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The “Candy Bomber”
Christmas 1948, the “Candy Bomber”
I was 2 years old lil girl and remember it well. How happy we were, all of us, who had nothing and were hungry. That is why I still today love candy, maybe even to much. And handmadeartist.com has plenty of it….
Christmas from Heaven is a true story of the humble beginnings of what became a beacon of hope to a war-torn land, the story of Gail Halvorsen, a young pilot in the US Army Air Corps who was assigned as a cargo pilot to the Berlin Airlift, in which US forces flew much-needed supplies into a Soviet-blockaded Berlin.
My parents and extended family were living in Berlin for a short time after the war had ended. My Mom was born in Berlin and her roots were there. I know Berlin like my left Jeans pocket, as the saying goes.
As Lt. Gail Halvorsen performed his duties, he began to notice the German children gathered by the fences of Tempelhof Air Base. (I was one of them on grandma’s hand)
Knowing that they had very little, he one day offered them some chewing gum. From that small act, an idea sprang: He would “bomb” Berlin with candy. Fashioning small parachutes, he and his crew sent them floating down as they approached the Berlin airport, wiggling the wings of their C-54 as a signal to the children that their anticipated cargo would soon arrive.
Lt. Halvorsen became known by hundreds, if not thousands, of children in Berlin as “Uncle Wiggly Wings” or “The Candy Bomber.” Word soon spread, and donations of candy and other supplies poured in from sympathetic Americans. Lt. Halvorsen’s small idea became a great symbol of hope not only to German children in a bombed-out city but to all those who yearned for freedom.
I was a very grateful German 2 year old girl, looking out for candy at Berlin Tempelhof Airport. So check out the goodies here available at Handmadeartist.com
Monika of Myeuropeantouch
Tags: candy, candybomber, chocolate, chocolate pop, Handmade, handmadeartists, homemade, lollypop, MyEuropeanTouch, syrup
Posted in Discover Handmade, Featured Vendor, Handmade, Handmade Artisans, Handmade Mode
6 Responses to “The “Candy Bomber””
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What a beautiful story to come out of so tragic a time. Thank you so much for sharing this. We lived in Berlin during the time my husband was stationed there, from 1990 to 1992 (after the Wall came down and during reunification).
I have many fond memories of Berlin and I always regretted having to leave (our fathers were dying at the same time and we had to cut his tour short). It is a beautiful city, though the scars and memories are always there, waiting to tell their stories. Thank you again for sharing yours.
Sweet story! Shared
I will never forget such kindness and I think because of the hard times I went thru as a child I have all these early, early memories. It is rather rare that someone remembers what happens to them at 2 years of age.
That chocolate which later floated down from heaven tasted just like that, Heaven…..
Never mind, go visit the shops with the sweets….LOL
Love this! My grandmother used to tell me this story and I always loved imagining all the kids looking up waiting for candy to fall from the sky!
Also, some really yummy looking goodies that you found!
Yeah, Kim, I knew your grandmother would know about this. I had tried forever to find out the name of the pilot who started it all and finally found it a few years ago when the book came out and Tom Brokaw (sp) talked about it..
This is one grateful kid ( in me)
;o)
Great story! Yummy candy!