Manoeuvres Of Soviet Air Force Over And About Berlin

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1948, Page 5

Manoeuvres Of Soviet Air Force Over And About Berlin

LONDON, October 6.

The Russians have notified the four-Fower air safety centre in Berlin that Russian ground-to-air firing practice will be held close to two ol Berlin’s supply air lanes, says the British United Press Berlin correspondent. The British and French air authorities immediately protested. The American Deputy Military Governor, Major-General Hays, said he would protest if firing actually interfered with air-lift planes. (Rec. 10.5). LONDON. Oct. 7. The correspondent of the British United Press at Berlin says:—The Russians gave notice of big air manoeuvres to be held to-day (Thursday) along the air corridors to Berlin and over the city itself. (Rec. 11.45) LONDON, Oct. 7 After the Russians gave notice of their big air manoeuvres to be held to-day along the air corridors to Berlin and over the city a British United Press correspondent reported that the Russian warning stated that antiaircraft firing, parachute jumping and air-to-air firing at sleeve targets, as well as formation and individual flights by bombers, would be carried The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says that when the Russians had announced that they would hold a parachute practice in an area 20 miles west of Berlin in the Berlin-Buckeburg air corridor, the British authorities lodged an immediate protest. The correspondent adds that Prussian action violates two fottrPower air safety regulations. Parachuting in the air corridors is forbidden except when it is necessary to leave an aircraft in an emergency. Also, it is forbidden to drop objects which might interfere with other aeroplanes in the area. British and American air lift pilots reported that Soviet troops had been making practice parachute jumps in the Allied air corridors. The American chief controller at the Berlin Air Safety Centre said: “They are not hindering the air lift in any way, and we do not consider the matter serious. The jumps, which apparently are connected with the Russian Army autumn manoeuvres, are being made from a very low altitude .