Years have gone by, but the memory and mission of the Berlin Airlift remain strong in Germany, where a recent 60th anniversary celebration honored the airmen who helped fly supplies into the country to keep it going while the world dealt with Josef Stalin.

One of those pilots was Denton’s Leroy Williamson, who attended the May 19 celebration.

“I was just amazed at the love people had for us,” Williamson said.

Williamson traveled with his family to Germany, where he and other pilots received medals and other gifts, and attended a ceremony with remarks from the mayor of Berlin.

“Berlin still feels immense gratitude to all those people who helped its people survive. The steadfastness of the Allies and this act of solidarity are burned deep in the city’s memory,” said Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit.

Williamson was awed by the number of Germans who wanted his autograph and wanted him to pose for pictures with them.

The 89-year-old Williamson sought no glory in his military service.

“It was something to do at first,” he said.

Born and raised in Sealy, he joined the Texas National Guard in 1938 and was a sergeant of infantry when World War II officially began for the U.S.

His transition to a pilot bore out of the military’s need for them. He entered pilot training in 1942 with dreams of “just being able to fly,” he said.

While he knew there would be combat in flying, Williamson said he wasn’t worried, thinking he was “invincible.”

He went overseas in 1943 as a bomber pilot with the 8th Air Force in England. He found out he was not so invincible when his plane was shot down and he spent time in a prison camp.

Not long after his release from the camp, Williamson was back in service and facing the Berlin Airlift’s beginning.

When the Soviet Union blockaded Berlin in an act of political coercion, Great Britain, France and the United States decided to defy the blockade. They began planning the means to fly in supplies to Berliners.

“We couldn’t turn over 2 million people to the Russians,” Williamson said.

Billy Kellum, a longtime friend of Williamson’s with military piloting experience, praises the work of the airlift.

“My hat’s off to them. They did it with the best equipment they had at the time. The sophistication was so much less than what we have today,” he said. “It’s amazing these guys were able to do that kind of carrying of cargo with the airplanes they had, the instrument systems, 24 hours a day, around the clock, day and night.”

Williamson was uplifted when visited the country to see that the Germans were intent on remembering the airlift.

Other airmen made the trip along with Williamson, who credits the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association for making the trip possible.

Of his family members, Williamson said his 13-year-old grandson, Garrett, was the most enamored with seeing the country his grandfather helped save during and after the war. Williamson hopes to share that experience with other family members.

“We’re in the talking stages — another son wants to go,” Williamson said. “And if I am able, we’ll go.”

BJ LEWIS can be reached at 940-566-6875. His e-mail address is blewis@dentonrc.com.