Berlin Airlift Anniversary Dinner - 11 & 12 September

Save the Date 9-11 & 12 "The Berlin Airlift - A Legacy of Friendship" is supported by the German Embassy and German Consulates across the United States as part of the "Friends Always" campaign. The exhibit features stunning historic black-and-white photos and will be on display at Indianapolis Executive Airport on September 11th & 12th of 2009 sponsored by the Commemorative Air Force." Berlin Air Lift Berlin Airlift "Friends Always" September 11 Berlin Air Lift dinner dance with live band entertainemnt for ticket information. Contact Carl Winkler September 12 Berlin Air Lift Museum exhibit. Volunteers are needed. Contact Carl Winkler Berlin Airlfit Information More information on the "Friends Always" campaign in general: There is a series of wonderful video clips that can be viewed on the above link. Be sure and view the; Friends Always on TV Legacy of Friendship Meet the Candy Bomber It's important to remind all American's that freedom required extrodinary efforts in the past. Aviation provided the Berlin freedom for 322 days with over 270,000 flights about 800 flights per day. This will be an emotional moving weekend you won't want to miss. Black Sparrow Flights Black Sparrow will make several passenger flights on Friday 9-11 and Saturday 9-12. Flights are 1/2 hour. 3 groups of 7 passengers will be sold per day. Tickets are $100 each. Tickets are first come, first serve. For Reservations email: Carl Winkler The years 2008 and 2009 mark the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, one of the most important dates in the history of U.S.-German friendship. The German Embassy has made the commemoration of the Berlin Airlift a focus of its outreach activities. Their motto for the 60th Anniversary is: "Friends Always". In 1948, the Soviets blocked the western portion of Berlin. In response, the U.S. and her Allies took to the skies flying in provisions for West Berlin's over 2 million residents, an effort that grew into the Luftbrücke - an unending conveyor belt of planes landing at Tempelhof Airport. "The Airlift is considered one of the greatest humanitarian actions of all times. It is almost unbelievable that the United States and her Allies were able to sustain the city of Berlin for 322 days", says Klaus Scharioth, German ambassador to the United States. During the Airlift, the aircraft supplied the city with 700 tons a day in June 1948 to 12,940 tons daily by April 1949. On May 12, 1949 the Soviets finally gave in and reopened land and water routes into Berlin. Airlift missions finally ended in late September 1949. September 11th & 12th of 2009, the "Friends Always" travelling exhibit titled "The Berlin Airlift - A Legacy of Friendship" will be on display at Indianapolis Executive Airport sponsored by the Commemorative Air Force. The Museum will be on display during the Friday dinner dance featuring the Star Lighters 16 piece swing band. William E. Morrissey, Senior Master Sargent, US Air Force, retired, a Berlin Airlift Veteran will speak at Fridays dinner dance. He was an Air Traffic Controller during the campaign and he is an "active" Veteran at the BA Veterans Association, and crew member of the C-54 "Spirit of Freedom". Fridays dinner will benefit the "Lutheran Child & Family Service". The display will continue through Saturday the 12th. The CAF will provide a pancake breakfast to benefit the Jackson Center for Cerebral Palsy on Saturday Morning. Please save the date and forward this information on this historic event. Join us Friday for dinner and dance to celebrate freedom created by aviation. Sincerely Carl Winkler, Commemorative Air Force Brian Miller, Indianapolis Aero Club Friends Always Friends Always on TV The year 2008 marks the 60th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. The heroic efforts of the United States and her Allies saved more than 2 million men, women and children in Berlin. A Legacy of Friendship In a speech at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center on June 20, 2009, German Ambassador Klaus Scharioth recalled how the 1948/49 Berlin Airlift sustained more than two million people in one of the greatest humanitarian efforts of all time and created an enduring legacy of friendship between Germany and the United States. Meet the Candy Bomber Col. USAF (ret.) Gail S. Halvorsen, speaking at the Smithsonian's Udvar-Hazy Center near Washington, explained how he came to be known as the "Candy Bomber" who dropped American chocolate and chewing gum from tiny hand-crafted parachutes to the grateful children of postwar Berlin during the 1948/49 Berlin Airlift. His recollections enthralled visitors at the aviation museum's Become a Pilot - Family Day event on June 20, 2009. Great Lakes Commemorative Air Force Wing Black Sparrow On D-Day, a C-47 named "The Black Sparrow" flew from its home base in England to Drop Zone "D" with paratroopers of the 501st Parachute Infantry. A day later, The Sparrow returned to the Normandy skies towing gliders. That aircraft, with serial number N315033, was last seen by its crew on the flight line of Vulocoubaly, France, in August 1945. The parting was a sad one because, with one exception, the same crew had remained with The Black Sparrow throughout the war. Thirty-five years later, the Great Lakes Wing returned the heritage of The Black Sparrow to modern generations in honor of its crew. The wing restored a C-47 to the original D-Day markings of the aircraft, which had been the lead plane of one of the first flights of the Allied invasion.