The Berlin Candy Bomber book cover

The Berlin Candy Bomber

In June 1948 Russia laid siege to Berlin, cutting off the flow of food and supplies over highways into the city. More than two million people faced economic collapse and starvation. The Americans, English, and French began a massive airlift to bring sustenance to the city and to thwart Russian siege. Gail Halvorsen was one of hundreds of U.S. pilots involved in the airlift. While in Berlin, he met a group of children standing by the airport watching the incoming planes, shared some gum with them, and promised he would airdrop candy to them on his next flight. True to his word, as he flew in the next day, he wiggled the wings of his plane to identify himself, then dropped several small bundles of candy using parachutes crafted from handkerchiefs to slow their fall. Local newspapers picked up the story. He became known as The Berlin Candy Bomber. Other pilots began dropping candy too, and the candy drops became an event of world-wide proportions—a symbol of human charity. This book tells the heart-warming tale.

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by Gail S. Halvorsen

The Berlin Candy Bomber is a love story—how two sticks of gum and one man’s kindness to the children of a vanquished enemy grew into an epic of goodwill spanning the globe—touching the hearts of millions in both Germany and America. In June 1948, Russia laid siege to Berlin, cutting off the flow of food and supplies over highways into the city. More than two million people faced economic collapse and starvation. The Americans, English, and French began a massive airlift to bring sustenance to the city and to thwart Russian siege. Gail Halvorsen was one of hundreds of U.S. pilots involved in the airlift. While in Berlin, he met a group of children standing by the airport watching the incoming planes. Though they hadn’t asked for candy, he was impressed to share with them the two sticks of gum he had in his possession. Seeing how thrilled they were by this gesture, he promised to drop more candy to them the next time he flew to the area. True to his word, as he flew in the next day, he wiggled the wings of his plane to identify himself, then dropped several small bundles of candy using parachutes crafted from handkerchiefs to slow their fall. He became known as the Berlin candy bomber. Local newspapers picked up the story. Suddenly, letters addressed to “Uncle Wiggly Wings” began to arrive as the children requested candy drops in other areas of the city. Enthusiasm spread to America, and candy contributions came from all across the country. Within weeks candy manufacturers began donating candy by the boxcar. In May 1949, the highway blockade ended, and the airlift ended in September. But the story of The Berlin Candy Bomber, Uncle Wiggly Wings and the candy-filled parachutes lives on—a symbol of human charity.

Though now somewhat elderly, Gail Halvorsen continues to fly and drop candy to children in many American schools today.

Chapters include:

  1. Survival
  2. The Quest For Flight
  3. Blockade Storm Clouds
  4. Off to Rhein-Main
  5. The First Corridor Flight
  6. Aerodromes, Aircraft, People, and Politics
  7. Flight Experiences in the Corridors
  8. Cultural Shock
  9. Anticipating the End
  10. Little Things Mean a Lot
  11. The Commitment
  12. Operation Little Vittles
  13. Post Airlift Happenings
  14. Back To Berlin
  15. Little Decisions Continue To Be Important
  16. Lessons Learned

6″x 9″ paperback

260 pages

 

Topics: Berlin Candy Bomber, Berlin Blockade, Russian Siege, Highway Blockade, Airlift, Americans, English, French, Berlin, Children, Candy, Parachutes, Handkerchiefs, Donations, Wiggled Wings, Uncle Wiggly Wings, Donating, Donations, Contributions

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