Surge participation by McChord reminiscent of the historic Berlin airlift Published May 21, 2010 By Senior Airman Kirsten Wicker 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) -- Sixty-two years ago on July 2, Airmen in the 1-year-old Air Force made history with a mission that airlifted 2.3 million tons of coal, food and supplies to Berlin, Germany, after Soviet dictator Josef Stalin had cut off all ground transportation through Russia. The Soviet blockade on West Berlin left its 2 million residents desperate for supplies. Just three years prior, the U.S. had been at war with Germany, but despite the history between the two countries, the U.S. and its allies put a plan into action which would lay the foundation for today's airlift force. Today, Airmen here are making history again, increasing operational capabilities under an already stressed airlift tempo. At any given time, nearly 60 percent of JB McChord's flying crews and maintenance technicians are directly involved with surge operations currently in effect in Southwest Asia. Air Mobility Command Airmen delivered almost 400 Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen and more than 600 short tons of cargo per day to locations throughout Afghanistan in 2009. Since then, numbers have increased to more than 600 warfighters and more than 1000 short tons airlifted per day in 2010. It was clear in 1948, as Airmen like then-Col. Gail Halvorson, dubbed the "Candy Bomber", airdropped candy to children in Berlin, that the capabilities and the impact of airlift were far-reaching. Today, Air Mobility Command Airmen continue to build on that strong airlift foundation providing combat and humanitarian. Since March 2010, 62nd Airlift Wing Airmen have delivered more than 11,000 tons of cargo, up 50 percent from the average for the end of 2009. They have amassed nearly 6,000 flying hours, up nearly 30 percent from the average at the end of 2009, and passengers moved is up 50 percent from the average at the end of 2009. "This is the (fewest number) of people I've seen in the office,' said 1st Lt. Ellie Morgan, a 4th Airlift Squadron pilot. "There are a lot of flying missions that keep people out and about. Overall, people are exhausted; everyone puts in long days. But at the end of the day we get it done and it's excellent work." During the days of the Berlin Airlift, aircrews typically flew the distance between London and Berlin, which is 582 miles. The flying distance for those who flew from Paris to Berlin is 545 miles. For today's missions, JB McChord crews will sometimes fly more than 10,000 miles to reach Afghanistan. A simple flight from Joint Base Charleston, S.C., to Ramstein Air Base, Germany, alone is nearly 4,000 miles. "Of course everyone would like to be home, but the men and women of the 7th Airlift Squadron understand the importance of what we are trying to accomplish in Iraq and Afghanistan," said Lt. Col. James Sparrow, the 7th Airlift Squadron operations officer. "Times are difficult on our Airmen, but the "never quit" attitude and the "can do" sprit keeps them moving forward every day." "The squadron has gone to minimum manning to allow for more crews on the road," said 1st Lt. Christopher Schlener, a 4th AS pilot. "It is not unusual for those left at home to be completing the work of three to four Airmen who are on the road to keep the squadron running." JB McChord crews typically transport Soliders deploying to Southwest Asia directly from JB McChord more often than they fly cargo. "The surge has a huge impact in all of our Airmen's lives and the squadron," Colonel Sparrow said. "The first thing you notice when you walk around the squadron is how quite it is as we continue to keep crews on the road. While (people in) many areas of the squadron find it difficult with less manning and no change in workload, the attitude of 'willing and able' has preserved and allowed the squadron to excel at its mission." Throughout Air Mobility Command, Airmen have moved about 74,000 passengers and 129,000 tons of cargo into and around Afghanistan since January.