U.S. navy pilot Gail S. Halvorsen — generally known as the “Sweet Bomber” for his sweet airdrops through the Berlin airlift after World Conflict II ended — has died at 101.
Halvorsen died Wednesday at his house in Utah after a short sickness, stated James Stewart, the director of the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Training Basis.
Halvorsen was beloved and commemorated in Berlin, which he final visited in 2019 when town celebrated the seventieth anniversary of the day the Soviets lifted their post-Conflict World II blockade chopping off provides to West Berlin with a giant occasion on the former Tempelhof airport within the German capital.
Gail Halvorsen earned the nickname of “The Candyman” for dropping presents in Berlin.
(Related Press)
“Halvorsen’s deeply human act has by no means been forgotten,” Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey stated in an announcement.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox additionally praised Halvorsen, who was born in Salt Lake Metropolis however grew up on farms earlier than getting his pilot’s license.
“I do know he’s up there, handing out sweet behind the pearly gates someplace,” he stated.
After the US entered World Conflict II following the assault on Pearl Harbor, Halvorsen skilled as a fighter pilot and served as a transport pilot within the south Atlantic throughout World Conflict II earlier than flying meals and different provides to West Berlin as a part of the airlift.
In accordance with his account on the muse’s web site, Halvorsen had blended emotions concerning the mission to assist the US’ former enemy after shedding associates through the conflict.
However his angle modified, and his new mission was launched, after assembly a bunch of kids behind a fence at Templehof airport.
He supplied them the 2 items of gum that he had, damaged in half, and was touched to see those that obtained the gum sharing items of the wrapper with the opposite kids, who smelled the paper. He promised to drop sufficient for all of them the next day, wiggling the wings of his airplane as he flew over the airport, Halvorsen recalled.
He began doing so repeatedly, utilizing his personal sweet ration, with handkerchiefs as parachutes to hold them to the bottom. Quickly different pilots and crews joined in what could be dubbed “Operation Little Vittles.”
After an Related Press story appeared below the headline “Lollipop Bomber Flies Over Berlin,” a wave of sweet and handkerchief donations adopted.
Gail Halvorsen participates in a hall dedication ceremony for the Division of Protection Humanitarian Reduction Efforts at House and Overseas in 2009.
(Haraz N. Ghanbari/Related Press)
The airlift started on June 26, 1948, in an bold plan to feed and provide West Berlin after the Soviets — one of many 4 occupying powers of a divided Berlin after World Conflict II — blockaded town in an try and squeeze the U.S., Britain and France out of the enclave inside Soviet-occupied jap Germany.
Allied pilots flew 278,000 flights to Berlin, carrying about 2.3 million tons of meals, coal, medication and different provides.
Lastly, on Could 12, 1949, the Soviets realized the blockade was futile and lifted their barricades. The airlift continued for a number of extra months, nevertheless, as a precaution in case the Soviets modified their minds.
Reminiscences in Germany of American troopers handing out sweet, chewing gum or recent oranges are nonetheless omnipresent — particularly for the older technology born throughout or proper after the conflict.
Many fondly bear in mind consuming their first sweet and recent fruit throughout an period when folks in bombed-out cities have been ravenous or promoting their household heirlooms on the black marketplace for small quantities of flour, butter or oil simply so they may get by.
Berlin children encompass “Sweet Bomber” Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen in 1948 to thank him for dropping sweet from his airplane by handkerchief parachute.
(Related Press)
Halvorsen’s efforts to achieve out to the folks of Berlin helped ship a message that they weren’t forgotten and wouldn’t be deserted, Stewart stated.
Regardless of his preliminary ambivalence concerning the airlift, Halvorsen, who grew up poor through the Nice Despair, acknowledged a little bit of himself within the kids behind the fence and made a reference to them, he stated.
“A easy person-to-person act of kindness can actually change the world,” Stewart stated.
