Selected Events in 2005
“Candy Bomber” Gail Halverson Launches his Memoirs in Berlin
September 19, 2005. Retired Col. Gail Halverson, who become known as the “Candy Bomber” for dropping candy to German children during the Berlin airlift 1948/49, visits Berlin for the launch of the German translation of his memoirs “Kaugummi und Schokolade” on September 21. Col. Halverson and Mr. Heinz-Gerd Reese from the Stiftung Luftbrückendank also met with Ambassador Timken at the U.S. Embassy in Berlin on September 19. Ambassador Timken emphasized the traditional close ties between Germany and the United States.
Glad to see that Gail is still alive, a man of irrespressible energy. He was the original ‘candy bomber’ pilot, actually a C-54 also known as Uncle Wiggles who dropped candy attached to hankerchiefs for the children of Berlin. He has also been active in Afghanistan and Iraq relief efforts. Some people don’t know when to retire! 🙂
By: Newforest - 7th March 2006 at 08:28
http://www.aero-news.net/index.cfm?ContentBlockID=0542c464-0f7d-4dd2-83e9-0ca46e34f4e0&
Gail Halvorsen visited Pope Airforce base in February and also a local school to describe his exploits.
He explained that you should do things for others because it is the right thing to do, not because of any rewards that might come out of it.
By: skypilot62 - 17th November 2005 at 18:07
I too met him at a Mormon church at Bracknell -must have been ’86 too. He gave a very memorable chat talk about his wartime and post-war career – a talk that really helped encourage me in my own desire to fly. I also met him again in ’98 whe he came over with the C-54 and he nighstopped at Prestwick. I was doing my training at the time so I met up with him. Our digs were part of the former USAAF officers mess, where he’d billetted during the war! I was able to spend a whole evening just him and I yapping (well, him yapping, me hanging on his every word!). What disappointed me was that not one of my fellow aviation students was interested in meeting him.
By: Newforest - 15th November 2005 at 14:51
I met Gail when he came over with the C54 of the Berlin airlift historical foundation in (IIRC) 1998 – He acted as co-pilot in the C54!! (great bunch of people who opperate this lovely aircraft)
Fantastic chap – very warm/kind hearted – it was great to talk to him. His book is a great read as well.
I agree, I met him at a Mormon church in Southampton about ’86 and he was an inspiration. 🙂
By: richb - 15th November 2005 at 14:35
Candy bomber
I met Gail when he came over with the C54 of the Berlin airlift historical foundation in (IIRC) 1998 – He acted as co-pilot in the C54!! (great bunch of people who opperate this lovely aircraft)
Fantastic chap – very warm/kind hearted – it was great to talk to him. His book is a great read as well.
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November 15, 2005 at 1:06 pm