Allen, Bob (Oral history)

British civilian served as radio officer with Flight Refuelling Ltd during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949

REEL 1 Recollections of period as flight radio officer with Flight Refuelling Ltd during Berlin Airlift, Germany, 1948-1949: employment as flight radio officer; use of converted Avro Lancaster bombers to carry petrol; character of RAF Wunstorf; scheduling of flights with RAF; opinion of organisation of airlift; Russian interference with airlift; weather conditions; incidents experienced during airlift; working routine for civilians crews; description of preparations for typical flight; importance of maintaining discipline in air corridors; description of radio communications; arrival at RAF Gatow; turn round and return flight; attitude to taking part in Berlin Airlift; number of flights his crew made and amount of fuel carried by Flight Refuelling; role of German workers; tonnage carried by aircraft during airlift