1st Airlift Task Force - United States Air Forces in Europe [Berlin Airlift Map]
- Title:
- 1st Airlift Task Force - United States Air Forces in Europe [Berlin Airlift Map]
- Alternate Title:
- Berlin Airlift
- Collection:
- Persuasive Maps: PJ Mode Collection
- Creator:
- Sims, Harold H.
- Date:
- 1949
- Posted Date:
- 2017-04-14
- ID Number:
- 2221.01
- Collection Number:
- 8548
- File Name:
- PJM_2221_01.jpg
- Style/Period:
- 1940 - 1959
- Subject:
- Communism & Cold War
Satirical
Pictorial - Measurement:
- 33 x 44 (centimeters, height x width)
- Notes:
- A morale-boosting map of the Berlin Airlift. In June 1948, the Russians closed all land and water routes between West Germany and Berlin, located 100 miles into Soviet-occupied Germany. By denying West Berliners access to food, fuel and other vital materials, the Soviets sought to force the Americans, British and French to abandon their control of three-quarters of the city. In response, the United States and its allies organized a massive, around-the-clock airlift, sending as much as 8 tons of material a day to the beleaguered city. This extraordinarily complex operation was a total success both logistically and politically, forcing the Soviets to abandon the blockade in May of 1949. After stockpiling materials against the danger that the blockade would be reimposed, the allies ended the airlift in September 1949.
This satirical map of the airlift was "designed to be framed as an Airlift souvenir." It accompanied an edition of the "Task Force Times," a daily publication established by the airlift command to improve communication and morale - and to increase competition among the air crews. Harold H. Sims was apparently a remarkable man, a Captain in the Army Air Force and Chief Navigator for the Task Force. Among other things, Sims was also responsible for route planning, and specifically for fixing one the most dangerous operational snafus facing the airlift. And he was a major factor in maintaining morale as the editor of the Task Force Times. See Huschke 105-06, 112-13; Miller 90, 92.
For further information on the Collector’s Notes and a Feedback/Contact Link, see https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/about-collection-personal-statement and https://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/content/feedback-and-contact - Source:
- Task Force Times. Precise date unknown, but 1949.
- Cite As:
- P.J. Mode collection of persuasive cartography, #8548. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
- Repository:
- Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
- Archival Collection:
- P.J. Mode collection of persuasive cartography
- Format:
- Image
- Rights:
- For important information about copyright and use, see http://persuasivemaps.library.cornell.edu/copyright.