Guernsey, 2008 Five Pounds RAF "GUERNSEY BERLIN AIRLIFT" Silver Proof.
The Berlin Airlift was a consequence of the Berlin Blockade denying road and rail access to occupied Berlin. It was imposed by the Soviet Union upon the British, American and French authorities occupying areas of Berlin. The Americans contacted the RAF to discuss a joint aircraft operation and learnt that the RAF was already airlifting supplies to its sector and had calculated that supplying the western part of Berlin by air would be a practical proposition. The US airlift commenced on 26th June 1948, and the first British aircraft flew on 28th June. The Berlin Airlift continued for 321 days, although initially the Allies had considered it would only last three weeks. At the start of the operation, the RAF deployed about 150 C-47 Dakotas and 40 Avro Yorks, later joined by 10 Short Hythe Flying Boats landing on the Havel river. By mid July the RAF was flying 5,538 tons of supplies a day into Berlin the height of the Airlift, and allied aircraft was landing every minute in Berlin.
COIN SPECIFICATION
Issuing Country: Bailiwick of Guernsey
Denomination: 5 Pounds
Alloy: 925 Sterling silver
Weight: 28.28g
Diameter: 38.61 mm
Limited Edition: 25,000