FYI


Department of Defence Media Mail List
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CPA 079/08 Monday, 31 March 2008

BERLIN AIRLIFT THE FOCUS OF AIR FORCE HISTORY

WHAT: Launch of the book Operation Pelican: The Royal Australian Air Force in the Berlin Airlift, 1948-49 by Dr Chris Clark, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Historian.

WHEN: The launch will commence at 10.00am on Tuesday April 1, 2008.

WHO: The launch of the book will be conducted by former Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal S. D. Evans, AC, DSO, AFC (Ret’d).

WHERE: The ceremony will take place in the Foyer of the National Convention Centre, Constitution Avenue, Civic.

Coinciding with the 60th anniversary of the involvement of RAAF personnel in the Berlin Airlift, this book examines the vital role Australians played in what was called Operation Pelican.

In 1948 Britain, France and the United States found themselves in opposition to their former ally, the Soviet Union, over control of Berlin, the former capital of the Nazi German Regime. In 1948 the Soviets imposed a blockade of the city, giving the Allies no choice but to attempt to supply the two million inhabitants of the zones under their control by air. Thus began the largest air lift in history.

The author, Dr Chris Clark, is the RAAF Historian. He has published extensively on Australian defence history. Apart from numerous articles, his published books on RAAF subjects have included The Third Brother (1991), Edge of Centre (1992), The RAAF in Vietnam (1995), From the Ground Up (1997), Hit My Smoke (1997) and McNamara, VC (1997).


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