Gail S Halvorsen
(Photo: USAF)
The Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, born October 10, 1920 in Salt Lake City , Utah, is a career officer in the Air Force of the United States where he became famous as the "chocolate wheel," of "candy bomber" or "Uncle Wiggly Wings "('uncle who flutters') following the air drops of candy he made in West Berlin during the Berlin Blockade of 1948-1949.
Summary |
Operation Little Vittles
G. Halvorsen was in the first group of airmen sent to Frankfurt to help the Germans to bring food, medicines and other commodities by air during the blockade of Berlin in 1948-1949. Airmen typically do not stay in Berlin to unload their cargo and refueling of fuel for their aircraft. During his day off, approaching the city, Halvorsen found a barbed wire fence that separated a few German children who were playing.
"Most children gathered around him, crying and asking for candy and chewing gum, he said, but those were different. These children had endured so much, their city was virtually destroyed and many of them had lost family members during the war. However, none of them asked, chewing gum or candy. " He passed through the barrier two sticks of chewing gum he had in his pocket. Without discussion, the children divided the small pieces of chewing gum into pieces and even smaller when there remained more to share, they passed the wrapping paper for sentir.Il told the children that would be the day and that if they were willing to share them, he dropped candy from his plane, flying over the city, he would tip the wings of his plane in gratitude and he let go of small parachutes made of handkerchiefs.
The next day, Halvorsen dropped three parachutes loaded with candy to children waiting below. To identify themselves, he moved his plane's wings, which led to his nickname "Onkel Wackelflgel" ("Uncle Wiggly Wings") ('Uncle flapping wings'). The operation continued on a small scale for several weeks. Halvorsen began to drop not only his own rations of candy but also those other men in his unit gave. One day entering his quarters, he found a packet of letters addressed to "Uncle beating of wing "and" chocolate wheel, "Air Base Tempalhof. He left quickly, but was summoned by his supervisor after a few days. His supervisor told him that had fallen candy at the end of a runway, had hit a German reporter in the head and the story of the "candy bombing" was now on the front page of every newspaper in Berlin. Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner approved of it, allowed him to continue to parachute sweets, even ordered the expansion and called it "Operation Little Vittles."
Soldiers helped by giving their rations of candy but also their handkerchiefs and their sleeves of their shirts that served as parachutes. Finally they began to attach a note to ask to make parachutes for them to serve again, most of the parachutes were made.
The operation of taking the scale, the radio stations while the east coast of the United States played tunes to the handkerchiefs. They invited people to send in envelopes handkerchiefs in Frankfurt. At the height of the operation, he came every two days in Germany five mailbags full of handkerchiefs. "The inhabitants of Chicopee Falls (Mass.), sent many boxes full of candy and boxes already attached to parachutes."
The Weekly Reader children's newspaper, also brought its support. He encouraged the children to school to send small stakes to help children in Germany and the response was massive.
Confectionery in the United States also participated. At the end of the airlift, about 25 crews had dropped over 23 tons of chocolate, chewing gum, candy and other various places on Berlin, and most for Christmas was kept and distributed to the children of West Berlin
Military career
Halvorsen continued to meet several national and international missions for the remainder of his career in the U.S. Air Force. He returned to Germany in the early 1970s, this time as commander of the international airport of Tempelhof in West Berlin. As such, Halvorsen hosted official functions at home. Being a devout Mormon , G. Halvorsen became famous for its non-alcoholic cocktails served at these receptions.
Relations between Germany and U.S.
Halvorsen's actions as 'candy bomber' had a considerable impact on the perception of American postwar Germany and is still seen as a symbol of relations between Germany and America. It appeared several times on German television over the years, often associated with some of these children become adults, who received his parachutes of candy.
In 1974 he was awarded the "Groes Bundesverdienstkreuz "(Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany), one of the most honorific Medals Germany. At the opening of Olympic Games Winter 2002 February 8, G. Halvorsen brought the plate of the national German team at Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium.
In 1989, Halvorsen was engaged in a reenactment of the actions in Berlin for the fortieth anniversary of the airlift. During Operation Provide Promise 'in Bosnia-Herzegovina , he parachuted candy from a USAF C-130 , 435 Airlift Wing, flying from the airbase Rhein-Main, Germany. G. Halvorsen also attended the closing ceremony of Tempelhof Air Base in 1993 and the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Berlin Airlift in 1998. The U.S. military has reproduced some of the actions in Iraq Halvorsen dropping toys, teddy bears , balloons and a football for Iraqi children Inheritance The U.S. Air Force has sealed the legacy of Colonel Halvorsen giving its name to its next generation of transport aircraft loading capacity 5 tons. The U.S. Air Force has also appointed 'Colonel Gail Halvorsen Award' the price of air transport in support of logistical preparation. His son, Colonel Robert Halvorsen, was pilot of the USAF C-130 and is captain for Delta Air Lines. In 1995, G. Halvorsen and his wife, Alta, traveled to St. Petersburg in Russia to serve as missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their task was to train instructors, visit classrooms of the Institute of Religion , as well as working with the youth of the Church. Halvorsen and his wife have also served as missionaries of The Church of London , England in the 1980s. Service missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
References
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