Last flight from historic Berlin airport

October 31, 2008|The Associated Press

BERLIN — The last flight lifted off from Tempelhof Airport late Thursday, ending an era of aviation that spanned World War II, the Cold War and the rebirth of the German capital.

The future of the 900-acre site is uncertain. Proposals have included turning the airfield and building -- one of the world's biggest and a historic landmark -- into a luxury spa, condos, a museum, a park, a trade center or even the centerpiece of a new Olympic bid.

After World War II, Tempelhof became a major U.S. Air Force base. It was the central point of a massive U.S.-led airlift in 1948 when the Soviets blockaded all land and water traffic to Berlin in an attempt to squeeze Western allies out of the city.

Just before midnight Thursday, a DC-3 "Candy Bomber" and a Junkers Ju-52, both from the 1930s, took off.

Then the runway lights went black.

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Last flight from historic Berlin airport

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