The Accidents That Didn't Happen -- ATC on the Berlin Airlift

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 Arguably, Air Traffic Control was even more important to the success of the Airlift than either flying or maintenance. At a minimum it can be said that given the confined airspace over Berlin and the fact that three airfields in close proximity had to handle continuous streams of incoming traffic, the absence of centralized, precise and professional Air Traffic Control would have doomed many individuals - if not the Airlift itself. Not only was the Air Traffic Control required on the Airlift unlike anything that had been done before, the innovations made during the Airlift laid the groundwork for all modern Air Traffic Control.

Fundamentally, aircraft had to be guided in over long distances and then threaded through one another to different airfields, all without space for “holding patterns” since aircraft that strayed into Soviet airspace were at risk of being shot down.  Berlin, consequently, had centralized area control at the “Berlin Air Safety Centre” housed in the Allied Control Council building in Schoeneberg. All in-coming and out-going traffic from Berlin’s two (later three) airfields was tracked from this centre and directed to one or the other of Berlin’s airfields.

The latter controlled the air traffic directed to them from control towers manned 24/7. The challenge was to sort out all the aircraft pouring into Berlin and space it out to ensure safe landings at regular intervals. Since aircraft often appeared on the screens at the same time and often very nearly abreast of one another, controllers had to rapidly identify which “blip” on the screen belonged to which aircraft and to then give different instructions to each. Incredible as it seems, “the only method available for positive identification was to ask [an aircraft] to make a turn and to observe which blip on the radar scope changed course as prescribed.”[i]

Inevitably, errors happened. One Airlift veteran remembers a dark night at Tegel:

 …as we munched our hot dogs and rolls from the PX van…a Hastings aircraft taxied in and parked. The crew came over to join us. I said to them: ‘I didn’t know you were operating into Tegel.” Five flying figures froze. “This isn’t Gatow?” Acting on landing instructions from Gatow they had slotted into the ninety second gap between movements. Our Controller hadn’t even time to fire his big red Very pistol.[ii]

Furthermore, since even the most precise flying could not ensure the 90 second interval needed for landing, it was the Controller’s job to slow down some aircraft and speed up others. A Royal Navy controller describes the problem:

[Dakotas] were so slow that the [controllers] were always worried that the following wave of speedy Skymasters might overtake them. … One had to be careful too, when bringing in other types behind them. It was quite possible, in a moment of forgetfulness, while bringing in a Dakota, to ask a York which was following it to reduce revs until it was dangerously near stalling speed.[iii]

Almost from the start of the Airlift, the final approach to Gatow was conducted using “Ground Controlled Approach (GCA)” rather than Visual Flight Rules — even in good weather. This meant that, working from radar screens that showed the height, bearing and distance of all aircraft within 40 miles, pilots were directed to adjust their course, speed or altitude to ensure separation and regular arrival at the airfield. This proved so effective that Gatow remained open on many occasions when Templehof closed down due to weather. After General Tunner took command of the Airlift, however, he drafted civilian air traffic controllers into the USAF to assist in bringing Tempelhof up to the same standards.

In poor weather, the GCA controllers talked the pilots right down to the ground. “GCA was more than equipment; it was a process that required steady nerves and mutual confidence both on the ground and in the air.”[iv] As one RAF flight engineer put it,

Those [GCA] chaps did an excellent job talking us down in bad visibility right to the end of the runway. They were calm and most accurate with their instructions and gave us a lot of confidence.[v]

Most USAF pilots also had positive experiences, as one put it:

The calm, soothing, deliberate voice of that final controller was the best high-blood-pressure antidote ever devised for such an occasion…. What a feeling – on a stormy night when you’re worn to a frazzle – to have a crew like that put you at ease and guide you to the end of the runway.[vi]

 Ultimately, however, the dramatic -- almost miraculous -- success of Air Traffic Control is demonstrated by what didn't happen.  For 277,569 sorties flown on the Berlin Airlift there were just 22 aircraft were lost in flying accidents, usually due to engine failure and none due to mid-air collisions or faulty ATC.

[i] Robert Jackson, The Berlin Airlift, Patrick Stevens, 1988, p. 81.

[ii] Lt. Col. R.J. Royle, MA, RASC, undated essay provided to Frank Stillwell

[iii] Robert Rodrigo, Berlin Airlift, Cassel, 1960, p. 159.

[iv] Roger Miller, To Save a City, University Press of Hawaii, 2002, p. 65.

[v] Ft/Sgt Neville Parker, letter to the author, Jan. 2006.

[vi] Gail Halvorsen, The Berlin Candy Bomber, Horizon, p. 141.

NOTE: The content of this blog post is based on Helena P. Schrader. The Blockade Breakers. Pen & Sword, 2008 

The Berlin Airlift is the subject of Bridge to Tomorrow, a trilogy of novels starting with Cold Peace and followed by Cold War and Cold Victory. A leading character is an WAAF Air Traffic Controller.


Standing up to dictators isn’t easy — but sometimes it’s necessary.

Berlin 1948. The economy is broken, the currency worthless, and the Russian bear is hungry. Next on the menu is Berlin. Here war heroes and war’s victims are struggling to come to terms with a world where unemployment is widespread and the wartime Allies are at each other’s throats. When a Russian fighter brings down a British passenger plane, and the world teeters on the brink of World War Three. The defenders of freedom must work together to save Berlin from Soviet tyranny. The first battle of the Cold War is about to begin.

Based on historical events, award-winning novelist Helena P. Schrader brings to life the backstory of the West's bloodless victory against Russian aggression via the Berlin Airlift in Cold Peace, the first book in the Bridge to Tomorrow Series.

Cold Peace is the winner of WINNER of an Independent Press Award 2025 in the category: Political Thriller, Runner-Up for BOOK OF THE YEAR 2023 from the Historical Fiction Company,  GOLD (1st Place) in the category Historical Fiction from the Feathered Quill Book Awards 2024, GOLD (1st Place) in the category Wartime Fiction from the Historical Fiction Company Book Awards 2023, SILVER (2nd Place) in the category Political Thriller from Readers' Favorites Book Awards 2023, a MAINCREST MEDIA Award and a BRAG Medallion. 

Buy Now!

Stopping Russian Aggression with milk, coal and candy bars….

Berlin is under siege. More than two million civilians must be supplied by air or surrender to Stalin’s oppression.

USAF Captain J.B. Baronowsky and RAF Flight Lieutenant Kit Moran once risked their lives to drop high explosives on Berlin. They are about to deliver milk, flour and children’s shoes instead. Meanwhile, two women pilots are flying an air ambulance that carries malnourished and abandoned children to freedom in the West. Until General Winter deploys on the side of Russia….

Based on historical events, award-winning novelist Helena P. Schrader delivers an insightful, exciting and moving tale about how former enemies became friends in the face of Russian aggression — and how close the Berlin Airlift came to failing. 

WINNER OF BRONZE for 20th Century Historical Fiction from the Global Book Awards 2024 

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You know you’re winning when the enemy turns to dirty tricks ….

With the Airlift gaining momentum, the Russians turn to more devious tactics to thwart the forces of democracy. Key players — or their loved ones — are targeted in unscrupulous attacks. Simultaneously, the policy of “collective guilt” has been replaced by “collective amnesty,” enabling former Nazis to worm their way back into positions of power. Yet throughout this dangerous dance with the henchmen of dictators, women are steadily rebuilding Berlin and Germany.

Award-winning novelist Helena P. Schrader takes the reader away from the limelight and into the shadow side of the Berlin Airlift to explore the social, psychological and long-term impact of this seminal event.

Based on historical events, Cold Victory reminds readers that standing up to tyrants isn’t easy — but sometimes it is necessary.

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