Keeping the Spirit Alive

An Interview With Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation President Tim Chopp

Timothy A. Chopp is the president and sole founder of the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation. He is also the Aircraft Commander of the Douglas C-54E transport, named the "Spirit of Freedom”, which houses a museum/exhibit about the great Berlin Airlift of 1948 and 1949. The purpose and mission of the organization is to preserve the history and memory of the Berlin Airlift and to honor those who served. The C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" is flown throughout the US to various events where visitors can board the aircraft and view the many displays and exhibits to learn about the Berlin Airlift and the will and determination of the Berliners to be free from tyranny. In an exclusive interview with Tim, these questions were presented to him for his comments.

1. What is the legacy of the Berlin Airlift for people today?

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Tim Chopp speaking about the Berlin Airlift at a Friends Always event in 2008.

(© Marc Beutler)

Having the privilege of being the Aircraft Commander of the "Spirit of Freedom" for the past 15 years, I have had the unique opportunity to talk to many people and see their reactions as they board the C-54 and see the on board museum/exhibit for the first time. For most of them, what they may refer to as a legacy is that many airplanes were used to sustain Berlin and that many people were saved. After they have toured the on board museum/exhibit inside the "Spirit of Freedom", they depart with the knowledge that the Airlift was much bigger than they ever imagined and that 2.5 million Berliners were sustained during the blockade period. They also learn that the Berliners played the most important role to make the Airlift a success with their strong will to be free. It is the purpose of the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation to preserve the memory of the Berlin Airlift with a mission of history, education, and remembrance with the result of a more defined legacy. For people today, that legacy reads as follows:

As stated by Ralph Waldo Emerson, “The real and lasting victories are those of peace and not of war”. The Berlin Airlift was truly a victory of peace. In the uncertain times following the Last Great War, the world was as a crossroads. Tensions between east and west threatened to erupt into unthinkable conflict as the seeds of freedom, just emerging in Europe, were threatened by what would later be called “The Evil Empire”. President Truman and other allied leaders were faced with a harsh choice, abandon Berlin and leave it to the Soviets, or go to war. Ingenuity stepped in and an audacious plan to keep a city supplied by air gave western leaders the maneuvering room they needed to avoid conflict. By keeping alive the hopes of the people of Berlin, the allied forces who organized and executed the greatest airlift in history sealed the fate of tyranny. Through perseverance, sweat, and the blood of patriots, liberty prevailed. The sledge hammers and picks which brought down the Berlin Wall in 1989 were fueled by the coal and flour flown in during those dark days of 1948 and 1949.

2. Why is it so important to keep the legacy of the Berlin Airlift alive?

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The C-54 Spirit of Freedom at MacDill Air Force Base in Florida in March 2008.

(© Bundeswehr, courtesy of the US Air Force)

The most important legacy of the Berlin Airlift is the formula required that made the Airlift a success. The ingredients required included hard work, sacrifice, and perseverance. It was, however, the unified desire of the Berliners to want a new beginning that would provide freedom and a future for the people and for Germany. It was this strong desire that provided the basic catalyst that made the Berlin Airlift a success. The Airlift was a massive team effort from the pilots and mechanics who made the transports fly, to the small child living in the rubble of bombed out buildings, who was willing to eat less, all for one purpose, to keep Berlin free. All were hero's that made the Berlin Airlift a success. A hero's greatest reward is to be remembered.

Those who fought with food instead of weapons, who fired furnaces with coal instead of firing guns, may very well have prevented the annihilation of the continent. What greater hero can there be than one who prevents a war, rather than win a war, while preserving what is right. Those heroes must never be forgotten. This is the legacy that needs to be remembered.

3. How does the Foundation go about preserving the legacy of the Berlin Airlift?

The bulk of the life saving supplies flown into the besieged city was flown in on 330 Douglas C-54 transports of the US Air Force and US Navy. The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation has converted one of these remaining C-54 transports into a virtual flying classroom by creating a museum/exhibit inside the fuselage all about the Berlin Airlift. The Foundation continually improves the on board displays and exhibits to give visitors an interesting view of the Berlin Airlift as well as the sacrifices of the Berliners. The Foundation has named its' C-54, the "Spirit of Freedom" as a tribute to the spirit and will of the Berliners to be free.

In addition to the mission of history, education, and remembrance with the "Spirit of Freedom" the Foundation offers a variety of books about the Berlin Airlift and models of the "Spirit of Freedom". During the many events each year, actual Veterans of the Berlin Airlift will accompany the "Spirit of Freedom" to give talks to the public about their experiences during the Airlift. The famed "Berlin Candy Bomber", Gail S.Halvorsen is assigned as a co-pilot on many of the missions. The "Spirit of Freedom" often reenacts the famous Berlin Candy Drop started by Gail Halvorsen and releases small parachutes with chocolate bars attached to the anxiously awaiting kinder.

4. How would you define the German-American friendship?

To paraphrase what one philosopher said, a vanquished enemy can rise again, but one who is reconciled becomes the strongest kind of ally. Since the rebuilding of Germany following World War II, Germans and Americans share common values as well as many cultural ties. As the new Germany of the post war era sought to redefine itself, the Berlin Airlift showed the way that civilized nations help each other in times of need, especially when the basics of life are threatened. That legacy continues today as our nations' bond continues to grow stronger.

5. How do you view this friendship today and how do you see it evolving?

I feel our nations are closer today than at any point in history. As both nations strive to increase and improve our economic relationship, we must also bond together to the new threat of terror and radicalism in the coming years. With strong convictions and solidarity, these threats can be overcome as we evolve into the exciting world of new technological advances.