Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Pakati pa1948, Soviet Union yakaisa zvikamu zveFrance, zveBritain neAmerica zveguta rakagarwa reBerlin pasi pokudzivirira
zvichitevera kukakavadzana nemasimba okuMadokero, kuchigura migwagwa yeguta yokupinza zvinhu. Sezvo ngwavaira yorudzi rwomunhu yakanga ichipinda, ndege huru yakarongwa nemasimba okumadokero kuti ifambe ichibetsera vagari vomuguta racho. Kutsigira nhamburiko yacho, Hurumende yeAustralia yakapa ndege nevashandi vendege kuti vasimbise mupiro weUnited Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF). Nokuda kwekusakwanisa kweRAF kuti iite zvakakwana zvikwata zvayo zveDakota, chisarudzo chakaitwa kuti mupiro weAustralia ugare wakavharwa kune vashandi vemhepo vaizoshandisa ndege dzeBritain. The Berlin Airlift Squadron yakaumbwa pa RAAF Richmond muna August 1948 kubva kune gumi Douglas Dakota vashandi vakatorwa kubva kuNhamba 36 neNhamba 38 Squadrons. Mukupera kwaAugust, vashandi vakaenda kuUnited Kingdom sevatakuri muQantas vanobhururuka. Mupiro weAustralia kuchiteshi chendege, kubva muna September 1948, wakagadzwa seOperation Pelican.