Hathaway, Michael J. "First Blood: Berlin, 1948"
Divergence: 1948 CE
What if: Tension in the skies over Berlin escalated in September 1948 following a mid-air collision between an American transport and Soviet fighter.
Summary: The story of the Great Berlin Furball of Oct. 18, 1948, which was quickly hushed-up. Story is almost secret history except that the Western Allies gain some ground due to the mini-conflict and the Berlin Airlift ends four months early.
Published: In Cold War Hot: Alternate Decisions in the East-West Struggle (ed. Peter G. Tsouras), q.v.