At the start of 1949, the Berlin Airlift was falling short by about 1,000 tons a day. There were lots of reason for that.  Three main factors account for the Airlift's ultimate success: General Tunner getting full command of US resources, the British getting full control of the civilian component of their contribution, and an assortment of organizational and infrastructure improvements that improved efficiency. This essay looks at General Tunner's improvements.   Ever since General Cannon had assumed command of USAFE obstacles had been put in Tunner’s way. The situation changed suddenly and dramatically when the civilian Secretary of the Air Force, Stuart Symington, arrived in Germany in the train of the U.S. Vice President just before Christmas 1948.   Secretary Symington took an interest in the Airlift and Tunner took him at his word. Being a man who never stopped working himself, Tunner took the cabinet member on a tour of Rhein-Main air base on Christmas Day. Tunner des