"Candy Bomber" reflects on Air Force heritage at Joint Service Open House

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Amaani Lyle
  • 459th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs Office
ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, Md. --  An Air Force legend who sweetened the lives of thousands of children during the Berlin Airlift appeared here for the 2008 Joint Service Open House May 16-18.

Retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, affectionately known as the " Berlin Candy Bomber" received his nickname for dropping candy tied to parachutes from his C-54 Skymaster to children in 1948 and 1949.

The colonel and other members of the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation took time for photos and autographs at the Skymaster static display as scores of people flocked to meet the team. He patiently told his story to a new generation of fans.

"I'd just flown into Templehoff Air Base in Berlin and, through the barbed wire fence, I could see some local children had come to meet me," the colonel said. "The children were hungry, but I had no food to give them, only some gum that I'd broken into pieces."

Colonel Halvorsen promised to return with more goodies when he noticed that the children who didn't get gum were grateful to even sniff the wrapper. In July 1948, he tied some Hershey bars and Mounds bars into a handkerchief and dropped them from a parachute. American candy companies were so moved by the gesture that they donated more than 20 tons of candy. Two years and 250,000 parachutes later, the Candy Bomber had etched his place in history forever.

"I did it for the childrens' smiling faces," the colonel said when asked about the inspiration for the drop. "Bringing food and freedom to them is something I'll never forget."

Colonel Halvorsen and his wife, Lorraine, divide the year between Spanish Fork, Utah, and Amado, Ariz., but the couple ardently participates in military events throughout the world.

"It's wonderful to be here today and be a part of history," Colonel Halvorsen said. "This air show is multi-service, multi-national and really comes full circle from the great feeling of teamwork I had in 1948 when I started Operation Little Vittles." 

Though thousands of children delighted in the raining candy, the Berlin Airlift  was a major moral and logistical feat for the U.S. and its allies. According to the BAHF Web page, the innovative idea to keep Berlin supplied by air gave western leaders the maneuvering room they needed to avoid conflict. The efforts that eventually brought down the Berlin wall in 1989 were made possible by the food, tools and supplies delivered there more than 40 years prior. BAHF's president, Timothy A. Chopp, founder and aircraft commander of the C-54, echoed the colonel's sentiments, and touted the airlift victory as one of peace.

"The Berlin Airlift took hard work, sacrifice and perserverance," Mr. Chopp said. "The Airlift was a massive team effort from the pilots and mechanics who made the transports fly, to the small child living in the rubble of bombed out buildings, who was willing to eat less, all for one purpose, to keep Berlin free."

Exhibits and demonstrations showcasing the joint efforts of the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard were the hallmarks of this year's JSOH, which coincides with the 60th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift.

Team Andrews is home to active duty, Reserve and Guard units that defend the National Capital Region and deploy worldwide.