“Berlin Airlift 1948-49” Cigarette Lighter. The lighter is a Lunder 1000 Automatic. It is marked on the bottom of the can; “Lunder 1000 (logo), D.R.P.” DRP is Deutsches Reich Patent, so I suppose this lighter received it’s patent during World War 2, in the German Third Reich. The sides of the can of this lighter are very nicely engraved; “Berlin Airlift, 1948-49, U.S. Navy VR-8, Frankfurt a/M” on one side and the name; “R.S. Newbrey” on the other side. VR-8 is Air Transport Squadron 8, and together with U.S. Navy Air Transport Squadron 6, assisted the U.S. Air Force and the British R.A.F. in providing food, gas and coal for West Berlin when the Russians closed off land access in 1948. VR-8 exceeded all other services in the most tonnage of supplies to West Berlin at the end of 1948. The aircraft involved in the airlift were the four-engined C-54 Skymaster and  twin-engined C-47 Dakota.  If this lighter could talk, it’s story about the owner and his squadron and plane would be fascinating. American planes flew a total of 92,000,000 miles durning this air lift! With the arm hinge at the left for reference, the post to the right is rotated and the arm, which is spring loaded opens up, and the flint wheel is ratcheted to create spark and light the wick. These lighters can be seen on eBay and other formats, and many do not work. A piece of spring steel which gears teeth in the side of the flint wheel is a weak element and often breaks. This lighter works perfectly. I have tested it several times, and now leave it closed. I cannot guarantee the functionality of this lighter past one or two tries by the new owner. A fresh flint has been loaded, and I noticed when I added it that the wick is low and needs to be replaced or raised. However, it is not really the lighter which makes this relic of the 1948-49 Berlin Airlift special, it is the engraving from a U.S. Navy Squadron VR-8 and that association. This is a rare U.S. Navy VR-8 Lighter with a clear Berlin Airlift connection. Price: $185.00 (ref. B-813)