Alec Chambers served as a Flight Engineer during the Berlin Airlift with Flight Refueling Limited, becoming involved through Sir Alan Cobham, who provided tanker services for refueling aircraft over Berlin. Before the airlift, he participated in North Atlantic trials using modified Lancaster bombers for refueling missions. Chambers operated specialized equipment such as sinker weights and line-throwing guns to ensure safe fuel transfer between tankers and receiving aircraft, managing hydraulic systems and securing lines during operations. Originally from Shrivenham, Berkshire, Chambers volunteered for aircrew in World War II but initially served as an Engine Fitter. He was called up in January 1944 and trained as a Flight Engineer. After the war, he continued in-flight refueling with Cobham's organization, which transitioned to Tarrant Rushton to support the Berlin Airlift. While stationed in Wunstorf near Hannover, he described the chaotic post-war environment and his routine of checking aircraft readiness and coordinating refueling operations. Chambers noted the challenges of flying Lancasters with heavy fuel loads, adapting them for airlift despite their bombing design, and shared experiences of turbulence and landing difficulties due to shifting fuel weight. His account highlights the logistical challenges of air refueling during this critical period in history. 

As soon as he left school in 1943, Bill Evans began a career in precision engineering, working on munitions, making sights for Bren guns and camera guns for aircraft. In 1947, Bill passed the exam to join the RAF for his National Service and began his training in Padgate near Liverpool. Bill shares details of the various stations around the UK where he honed his skills as a flight mechanic before being sent to Buckeburg, the RAF’s HQ in Germany. He recalls the perks of his job, sharing details of the aircraft he worked on and memories of the limited entertainment options in the nearby town of Minden. He also reflects on the black market and how valuable a tin of corned beef had become. It wasn’t until later in life, upon returning to Berlin, that Bill realised the profound impact of the Berlin Airlift on the city's residents. His story is told with the humility characteristic of his generation, who largely saw their hard work and commitment as simply getting on with the job they’d been given to do.