RAF Regiment recruits under training at Gatow, Berlin, 1947

The RAF Regiment was formed on 1 February 1942 in response to the RAF being given responsibility for defending its own airfields after the disastrous campaign in Crete. Its role was to seize, secure and defend airfields to enable air operations to take place.

In the aftermath of the Second World War in Europe, the defeated Germany was divided between the victorious Allies. Likewise, the city of Berlin was similarly divided. The former Luftwaffe airfield of Gatow fell inside the British Zone, and became RAF Gatow in 1945. Along with the American airfield of Tempelhof and the French airfield of Tegel, RAF Gatow played a key role in the Berlin airlift of 1948. Initially, about 150 Douglas Dakotas and 40 Avro Yorks were used to fly supplies into Gatow. By 18 July 1948, the RAF was flying 995 tons of supplies per day into the airfield. After the Berlin Blockade, RAF Gatow served as an airfield for the British Army’s Berlin Brigade, and was prepared to revert to its role as a supply base, if another Berlin Airlift to West Berlin ever became necessary. The RAF continued to operate from Gatow until 1995. Part of the Charles Brown collection held by the RAF Museum.