Berlin Airlift Airport Closed
Thursday November 13, 2008
After much controversy, the historic Tempelhof Airport in Berlin was officially closed on October 30, 2008. The Tempelhof Airport had a long history, beginning with being built in the 1930s by the Nazis as a glorious entryway into Germany. However, it is best remembered as a sign of hope for its role in the Berlin Airlift during 1948 to 1949, when planes filled with the much needed coal, food, and other supplies landed at Tempelhof. Unfortunately, because of its location in the city of Berlin, Tempelhof Airport's runways are too short for large, modern aircraft and there is no room in which to lengthen them. For the last few years, Tempelhof has been used for small, short flights but those just weren't bringing in the revenue to maintain such a large structure. Although many Berliners are sorry to see the historical airport close, the city felt they needed to close it for financial reasons.
Comments
Anything about Tempelhof touches me. I was stationed there for 4 years in the 70’s and it truly houses amazing history. Some of it brutal, but amazing. I understand there are plans to turn it into a commercial venue. I hope they maintain and perhaps display the history the building possesses.
I had the privilege of flying into Templehoff while my sister Karen was stationed in Berlin in 1983. It was amazing to learn it’s history and be on the very spot of such a key moment in time. Some of those stationed there reported the hangars were haunted.
This topic will hopefully cost someones head. No one should treat history like that. Looking back the last few centuries only communistic governments behaved like Mister Wowereit nowadays does. Remember GDR and the old Berlin Castle…they blasted it away and it is now being rebuilt at an enormous amount of costs. TEMPELHOF belongs to Berlin. I kept the last radio tower contact on closing day here: www.tempelhofposter.com