Berlin Airlift 'candy bomber' presents 317th AG with Berlin Airlift streamer for operations in Cold War, today

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Carolyn Viss
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The Berlin Airlift "candy bomber" visited the 317th Airlift Group May 2-4 to present them with a streamer for Cold War and current operations. 

Retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, known to German children as "Uncle Wiggly Wings," flew with the 317th Troop Carrier Group in Operation Little Vittles in 1949, parachuting candy to hungry children. 

The 317th TCG, now named the 317th AG, was eligible for the streamer by Special Order (G-111), produced by the Department of the Air Force, which authorized the Berlin Airlift streamer to be displayed on their unit guidons. The 317th AG still delivers aid to many places including Iraq, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa and even stateside.

"Human need hasn't changed," Colonel Halvorsen said. "Whether it be a natural disaster or a dictator who is oppressing a nation, the common denominator is that there is a human need." 

His efforts began with an interaction through a barbed-wire fence with just 30 German children who were hungry but didn't ask for food. They begged him not to worry about them, saying they didn't need food. They just didn't want him to leave. 

He didn't leave them, but the Cold War, similar to today's Global War on Terror, was a longer operation than Colonel Halvorsen ever thought it would be. 

"President (Harry S.) Truman knew how important freedom is," said the colonel, who at the time of the airdrops was a first lieutenant and could have been court-martialed for his actions since the drops weren't authorized. "It's worth everything. The fact that these kids didn't ask for anything blew my mind. They had me dead still. They were hungry, but they were free. They weren't going to ask for even the basics, much less the extravagance of gum or candy. They were only about 8 years old, but they could've had a Ph.D. in life experience." 

The young lieutenant wasn't court-martialed; in fact, his commanding officer gave him permission to continue the drops, and soon every American candy company was offering to donate as much candy as he could drop. He and his crew dropped more than 20,000 tons in less than 15 months. 

Colonel Halvorsen said he doesn't think of himself as a hero by any means, even though he is a famous person in American history because of what he did. 

"You can't go through life just filling in squares and doing the basics," he said. "If you go outside the box, you'll see opportunities all around you. It goes back to the basic value of service before self, being grateful, being open to channels of communication and the promptings you feel, and feeling others' needs instead of being calloused." 

He was impressed when he saw those same character qualities in Dyess servicemembers. 

"For more than five and a half years, the 317th has been doing contingency operations, and our folks are going back for more all the time," Colonel Halvorsen said. "The dedication, sophistication, professionalism and intelligence of this crew is top-notch. They are flying hours upon hours compared to what we were flying, and it is crucial to winning this war on terror." 

Air superiority is more necessary today than ever before, he said. It is the preferred method of transportation because lives are endangered during ground convoys. 

"I'm proud to be able to fly with a group that dates so far back in history and still delivers humanitarian aid all around the world," said 1st Lt. Raymond Bevivino, 39th Airlift Squadron C-130 pilot. "Seeing people like Colonel Halvorsen and hearing about what he did so many years ago inspires me to keep going even though it's a high-ops tempo. It makes me proud to be in the Air Force and to do the work I do every day."