decorated navy seal in it's history.

[@rebelcycle]

I'm crying at how touching this 15-month long humanitarian support was, and laughing at , once again, your comedic quips and delivery! I absolutely love your videos. I so can't wait to hear about the Berlin Wall next week!

[@Joker-no1uh]

What makes this story even better is knowing that they just got done killing and destroying each other in war, but coming together and pulling this off is truly beautiful.I know the Berlin Airlift is touched on in history, but we should learn a lot more about this. What an amazing accomplishment. This would be difficult to pull off today, let alone 80 years ago. W for humanity 🇺🇲 🇬🇧 🇩🇪

[@yeboxxx_channel_2505]

Something to truly understand and inspired ourselves to try whenever possible.

[@DocMedic]

Had the pleasure of meeting Col. Halvorsen before he passed. He was my hero, and just so happened to live in the same senior living facility as my grandparents. I cannot stress enough how kind and tender of a man he was. One of those folks that could just by smiling at you, turn the worst day for the better. A true heart of gold, and I daresay a saint. If I can be even a quarter what Col. Halvorsen was, I'll die happy. God rest his soul.

[@mitchellshepherd9053]

Hey I worked at that retirement home while he was there and I agree the man was a saint

[@MayaWaddington-x7n]

What was the man like? What stories did he share of the Berlin Airlift that aren't well known?@@mitchellshepherd9053

[@atoriusv5070]

Wow that's amazing!

[@Moyfedaykin]

Don’t forget the US Navy was flying too, my grandfather flew 141 successful missions in the Berlin Airlift for the USN.

[@WhiteIkiryo-yt2it]

I lived in Germany for a short time when I was a kid as my dad was stationed there with the RAF and since then I have always felt a special connection with Germany and damn, did this being tears to my eyes. God bless all involved in this amazing effort. When America, Britain and the Germans come together, we.can do anything. 🇬🇧🇩🇪🇺🇸

[@lsswappedcessna]

British wit, American industrialism (and a touch of war profiteering), and German engineering! They go together like leaves on a tree!

[@kaypirinha1982]

When you drive on the A5 (Bundesautobahn 5), coming from the Frankfurt Airport, driving south, you can still see the airbridge memorial with 2 planes. There's also one in Berlin

[@BGamer-mx1nq]

I had the honor to have met and be acquainted with Gail Halverson (The Candy Bomber) back in my time living in Arizona. I’ve never met anyone with that big of a heart. His love for his country and his fellow man is apparent. You meet him once and you will feel like you’ve known him forever.

[@Sailingspeedat9kn]

I don’t know what to say but we the people of Berlin are so lucky that that happened I still have one of those parachutes with the original candy it was passed by me from my grandfather This is the greatest humanitarian mission ever love your vids

[@dayontapout]

Man stories like this really get me going. I love hearing about the heros of war, guns, planes, tanks, and other really cool stories. That said, hearing about so many people volunteering and coming together to help people in need, not because they're forced but because it's the right thing to do, makes my heart swell. This shit is amazing and shows the heart of a volunteer.

[@Dime_time333]

It's almost like we need tragedy and to come together. Let's hope it doesn't come to that for us to turn around

[@markfinley3703]

I would also point out that THIS is how you win the peace. America is the all-time greatest at winning wars, but since the Berlin Airlift & Marshall Plan we seem to have forgotten how to win the peace. Does anyone remember much of an insurgency in Germany? That's because of the Berlin Airlift & Marshall Plan. We were the first nation in history to raise our former enemies back up. No insurgency in Japan, either. We got a wealthy, successful trading partner.

[@hwithoutaname3629]

As he’s describing them dropping candy, I’m just imagining a Soviet commander watching from a distance and getting extremely angry at the sight, just to have his assistant scoot up to him eating a Hershey bar.

[@solaribtw]

best hershey ad ever

[@robertlewis8295]

What I love about the Berlin airlift was the fact that they had seaplanes landing on the lakes to increase the amount of cargo they could fly in.

[@EeBee51]

I remember reading how RAF Sunderland flying boats were used to fly in coal for home heating and fuel for the power station.

[@therasco400]

One of the key things was there was no go arounds. The planes either landed or they flew back to France.

[@concise707]

@@EeBee51 Sunderlands were also used for transporting salt as their airframes were treated for 'high seas' salt-water operations and their control runs were in in the roof of the aircraft where salt spillage was less likely to cause corrosion damage to the controls.

[@mightymikethebear]

Logistics personnel can make military operations easy or damned near impossible. The tonnage of supplies that were delivered is so impressive. That was a heart warming story, thanks for sharing.

[@lordlongstroke5989]

Keep drinking that Soy. Believe what the 1950's media tells you, they were so fair and balanced back then... SMH

[@morgans7704]

Being a former Army logistics specialist, I'll tell you straight up, logistical strength will be your deciding factor in 99% of operations, on both a tactical and strategic level. "Without supply, the bullets don't fly"

[@chrisj7656]

@@morgans7704 clearly, you've never heard "We fly because we CANN!"

[@xxpoisonblxx]

@@morgans7704 Everything's logistics, all the way down to infantry delivering immense quantities of lead where it's most needed.

[@shepardsforgeh2031]

I was born in 1979...and I remember watching the Berlin wall come down! I was just a child but I remember my dad looking at me and saying. "Pay attention your seeing history " I'll never forget it!

[@jamesr792]

I was born in 1992… I’ve seen plenty of history…I just wish more of it was good.

[@nadjasunflower1387]

born in '73. had a friend who's sister or brother was in the army or air force stationed there. the older sibling sent him a chunk of it. he broke it off and gave me a piece, as a history person not only watching history happen on TV but then weeks later holding a piece of said history in my hands...felt amazing.

[@STOPDELETINGMYCOMMENTSFASCISTS]

I was 6 years old we were stationed in germany my mom is half german. I remember her getting me and sitting me down infront of the TV to watch the wall fell she said the same thing, "this is important watch". This hits me especially because when my grandmother was a child her and her siblings were starving and had been cut off from their parents....a passing sherman tank had a GI throw off a case of C-rations to them......first food they had had in days.

[@STOPDELETINGMYCOMMENTSFASCISTS]

​@@nadjasunflower1387i to have a piece a teddy bear holding a piece with part of a german flag on it.

[@nadjasunflower1387]

@@STOPDELETINGMYCOMMENTSFASCISTS that is a very special teddy bear. 🥰

[@TonyDuncan-f4l]

I greatly enjoy all your videos. My two sons told me about your channel and showed me the "Proportional" video, I was hooked ever since. I am a 59 yr. old disabled volunteer firefighter. I was a vol. firefighter for 10+ years, then became the president of our volunteer department, then retired due to health issues. I love my God, my family and my country; In that order. When the first one tells me to do something it trumps the rest. When the second one tells me to do something I have to listen after I have a mild heart attack. :) But I will always will be there for the last one. For some odd reason I relate to everything you have posted so far. Please keep up the great work you are doing. As we are living in the poorest county in TN and I am now on disability I cannot help with money but you will always have my prayers and thanks for all that you do. Please keep on keeping on. Tony R. Duncan, Perry County, TN.

[@sproutpits]

Even a modern 747 cargo plane can only carry about 250 tons. And they require a 2-mile runway. And even with the established lanes, flying planes of that era in such crowded skies was a huge skill of its own. These folks were badasses.

[@masterch1ef297]

To be fair it would be better to compare the C-47 to the C-130 or C-17 than the 747

[@Wot50202]

A two mile runway are you serious? None of what you said was even remotely being accurate.

[@liwojenkins]

@@Wot50202 According the Google, minimum is 1 mile at sea level. 1.5 mile recommended minimum in most other situations. 2 miles for a safety margin would seem absolutely correct. Also flying planes in a crowded area is difficult, period, are you simple? As for the 747 max cargo capacity, it seems to sit closer to 100-150 tons, depending on configuration and source, so that was wrong. You got 1/3 on "None of what you said", good job little buddy.

[@sproutpits]

@@Wot50202 A fully-loaded 747 requires 10-12k feet of runway to take off. That's about 2 miles lol

[@sethdunlap9868]

Where most documentaries and retellings of historical events lend themselves to be boring as fuck due to the boring, monotonal listing of facts YOU have an amazing way of adding a human aspect to the event. Your delivery and emphasis on the people involved make everything more relatable... and not to mention you always sing the praises of the greatest Nation to have ever been founded and go out of your way to show respect to America's Armed Forces!

[@johndeereboy1945]

I think one thing that was missed in the video is that this was the first really big thing that the US Air Force was tasked with, and it absolutely set the tone of the Air Force for the rest of forever. We will tackle whatever is thrown at us and exceed any and all expectations. Loved this bit of history though, I remember learning about it in ROTC in college and this is a much more enjoyable version of it. Keep up the good work.

[@lordlongstroke5989]

Was it "tasked with" the job, or did they "do it on their own"? I've heard both versions of this bullshit story.

[@craigpaul623]

​@@lordlongstroke5989 Really not sure what you mean here. Are you saying that you have heard that a bunch of pilots just started loading stuff into planes and flying it to Berlin without orders, and logistics that would go with those orders, to make it happen? That would be impossible. Also not sure what you mean by bs story. The only way I have ever heard that phrase used is to describe something you feel is a lie. If that is the case, I am very confused. This is well documented historical fact.

[@zacharywoudstra5917]

​@@craigpaul623 Leave the communist propaganda guy alone. He's too busy starving to death to make sense.

[@muffinssupreme84]

@@craigpaul623 he's probably a salty communist that's buttmad about this absolute humiliation his ideology suffered

[@Austin.Kilgore]

@@lordlongstroke5989Bullshit story? What make you say that??? (Please correct me if I’m wrong but I’m guessing you’re probably a socialist or communist?)

[@arcm4210]

this almost made me cry. i love hearing stories about people working together in the face of adversity

[@chesspuppeteer]

Honestly. It's stories like this that make me wish our country's leadership still had this sort of respectability and overall skill.

[@PROVOCATEURSK]

USSA was weak, never had any skill to attack communists directly, they were scared and woke.

[@Fractured_Unity]

It takes the people educating themselves and holding each other to a higher standard. We get the leaders we deserve. Learn how the system works and run for office. It’s what we need.

[@chesspuppeteer]

​@Fractured_Unity Agreed completely. I plan on running for local congressman in Ohio once I'm old enough. Hoping more people are making the same plans.

[@Fractured_Unity]

@@chesspuppeteer R’s are stronger there, but more difficult to work with and riskier for the long term compared to D. I or third party is difficult without most people in your electorate knowing you. What’s your plan? I’m in California so I have to do D.

[@chesspuppeteer]

@Fractured_Unity Ohio thankfully. I plan on running D even though my beliefs are more R than D these days. The one thing I plan on doing immediately is start some accountability all around. If we started forcing accountability to be taken and not make the punishment more of a fee and instead actual deserved jail time I feel like we could start filtering through these politicians a lot faster.

[@Veritas.0]

2:36 Don't forget, the soviets were right there with them at the beginning. Just a little over two weeks after Germany invaded Poland, the Soviet Union did as well. (Sept 1 1939 for Germany, Sept 17 1939 for USSR) The Soviets *helped start World War 2.*

[@HypnoticChronic1]

Don't you just love how that is so conveniently forgotten in US history books these days? TFE really should do a video on how us Poles bitch slapped the commies in 1919-1921 and at the very least postponed them from taking over most of Europe for 20 years.

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

@ChunkietaBecause making any claim about "The Great Patriotic War" as they call it over in shit hol- I mean Russia that is ANYTHING other than "Nazis bad Soviets gud Soviets win entire war" is a crime.

[@samschellhase8831]

There were also several planes making trips from the US and Britain to west Germany to ferry supplies and cargo. One such plane was the C-121 “Bataan.” That aircraft was recently restored, and flew to the Oshkosh Airshow this year I got to see it do a flyby, land, and taxi right up in front of the crowd. The roar was insane, and the aircraft is so sleek looking. It’s honestly incredible that at least one plane that helped with the Berlin Airlift is still flying today

[@garymcalea3815]

The Dakota on the RAF Battle of Britain Memorial Flight was also there and still flying. After the war she ended up at the RAE Boscombe Down do trials work. When she was put in for heavy maintenance before going to the BBMF coal dust was found in some areas from Berlin Airlift

[@the_retag]

I bet some dc3 /c47 is still flying too

[@airplanemaniacgaming7877]

@@the_retagbut of course! You really think something as great a workhorse as the Douglas DC-3/C-47 wouldn't have a fairly large amount still flying to this day? I mean, plenty of them have been converted from their old Pratt & Whittney radials to turboprops, but they're still the C-47.

[@jimmyb2655]

This needs to be a movie. There would be plenty of action. It would be an epic war movie, and not a single shot would be fired. The "chocolate bombs" would be cinematic gold.

[@BlackMountainMan]

Huge respect to Hensons as a sponsor and you for working with them. Great product that genuinely beats out those premium "combo" packs with random add ons like a shaving cream brush you find at barber shops for like $50-$150 and the sponsors you choose are always value based and genuinely products that need more exposure

[@jredhayjay196]

Aren't those things made in Canada?

[@Error_404-F.cks_Not_Found]

Not gonna lie the message they sent kinda sold me , it’s not on my Christmas list .

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@jredhayjay196 as unAmerican Canada is and as much as I hate giving their disgrace to western values government money, I must begrudgingly admit that Canada is still Americas funny little hat and a American in all but name. I would rather see Cuba or Taiwan become a official part of America before I see Canadians be allowed to waste their votes in American politics, things are bad enough in America without adding in whatever elected Castro’s offspring to get into power. I mean Canada has a guy in office that’s got a wife with a Congo line worth of Jodie if that doesn’t tell you how bad they are doing as a nation then idk what does.

[@matchesburn]

I'll support anything that gets people to stop being 3/5/19 bladed razors that cost like $12 a piece to replace the blades on. I bought a safety razor and never looked to them again.

[@AndorRadnai]

2:38 that is actually quite a beautiful way to look at it. What I also find beautiful about the airlift, apart from the whole thing essentially (I am half German, and I used to spend a lot of time in Berlin during my childhood, learning about the cities history), is that during the whole ordeal, the German people and allied forces worked together to make it work. People who were fighting to the death mere years before were now working hand in hand to supply the freezing and starving population. The whole thing is an absolutely beautiful display of love and humanity.

[@foobar6194]

Seems to me that the Germans had some self-interest in not starving.

[@concise707]

Perhaps a 'shout-out' is due to the herculean efforts of the Ground Controlled Approach (GCA) controllers who were instrumental in keeping the operation functioning during bad weather and especially during the winter period; 'talking down' aircraft to about 200ft in half-a-mile visibility, using the embryonic GCA radars of the day, with one every 3 minutes is an extemely taxing exercise! Try talking continously for 3 minutes with complete concentration to get 'your' aeroplane to the end of the runway while seeing the next one on the tubes at 7 miles that needs exactly the same service for the NEXT 3 minutes, for at least an hour at a time..... These guys were equally deserving of recognition for the success of the Operation VITTLES/PLAINFARE. Appreciate your continued references to the RAF's significant contribution to the the Berlin Airlift - it usually gets somewhat overlooked!

[@ChiefCrewin]

I remember learning about the Berlin Airlift in detail in basic training. It may not be flashy or warlike, but it's one of the biggest things I take pride in sharing that history.

[@saltwatertaffybag]

A story I had relayed to me, that I will probably butcher in retelling. In the 90s, a Russian naval ship broke down while on a training exercise and the US Navy towed her into the closest port. The US Navy invited the Russian officers aboard their destroyer and they exchanged gifts of wine and food. They also gave medical attention to several of the Russian sailors. While on the US destroyer, the US fleet was taking on fuel, taking on munitions, taking on mail, had mooreing lines to another ship to exchange personnel from a hospital ship, and was towing the Russian warship. While all this was going on, the aircraft carrier was launching and recovering aircraft for combat air patrol, and the enitrety of the enlisted seamen seemed to be in great spirits. In absolute awe of this display of logistics, the Russian admarial with his jaw agape muttered something to the effect of "My God... How fucking stupid we were to think we could have won the cold war"

[@adan900]

Damn, that is a great story. Thank you for sharing ❤

[@TheDownrankTrain]

Clearly Putin didn't learn shit

[@kenshy10]

If you don't believe in yourself who the hell will right! XD

[@ianlarue8937]

There's a story like this about Gorbachev, I think, visiting the U.S. Traveling in TX, he decides to call an audible and deviate from the scripted schedule to visit a local supermarket. Suspicious that the Americans were just putting their best foot forward to impress him, you can imagine how devastated he was to see how well stocked and prosperous an average US supermarket was.

[@2t2crash]

My job in the USAF was Air Transportation, we are damned proud of our logistical history starting with the Berlin Airlift.

[@Redbikemaster]

A history to be proud of for sure

[@christopherwolfe4692]

This is one of my favorite stories of the Cold War. It truly shows that when push comes to shove, people can put aside their past aggressions to give a pulsating middle finger to communism. Truly an amazing story.

[@wxexw]

When a 12 year Hollywood vet tells you that you are a great storyteller - belive them. Absolutely fantastic video again.

[@daspaceasians]

One of the most based moments in History. It always brings a tear to my eyes to hear of the heroic efforts of the Berlin Airlift.

[@terrancew.6579]

Thanks!

[@sparaz]

I was a raven in air force in 2000s flying as part of air crews to protect the aircraft and crew in other countries. I was always amazed at how many humanitarian missions we flew every day dropping off food, acs/heaters, supplies, and support personnel to countries all over Africa and southwest Asia. The load masters and logisticians were amazing at what they did and it's cool to hear that this story started it all for the air force.

[@claychandler4755]

As an air force and FAA air traffic controller, this is truly incredible

[@TheFirstSunbreaker]

I remember when one of my old bosses, wwii, Korea, Vietnam vet talked about how the Germans they had helping them during this would work until they passed out and the other German mechanics would just roll and move them under the planes, in the shade, they were working on to get some sleep. They were so driven and gung-ho to help their countrymen.

[@jackskonieczny2353]

Sold me on the razor, not gonna lie what they texted you was legit. I never ever EVER give a fuck about adds or sponsors but out of my like 10 years on KZbin, you sold me. Good for you and them.

[@DudleyVGC]

“Babe why do you take so long in the bathroom?”-My GF “I’m learning history from a electrician from Iowa”-Me

[@platapus112]

Ah man Nick you missed my favorite fact about the Airlift, the miles they flew through the entire airlift reached from the earth to the sun

[@fuzzyhead878]

My parents (Taiwanese) had regular interactions with Americans stationed or working in Taiwan. Mom always talks about how generous they were, especially for Christmas. Dad, a military brat, was mesmerized when he was able to visit an US officers club and have a (US style) steak for the first time. Come the 70s and they moved to the US and eventually ended up in Florida, and in the 80s and 90s they had my older brother and me. None of us have any regrets. PS: It’s been a hot minute since they told me these stories, these are true to the best of my understanding. Update: Talked to my folks. Stories largely spot on. Mom added that the American-run church would give out a lot of snacks during Christmas. My dad also mentioned it was his first time trying coca cola. It’s still his favorite. To paraphrase him: “buddy, steak and coke is the best combination!”

[@shinomori69]

War is always about willpower and logistics. I was a logistician for the Army for 14 years. We're pretty good at that shit

[@riverrat1284]

The book CandyBombers is a great read. The Berlin children loved Uncle WigWag. All of the handkerchiefs that U.S. children collected to ship and use were returned to the air field by German children so could be sent back and reused

[@STOPDELETINGMYCOMMENTSFASCISTS]

Fantastic read i have the audible and hardback editions.

[@riverrat1284]

@@STOPDELETINGMYCOMMENTSFASCISTS I drive a truck so audio is the first time I listen to it too

[@STOPDELETINGMYCOMMENTSFASCISTS]

@@riverrat1284 i run a water plant doing graveyards 1830 to 0530 7 on 7 off.....headphones and audible is a life safer as i am a lone ranger at night. So cheers my brother.

[@michaeldunn2396]

I was a member of the 287th MP Co (Berlin Brigade) 1988-1990. The Berliners still talk about this historic effort and appreciate it to this day.

[@patrickw9520]

My great grandpa was part of the airlift. His job was to document soviet positions and movments as they flew in/out.

[@lesflynn4455]

I'd heard of the Berlin airlift but I'd never heard any details of it. Even in high school, when we spent an entire term in history on WW2, the Berlin airlift wasn't covered, because it was after the war. Thanks for posting this, and going into such detail. You do some very cool videos Mr Nick.

[@Mariner311]

Excellent video - saw you discuss this over on Unsubscribe. My Uncle was a newly qualified C-54 pilot and flew in the later months of the Airlift - he then went to teach at The Academy and then go to the airlines in the 1960s.

[@simonp.316]

@Mariner311 : Many thanks for the service of your uncle! 🫡👏 My father's and mother's family survived and kept their freedom only because great guys like your uncle. Greetings from Berlin, Germany.