the middle air corridor to Berlin and having the shortest distance to Berlin. Unlike other air bases, Celle was not completely handed over to the United States Air Force (USAF) but remained under the control of the Royal Air Force (RAF) even though the aircraft using the airfield were American. After RAF Fassberg and RAF Wunstorf Celle became the third airfield in the region to serve in the airlift. USAF 317th Troop Carrier Group equipped with Douglas C-54 Skymaster were stationed on the air base at the end of 1948 and transported mostly coal to Berlin. In order to cope with the enormous traffic the airfield was extended, receiving an unusually long (about 300 metres) rail siding and, for the first time, a runway with an asphalt surface. At the beginning of the airlift a total of 600 tons of freight were transported into the besieged city which increased to 1000 tons of coal and food each day in the spring of 1949. The American forces were assisted by 5,000 German workers in this undertaking. In order to house them, north of the barracks a huge housing area consisting of Nissen huts was built. At the same time, Celle residents began to complain about the so-called "Veronikas″, German women attracted to the well paid soldiers. A public appeal by the city of Celle denounced the "women and girls who cause offence and outrage" amongst the population. The public outrage and repeated appeals for morality by local politicians in the local press became well known throughout Germany. Even a Stuttgart-based newspaper published an article about "Celle - an outraged city" on 14 February 1949. Next to the road leading to Celle Air Base, a monument in memory of the support given by Celle to the Berlin Airlift was erected by the city of Celle in 1988. Following the end of the Berlin Airlift in 1949, the airfield was again used exclusively by British Forces. Over the years several squadrons were stationed at Royal Air Force Station Celle which since 1950 were equipped with jet engined fighters, the Vampire and Venom. A number of ground-based units were also present: No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment 226 Signal Squadron, Royal Corps of Signals The infrastructure for a renewed airlift, however, was kept in place and was constantly improved until German reunification. The runway was extended in the 1960s and an instrument landing system (ILS)