The Berlin Airlift took place from June 26, 1948, to September 30, 1949.

Quick Scoop: Berlin Airlift Timeline

  • Start of the airlift: June 26, 1948, two days after the Soviet Union began the Berlin Blockade cutting most access to West Berlin.
  • Duration: About 15 months of continuous supply flights into West Berlin.
  • Official end: September 30, 1949, when the large-scale airlift operation was formally concluded.
  • Context: It was a Cold War crisis response, with U.S. and British aircraft delivering over 2.3 million tons of food, fuel, and other essentials to keep West Berlin functioning.

In short, if you’re wondering “when was the Berlin Airlift,” think mid‑1948 to fall 1949.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.