By Colleen Slevin and Kirsten Grieshaber | Related Press
DENVER — U.S. navy pilot Gail S. Halvorsen — often known as the “Sweet Bomber” for his sweet airdrops throughout the Berlin airlift after World Conflict II ended — has died at age 101.
Halvorsen died Wednesday following a short sickness in his dwelling state of Utah, surrounded by most of his kids, James Stewart, the director of the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Training Basis, mentioned Thursday.
Halvorsen was beloved and honored in Berlin, which he final visited in 2019 when the town celebrated the seventieth anniversary of the day the Soviets lifted their post-World Conflict II blockade reducing off provides to West Berlin with an enormous occasion on the former Tempelhof airport within the German capital.
“Halvorsen’s deeply human act has by no means been forgotten,” Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey mentioned in a press release.
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 mentioned.
After the USA entered World Conflict II following the assault on Pearl Harbor, Halvorsen educated 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 keeping with his account on the muse’s web site, Halvorsen had combined emotions in regards to the mission to assist the USA’ former enemy after dropping buddies throughout the warfare.
However his perspective modified, and his new mission was launched, after assembly a gaggle of youngsters 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 received 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 as he flew, wiggling the wings of his aircraft as he flew over the airport, Halvorsen recalled.
He began doing so recurrently, 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.
The airlift started June 26, 1948, in an formidable 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 the town in an try and squeeze the U.S., Britain and France out of the enclave inside Soviet-occupied japanese Germany.
Allied pilots flew 278,000 flights to Berlin, carrying about 2.3 million tons of meals, coal, drugs and different provides.
Lastly, on Might 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.
Recollections in Germany of American troopers handing out sweet, chewing gum or contemporary oranges are nonetheless omnipresent — particularly for the older technology born throughout or proper after the warfare.
Many fondly keep in mind consuming their first sweet and contemporary fruit throughout an period when individuals in bombed-out cities had been ravenous or promoting their household heirlooms on the black marketplace for small quantities of of flour, butter or oil simply so they may get by.
Halvorsen’s efforts to achieve out to the individuals of Berlin helped ship a message that they weren't forgotten and wouldn't be deserted, Stewart mentioned.
Regardless of his preliminary ambivalence in regards to the airlift, Halvorsen, who grew up poor throughout the Nice Melancholy, acknowledged a little bit of himself within the kids behind the fence and made a reference to them, he mentioned.
“A easy individual to individual act of kindness can actually change the world,” Stewart mentioned.
Related Press author Sam Metz contributed to this report.