Operation ‘Schooner/Nylon’: RAF flying in the Berlin control zone

Abstract

Shortly after the end of the Second World War six Allied and Soviet Military Liaison Missions were established on the territory of the former Third Reich. The British contribution to this was known as BRIXMIS, the British Commanders ‘‐in‐Chief Mission to the Soviet Forces in Germany. However, after a short time liaison was not the only activity, espionage inevitably became the most important function of BRIXMIS. One of the more important and dangerous operations was the acquisition of aerial intelligence of Soviet installations in East Germany and East Berlin taking photography with hand‐held cameras from a single‐engined Chipmunk aircraft which was ostensibly used by the RAF for training purposes.