probably helped save the lives of people from starvation,
you've kept them warm in the winter,
you might have carried medical supplies that
were essential for them.
It was a two-way thing as well.
A lot of people think it was just taking things
in to Berlin, but the very elderly and sick
who couldn't be treated
because of the lack of hospital spaces,
we brought them out as well.
The Germans, we came across a lot.
They were civilian gangs loading the planes
and unloading, they were fine.
And once we'd finished the airlift
and we were at Uetersen,
we got on well with the Germans in the surrounding villages.
We played darts against them,
we played football against them,
and all sorts of things like that.
And all the Germans that I'd met since,
I've been on holiday and come across Germans,
and I'd say, oh gosh yes,
we owed you a lot in that time.
