At the start of 1949, the Airlift was patently failing. That it ultimately succeeded was due to three factors: General Tunner getting full command of US resources, the British getting full control of the civilian component of their contribution, and organizational and infrastructure improvements. This essay looks at the British civilian component and its role in the near failure but ultimate success of the Airlift. Key to improving British performance was improving the quality and efficiency of the civilian component because the RAF was pretty much performing at peak efficiency already given its resources; the civilian fleet was not. As a BAFO memo put it: [Civilian] serviceability varies from day to day, the number of sorties which they are ready and able to undertake also varies, and their total daily is unpredictable for planning purposes. [i] The RAF viewed the situation as so critical that consideration was given to requisitioning the civilian aircraft and putting service c