In 1948 the Soviets began a blockade of the Allies Sector of Berlin, which was located deep within East Germany. The United States responded with the world largest airlift. The operation was code named "Operation Vittles". In charge of the operaiton was the newly formed Military Air Transportation Service. In the course of the operation over 150,000 flights delivered 2, 325,000 tons of food and fuel. Only 12 airforce plane crashed during the entire operation.