Category: This great Nation & Its People
He was a friend of the Patton Family. I read that the youngster George had some long talks with him and learned a lot from him. Grumpy
‘Candy Bomber’ who dropped sweets during Berlin airlift dies
A U.S. military pilot known as the “Candy Bomber” for his airdrops of sweets during the Berlin airlift after World War II ended has died
Halvorsen died Wednesday following a brief illness in his home state of Utah, surrounded by most of his children, James Stewart, the director of the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Foundation, said Thursday.
DENVER — U.S. military pilot Gail S. Halvorsen — known as the “Candy Bomber” for his candy airdrops during the Berlin airlift after World War II ended — has died at age 101.
Halvorsen died Wednesday following a brief illness in his home state of Utah, surrounded by most of his children, James Stewart, the director of the Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Foundation, said Thursday.
Halvorsen was beloved and venerated in Berlin, which he last visited in 2019 when the city celebrated the 70th anniversary of the day the Soviets lifted their post-World War II blockade cutting off supplies to West Berlin with a big party at the former Tempelhof airport in the German capital.
“Halvorsen’s deeply human act has never been forgotten,” Berlin Mayor Franziska Giffey said in a statement.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox also praised Halvorsen, who was born in Salt Lake City but grew up on farms before getting his pilot’s license.
“I know he’s up there, handing out candy behind the pearly gates somewhere,” he said.
After the United States entered World War II following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Halvorsen trained as a fighter pilot and served as a transport pilot in the south Atlantic during World War II before flying food and other supplies to West Berlin as part of the airlift.
According to his account on the foundation’s website, Halvorsen had mixed feelings about the mission to help the United States’ former enemy after losing friends during the war.
But his attitude changed, and his new mission was launched, after meeting a group of children behind a fence at Templehof airport.
He offered them the two pieces of gum that he had, broken in half, and was touched to see those who got the gum sharing pieces of the wrapper with the other children, who smelled the paper. He promised to drop enough for all of them the following day as he flew, wiggling the wings of his plane as he flew over the airport, Halvorsen recalled.
He started doing so regularly, using his own candy ration, with handkerchiefs as parachutes to carry them to the ground. Soon other pilots and crews joined in what would be dubbed “Operation Little Vittles.”
After an Associated Press story appeared under the headline “Lollipop Bomber Flies Over Berlin,” a wave of candy and handkerchief donations, followed.
The airlift began on June 26, 1948, in an ambitious plan to feed and supply West Berlin after the Soviets — one of the four occupying powers of a divided Berlin after World War II — blockaded the city in an attempt to squeeze the U.S., Britain and France out of the enclave within Soviet-occupied eastern Germany.
Allied pilots flew 278,000 flights to Berlin, carrying about 2.3 million tons of food, coal, medicine and other supplies.
Finally, on May 12, 1949, the Soviets realized the blockade was futile and lifted their barricades. The airlift continued for several more months, however, as a precaution in case the Soviets changed their minds.
Memories in Germany of American soldiers handing out candy, chewing gum or fresh oranges are still omnipresent — especially for the older generation born during or right after the war.
Many fondly remember eating their first candy and fresh fruit during an era when people in bombed-out cities were starving or selling their family heirlooms on the black market for small amounts of of flour, butter or oil just so they could get by.
Halvorsen’s efforts to reach out to the people of Berlin helped send a message that they were not forgotten and would not be abandoned, Stewart said.
Despite his initial ambivalence about the airlift, Halvorsen, who grew up poor during the Great Depression, recognized a bit of himself in the children behind the fence and made a connection with them, he said.
“A simple person to person act of kindness can really change the world,” Stewart said.
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Grieshaber reported from Berlin. Sam Metz contributed to this report from Salt Lake City.
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The Cost
While much has been written about the legend and heroics during the Civil War associated with Monroe’s General George Armstrong Custer – along with his defeat and tragedy that is associated with Custer’s Last Stand – little is mentioned about relatives of Custer who honorably served in the U.S. military and made significant contributions to education, engineering and historical preservation.
Lt. Col. Brice Calhoun William Custer was General George Armstrong Custer’s grand nephew. Born in Monroe on June 9, 1901, Brice Calhoun William Custer was a decorated military leader on the European front during World War II. He was awarded the prestigious Silver Star – the U.S. Armed Forces third-highest personal decoration for valor in combat – for actions in France in 1945 mere months before the war’s end.
According to Lt. Col. Brice Calhoun William Custer’s online memorial, he received the following citation: “The President of the United States of America… takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) Brice C. W. Custer, United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Headquarters, 1st. Battalion, 232d Infantry Regiment, 42d Infantry Division, in action on 6 January 1945 near Stadtmatten, France. Answering radio call for assistance from two platoons of his Battalion which was completely surrounded by the enemy, Colonel Custer organized a small force of twenty infantrymen. Personally leading the attack against… German automatic weapons, small arms and rocket launcher fire, Colonel Custer so employed his small force that the enemy was completely defeated, the two platoons rescued, and the town of Stadtmatten retaken. Approximately 40 of the enemy were killed and 100 taken prisoner. The conspicuous gallantry and leadership displayed by Colonel Custer exemplifies the finest traditions of military service.”
Lt. Col. Brice Calhoun William Custer also had the distinction of serving in the three major wars of the 20th century – World War I, World War 2, and Korea. Like his great uncle George Armstrong Custer, Lt. Lt. Col. Brice Calhoun William Custer commanded the 7th U.S. Cavalry from April 4 to 8 1947, June 25 to 30 1947, Aug. 13 to 21 1947. They were charged with escorting Gen. Douglas MacArthur into Tokyo after World War II. Lt. Col. Brice Calhoun William Custer commanded Army reservists in Billings, Montana during Korea. He is buried in Section 32, Site 366 – Arlington National Cemetery.
Lt. Col. Brice Calhoun William Custer’s oldest son and namesake of his great uncle – George Armstrong Custer III was born in Monroe on October 6, 1923. Like his father, George Armstrong Custer III was a three-war career officer – serving in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. In Vietnam, he led troops which were part of the Battle of Renegade Woods – Hieu Thien District, Tay Ninh Province, which took place from April 3 to April 6, 1970. Using a C&C (Command and Control) helicopter to direct troops, Custer navigated storms and terrain to post victory and limit losses in Company Charlie to 12 troops. Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer III died May 18, 1991 and is buried in Monroe’s Woodland Cemetery.
Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer III’s younger brother, Major Brice C. Custer, was born in Monroe on May 30, 1927. Major Brice C. Custer first graduated from Michigan State with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He became an aviation cadet and was commissioned in January, 1953. He was F-84 gunnery school and the assignment to Korea with the 8th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. He ended his career as a staff engineer at Lockheed’s Missile and Space Division. Major Brice C. Custer died October 27, 2007 in Georgetown, Texas and is buried in nearby Bell County.
Tom Adamich is President – Visiting Librarian Service, a firm he has operated since 1993. He also is Project Archivist for the Greening Nursery Company and Family Archives.