 |
It was a
cool misty
morning at
Tempelhof
when the
small crowd
gathered and
the helmeted
security men
moved toward
the aircraft
boarding
steps. It
was 27 May
1965. |
 |
The aircraft
is a USAF
Lockheed
Super
Constellation.
There must
be someone
really
important
aboard to
have access
to this
aircraft in
those days. |
 |
They are
striding
purposely
toward the
speaker
platform
while the
Mercedes
Cabriolet
and other
fine cars
stand by. |
 |
It’s Ludwig
Erhard,
German
Federal
Chancellor
for the
1963-66 time
period.
(Note the
years are
the same as
Photographer
Bill
Christensen’s
Berlin Tour.
Could this
be a
coincidence
or is there
something
more?) West
Berlin Mayor
Willy Brandt
is also on
the
platform.
He will be
the Federal
Chancellor
from 1969 to
1974. |
 |
From a
vantage
point on the
broad
elevated
walkway
above the
hangar bay,
it is clear
another
important
personage
arrived
during the
morning. The
passengers
are not
present and
the aircraft
is cordoned
off with
security in
place around
the plane.
The nose of
the Super
Connie is
visible in
the upper
right-hand
corner. |
 |
Looking
through the
long narrow
window above
the hangar
door you can
see that the
Army has
positioned 7
tanks at the
far edge of
the tarmac.
If a 21 gun
salute is
needed, 3
tanks have
to fire 7
rounds each,
or vice
versa. |
 |
Here comes
the band and
some
marching
troops.
See the
person on
the outer
high
walkway?
Are the
cameramen on
their
platform?
Not yet. |
 |
More troops
and the
cameramen
are now in
place. |
 |
And, they
keep on
comin’ |
 |
…and comin'. |
 |
The cordon
is gone, the
honor guard
is in place
and the band
is playing,
“I’m a
Yankee
Doodle
Dandy”.
Or, maybe
not. |
 |
Don’t
ya
just love a
nice chrome
pot? |
 |
The Berlin
Police
Motorcycle
escort in
their
jackets of
white and
other
civilian
security
vehicles
have
entered the
hangar via
the tunnel
and are
being
directed to
the left. |
 |
The open
limousine is
directed to
the right
and follows
the AF blue
wagon. |
 |
Attention is
called and
the Base
Commander
greets Queen
Elizabeth
and Prince
Philip.
Willy Brandt
is toward
the rear of
the limo and
Ludwig
Erhard is
exiting the
vehicle. |
 |
The Queen’s
visit to
Berlin
culminates
the first
State Visit
of an
English
Monarch to
Germany for
52 years.
In the
interim 2
World Wars
had taken
Place.
The Queen
spoke of
peace
between the
two great
nations. |
 |
Earlier she
spoke of
visiting
Charlottenburg
Palace where
she saw a
portrait of
Princess
Sophie
Charlotte,
for whom the
palace was
built and
whose
brother was
King George
I of
England.
She said
that 14
daughters of
British
sovereigns
had married
German
princes. |
 |
Although she
didn’t say
so, you
could tell
she thought
the Boys
looked good
in their
Blues. |
 |
The ‘red
carpet’ was
withdrawn.
The honor
guard
withdrew.
And, the
tanks began
their
salute. See
the puffs of
smoke near
the tanks. |
 |
After all
were gone,
the choppers
were where
the choppers
were
supposed to
be. |
 |
The Mohawk
and King Air
were taking
on some
avgas for
the next
mission.
And, all
was well at
Tempelhof. |
 |
The German
Embassy in
England is
credited for
this picture
of Queen
Elizabeth
and Prince
Philip as
they are
greeted by
the
Berliners.
Willy
Brandt and
Ludwig
Erhard are
seated. |
