Gail S. Halvorsen, an honorary life member of American Legion Post GRO5 in Germany, provided candy via airdrops to children in East Berlin following World War II.
Department of France Legionnaire and retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, better known as the “Candy Bomber” for his efforts during the Berlin Airlift, passed away Feb. 17 at age 101.
An honorary life member of Rhein Main Post GR05 in Morfelden-Walldorf, Germany, Halvorsen gained fame for dropping candy via parachute to children behind the Soviet Union blockage of East Germany.
According to Gail S. Halvorsen Foundation, in July 1948 Halvorsen came across 30 children along the barbed wire fence at Tempelhof in Berlin. “They were so excited,” Halvorsen recalled. “All I had was two sticks of gum. I broke them in two and passed them through the barbed wire. The result was unbelievable. Those with the gum tore off strips of the wrapper and gave them to the others. Those with the strips put them to their noses and smelled the tiny fragrance. The expression of pleasure was unmeasurable.
“I was so moved by what I saw and their incredible restraint that I promised them I would drop enough gum for each of them the next day as I came over their heads to land. They would know my plane because I would wiggle the wings as I came over the airport. When I got back to base I attached gum and even chocolate bars to three handkerchief parachutes. We wiggled the wings and delivered the goods the next day. What a jubilant celebration.”
Halvorsen began to regularly make the candy drops; soon, other pilots joined in what became known as “Operation Little Vittles.” It’s estimated, according to the foundation, that 46,000 pounds of candy were delivered to the children via the operation.
- Honor & Remembrance