RAF Gatow has the unlikely distinction of having been home during the Berlin Airlift to the only known operational use of flying boats within central Europe, when the RAF used Short Sunderlands to transport salt from Hamburg to Berlin, landing on the Havelsee lake.
As Thompson, as Wing Commander (Operations) during this period ensuring supply aircraft carrying materials weres able to land at RAF Gatow in the British sector of Berlin every two minutes.
Gatow |
His training began at the Luftkriegsschule 2 (Air War School) in Berlin-Gatow and Rangsdorf before he transferred to the Kampffliegerschule (Combat Fliers School) at Tutow and Fassberg.