Erding: A courageous US pilot gave Williamsville its name
Created: 12/31/2022, 2:00 p.m
By: Gerda Gebel
This monument on Rotkreuzstrasse commemorates Leland V. Williams.
The two arches symbolize the Berlin Airlift.
© Peter Gebel
He was one of the courageous pilots who supplied West Berlin from the air in 1948: Leland V. Williams.
An entire district in Erding is named after the lieutenant in the US Air Force.
The American, stationed in Erding, paid for his commitment with his life - at the age of only 28.
On July 8, 1948, he crashed his heavily loaded machine over the Taunus in difficult weather conditions at night.
An entire district in Erding is named in his memory: Williamsville.
A monument on Rotkreuzstrasse commemorates him.
Died serving in the Airlift: First Lieutenant Leland V. Williams.
© Repro: Peter Gebel
After the Second World War, American troops took over the Erding Air Base (Airfield R.91) and set up a large supply depot there.
In divided Berlin, the Soviet occupation forces blocked all roads and rail routes to West Berlin from June 1948, thereby cutting off West Berliners – more than two million people – from the outside world.
Although they were able to move about freely, their supply of food, fuel and other goods was cut off.
The Americans and British then set up an airlift to supply West Berlin.
For almost a year, countless planes commuted to Berlin, popularly known as raisin bombers because they often dropped raisin packages for the children before landing.
The air base played an important role, although there were no flights to Berlin from Erding.
The air base acted as a huge air transshipment point for freight to Berlin.
The aircraft used were serviced here and spare parts provided.
One of the courageous pilots of the airlift was First Lieutenant Leland V. Williams, stationed in Erding, who died along with his colleague George B. Smith on July 8, 1948 during a mission in a plane crash near Wiesbaden.
Born in Tuscola, Texas, Williams was only 28 years old.
The housing estate on Rotkreuzberg was named after him. According to American plans, it was built for the US military with over 200 spacious housing units as close as possible to their workplace.
A wide access avenue leads to the loosely grouped houses and squares, where in June 1951 a plaque was erected in memory of the brave pilot.
In English, the original plaque recognized Williams' service.
© Peter Gebel
At the 50th anniversary of the Berlin Airlift in June 1998, the widow Jeanette Williams was also a guest of the federal government in Berlin.
She used her visit to Germany to make a detour to Erding, where she once lived with her late husband and even won a beauty pageant as "Miss Erding Depot".
At the memorial on Rotkreuzstraße, the beige arches embody the airlift.
The plaque originally written in English was stolen.
For several years it has replaced a plaque with German text, donated by the Friends of the City of Erding and the Beautification Association.
The housing estate is now owned by the federal government and is primarily used to house federal employees.
The Williamsville settlement community is dedicated to representing the interests of tenants.
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Namesake Leland V. Williams was also part of the special exhibition of the Museum Erding in 2016, in which important personalities were presented.
The air base will be converted to civilian use in 2024, and plans for the conversion are already underway.
What remains is the settlement with the American name in memory of a heroic aviator.
Sources: Chronicle of the Erding Air Base 1936-1996;
Museum Erding: Special exhibition 2016 “From Ardeo to Zehetmair.
26 personalities from 1200 years of Erdinger history".
