Programs & Events

The next Canadian Aviation Historical Society – Manitoba chapter meeting will take place at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada and by Zoom at 7 pm CDT on Thursday 27 March 2025.

Our speaker this month will be chapter director and Intrepid Society president Alan Parkin. Alan will speak about the Berlin Airlift.

On June 24, 1948, barely three years after the surrender of Nazi Germany, former ally, the Soviet Union, cut off all road and water access to West Berlin, in an attempt to push the US, Britain and France out of the Soviet occupation zone of Germany. The Soviets were ready to subject the citizens of this Western-occupied zone to mass starvation in order to do so. US President Harry Truman, against all advice, was determined to ensure that this did not happen. The ensuing Berlin Airlift is an epic and fascinating story of cooperation, organization and humanity towards the citizens of a former enemy. By May 12, 1949, the day the Soviets officially ended their blockade, 324 days had passed and the US Air Force had delivered 1,783,573 tons (76.4% of total) and the RAF 541,937 tons (23.3% of total) of coal, food, medicines and other urgently needed items had been delivered to the beleaguered citizens of West Berlin. The Airlift was a logistical, political, and strategic victory, one of the first in the Cold War and bears retelling as a reminder of the fact that, despite much that is going on in today’s world, good can still triumph over evil.

Registration is requested at CAHS-MB. We provide the coffee and doughnuts. Our meetings are open to CAHS members and everyone interested in Canadian aviation history.