NARRATOR: 1948, Berlin.
Relations between Western
allies and the Soviet Union
take a turn for the worse.
In June, Soviet
forces block access
to Allied controlled areas.
The Russians want the entire
city under communist control.
It's the first international
crisis of the Cold War.
World War III is a
very real threat.
As the months go on, the
situation gets worse.
The Soviets appear to
have the upper hand,
then the Allies come
up with a novel plan.
Airlift food, milk,
coal, gasoline.
West Berliners need 35,000
tons of these supplies
every single day.
An airlift this big
has never been done.
The Soviets bet it never will.
The Allies' plan gets
off to a rocky start.
Enter General William Tunner.
Using a fleet of 225
C-54s, the hatches
a plan to outsmart the Soviets.
Tunner's airlift drops 2.3
million pounds of supplies.
11 months later,
the Soviet Union
lifts the blockade,
its stranglehold
on West Berlin defeated.
In the Air Force, fighters
and bombers are the shakers,
but transport aircraft
are the movers.
Airlift is a key part
of military planning.
