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==Professional Career==
==Professional Career==


After returning home in January of 1949, Halvorsen considered the idea of leaving the air force. He changed his mind, however, when he was offered a permanent commission with full pay and the promise that the air force would send him to school.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Grier|first1=Peter|title=Halvorsen: Candy Bomber, Engineer, Unofficial Ambassador|journal=Air Force Magazine|date=March 2013|pages=64-68|url=http://wigglywings.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/1/2/21122262/halvorsen-candy_bomber_engineer_unofficial_ambassador.pdf|accessdate=June 10, 2016}}</ref> In 1951 and 1952 he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the [[University of Florida]] as an assignment from the [[Air Force Institute of Technology]].<ref name='Later Career'>{{cite web|title=1999-Gail S. Halvorsen, USAF (Ret)|url=https://www.atalink.org/content/1999/11/01/1999-colonel-gail-s-halvorsen-usaf-ret/|website=www.atlink.org|accessdate=June 13, 2016}}</ref> He went on to be the project engineer for cargo aircraft research and development with the Wright Air Development Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Hill Air Force Base from 1952-1957. From 1952 to 1970, he worked for Air Force Systems Command in aircraft and, beginning in 1958, research and development and operational duties in the Air Force Space Program. He chaired source selection for the Titan III Space Launch vehicle.
After returning home in January of 1949, Halvorsen considered the idea of leaving the air force. He changed his mind, however, when he was offered a permanent commission with full pay and the promise that the air force would send him to school.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Grier|first1=Peter|title=Halvorsen: Candy Bomber, Engineer, Unofficial Ambassador|journal=Air Force Magazine|date=March 2013|pages=64-68|url=http://wigglywings.weebly.com/uploads/2/1/1/2/21122262/halvorsen-candy_bomber_engineer_unofficial_ambassador.pdf|accessdate=June 10, 2016}}</ref> In 1951 and 1952 he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the [[University of Florida]] as an assignment from the [[Air Force Institute of Technology]].<ref name='Later Career'>{{cite web|title=1999-Gail S. Halvorsen, USAF (Ret)|url=https://www.atalink.org/content/1999/11/01/1999-colonel-gail-s-halvorsen-usaf-ret/|website=www.atlink.org|accessdate=June 13, 2016}}</ref> He went on to be the project engineer for cargo aircraft research and development with the Wright Air Development Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Hill Air Force Base from 1952-1957.<ref name="Together we Served">{{cite web|url=http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=114316|website=airforce.togetherweserved.com|accessdate=June 13, 2016}}</ref> Halvorsen was reassigned in 1957 to the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He was there until 1958, when he was assigned at the Air Force Space Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command in Inglewood, California. While on this assignment, Halvorsen researched and developed various space projects. The most notable of these was the Titan III launch vehicle program, which he chaired source selection.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gail S. Halvorsen|url=http://www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eaglebios/05bios/halvor05.htm|website=www.au.af.mil|accessdate=June 13, 2016|archiveurl=http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:2-VK2WvzkBMJ:www.au.af.mil/au/goe/eaglebios/05bios/halvor05.htm+&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us}}</ref> Halvorsen would serve as part of Air Force Systems Command for the next four years.

From 1970 to 1974, Colonel Halvorsen was assigned as the Commander of Tempelhof Central Airport in Berlin and as the United States Air Force Representative to the city of Berlin. He earned a master's degree in counseling and guidance in 1973. Gail retired from the Air Force on 30 September 1974 with over 8000 flying hours.
From 1962 to 1965, Colonel Halvorsen served in Wiesbaden, West Germany, with the Foreign Technology division of AF Systems Command. He was next assigned to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development, HQ USAF, the Pentagon, and in the Directorate of Space and Technology. He developed plans for the advanced manned reusable spacecraft, space policy and procedures, and on the Manned Orbital Laboratory Project. He then was given the command of the 659th Instrumentation Squadron of the AF Systems Command Satellite Control Facility, Vandenberg AFB, California, which was involved in both satellite launch and orbit operations.

Colonel Halvorsen then became the Commander of the 7350th Air Base Group at Templehof Central Airport, Berlin, Germany, in February 1970.<ref>{{cite news|title=Utahn Chosen Commander of Tempelhof|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/29851131/|work=The Ogden Standard-Examiner|date=22 January 1970|location=Ogden, Utah|page=14}}</ref> It was the very same airfield he flew to daily during the Berlin Airlift; the same airfield from which he dropped thousands of pounds of candy. During this period, he also served as the US Air Force Europe Representative in Berlin until February 1974, as well as completing a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Wayne State University through an on-base educational program. His final assignment was as the Inspector General, Ogden Air Materiel Center, Hill AFB, Utah, where he retired on 31 August 1974, having accumulated over 8,000 flying hours and 31 years of military service.


From 1976 until 1986 he was the Assistant Dean of Student Life at Brigham Young University. He participated in a C-130 night food resupply drop over Bosnia in March 1994. He flew in the 1998 Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54, the “Spirit of Freedom,” across the North Atlantic for 69 days, including 27 air shows in four European countries.
From 1976 until 1986 he was the Assistant Dean of Student Life at Brigham Young University. He participated in a C-130 night food resupply drop over Bosnia in March 1994. He flew in the 1998 Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54, the “Spirit of Freedom,” across the North Atlantic for 69 days, including 27 air shows in four European countries.
Halvorsen would go on to fulfill several domestic and overseas assignments during the remainder of his Air Force career. He returned to Germany in 1969 or early 1970, this time as the commander of Tempelhof Air Base in West Berlin. In this role Halvorsen was required to host official parties at his house. Being a devout member of the LDS Church, Halvorsen became famous for his non-alcoholic concoctions served at these parties.
Halvorsen would go on to fulfill several domestic and overseas assignments during the remainder of his Air Force career. He returned to Germany in 1969 or early 1970, this time as the commander of Tempelhof Air Base in West Berlin. In this role Halvorsen was required to host official parties at his house. Being a devout member of the LDS Church, Halvorsen became famous for his non-alcoholic concoctions served at these parties.

Revision as of 18:55, 13 June 2016

Gail Halvorsen
Halvorsen at an air force base in Germany, October 2005
Birth nameGail Seymour Halvorsen
Nickname(s)"Rosinenbomber" ("Candy Bomber"),
"Onkel Wackelflügel" ("Uncle Wiggly Wings"),
"Der Schokoladenflieger" ("Chocolate Flier")
Born (1920-10-10) 10 October 1920 (age 104)
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army Air Forces
Years of service23
RankColonel
Battles / warsWorld War II
Berlin airlift
AwardsCongressional Gold Medal
Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
Spouse(s)Alta Jolley (1949–99; her death)
Lorraine Pace (2004–present)

Colonel Gail Seymour "Hal" Halvorsen (born October 10, 1920) is a retired career officer and command pilot in the United States Air Force.[1] He piloted C-47s and C-54s during the Berlin airlift ("Operation Vittles") from 1948–1949. During that time he founded “Operation Little Vittles”, an effort to raise morale in Berlin by dropping candy via miniature parachute to the city’s residents, for which he became known the “Berlin Candy Bomber”, “Uncle Wiggly Wings”, and “The Chocolate Flier”.[2] He has received numerous awards for his role in "Operation Little Vittles", including the Congressional Gold Medal.[3]

Early Life

Gail Seymour Halvorsen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah on October 10, 1920 to Basil K. and Luella Spencer Halvorsen.[4] He grew up on small farms first in Rigby, Idaho and then in Garland, Utah.[2] He graduated from Bear River High School in 1939 and then briefly attended Utah State University.[5] He went on to earn his private pilot license under the non-college Civilian Pilot Training Program in September 1941, and at about the same time joined the Civil Air Patrol as a pilot.[6] Halvorsen joined the United States Army Air Corps in May 1942[5] and was 22 when he arrived in Miami to train with 25 RAF pilots at the No. 3 British Flying Training School, a branch of the Spartan School of Aeronautics.[3] After fighter pilot training with the Royal Air Force, he returned to the Army Air Corps and was assigned flight duties in foreign transport operations in the South Atlantic Theater.[5] He was ordered to Germany on July 10, 1948 to be a pilot for “Operation Vittles” known now as the Berlin Airlift.[5]

Operation "Little Vittles"

Main article: Berlin Blockade
Halvorsen, who pioneered the idea of dropping candy bars and bubble gum with handmade miniature parachutes, which later became known as "Operation Little Vittles".

Lieutenant Halvorsen's role in the Berlin Airlift was to fly one of many C-54 cargo planes used to ferry supplies into the starving city. During his flights he would first fly to Berlin, then deeper into Soviet-controlled areas. Halverson had an interest in photography and on his days off often went sightseeing in Berlin and shot film on his personal handheld movie camera.[5] On day in July, he was filming plane takeoffs and landings at Tempelhof, the main landing site for the airlift. While there, he saw about thirty children lined up behind one of the barbed-wire fences. He went to meet them and noticed that the children had nothing. Halvorsen remembers: "I met about thirty children at the barbed wire fence that protected Tempelhof's huge area. They were excited and and told me that 'when the weather gets so bad that you can't land, don't worry about us. We can get by on a little food,but if we lose our freedom, we may never get it back.'"[7] Touched, Halvorsen reached into his pocket and took out two sticks of gum to give to the children. The kids broke it into little pieces and shared it; The ones who didn't get any sniffed the wrappers.[1] Watching the children, so many of whom had absolutely nothing, Halvorsen regretted not having more to give them.[8] Halvorsen recorded that he wanted to do more for the children, and so told them that the following day he would have enough gum for all of them, and he would drop it out of his plane. According to Halvorsen, one child asked "How will we know it is your plane?" to which Halvorsen responded that he would wiggle his wings, something he had done for his parents when he first got his pilot's license in 1941.

That night Halverson, his copilot, and his engineer pooled their candy rations for the next day's drop. The accumulated candy was heavy, so in order to ensure the children weren't hurt by the falling candy, Halvorsen made three parachutes out of handkerchiefs and tied them to the rations.[9] In the morning when Halverson and his crew made regular supply drops, they also dropped three boxes of candy attached to handkerchiefs. They made these drops once a week for three weeks. Each week, the group of children waiting at the Tempelhof airport fence grew significantly.

When word reached the airlift commander, Lieutenant General William H. Tunner, he ordered it expanded into Operation "Little Vittles," a play on the airlift's name of Operation Vittles. Operation "Little Vittles" began officially on September 22, 1948.[10] Support for this effort to provide the children of Berlin with chocolate and gum grew quickly, first among Halvorsen's buddies, then to the whole squadron.[9] As news of Operation Little Vittles reached the United States, children and candymakers from all over the US began contributing candy. By November of 1948, Halvorsen could no longer keep up with the amount of candy and handkerchiefs being sent from across America.[9] College student Mary C. Connors of Chicopee, Massachusetts offered to take charge of the now national project and worked with the National Confectioner's Association to prepare the candy and tie the handkerchiefs.[11] With the groundswell of support, Little Vittles pilots, of which Halvorsen was now one of many, were dropping candy every other day. Children all over Berlin had sweets, and more and more artwork was getting sent back with kind letters attached to them.[12] The American candy bombers became known as the Rosinenbomber (Raisin Bombers), while Halvorsen himself became known by many nicknames to the children of Berlin, including his original moniker of "Uncle Wiggly Wings," as well as "The Chocolate Uncle" and "The Chocolate Flier."

Operation "Little Vittles" was in effect from September 22, 1948 to May 13, 1949.[10] Although Lieutenant Halvorsen returned home in January of 1949, he passed on leadership of the operation to one of his friends, Captain Lawrence Caskey.[13] Upon his return home, Halvorsen met with several individuals who were key in making Operation "Little Vittles" a success. Halvorsen personally thanked his biggest supporter Dorothy Groeger, a homebound woman who nonetheless enlisted the help of all of her friends and acquaintances to sew handkerchiefs and donate funds.[14] He also met the schoolchildren and 'Little Vittles' committee of Chicopee, Massachusetts who were responsible for preparing over 18 tons of candy and gum from across the country and shipping it to Germany.[15][16] In total, it is estimated that Operation "Little Vittles" was responsible for dropping over 23 tons of candy from over 250,000 parachutes.[17]

Professional Career

After returning home in January of 1949, Halvorsen considered the idea of leaving the air force. He changed his mind, however, when he was offered a permanent commission with full pay and the promise that the air force would send him to school.[18] In 1951 and 1952 he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in Aeronautical Engineering from the University of Florida as an assignment from the Air Force Institute of Technology.[19] He went on to be the project engineer for cargo aircraft research and development with the Wright Air Development Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and Hill Air Force Base from 1952-1957.[20] Halvorsen was reassigned in 1957 to the Air Command and Staff College at Maxwell AFB, Alabama. He was there until 1958, when he was assigned at the Air Force Space Systems Division of Air Force Systems Command in Inglewood, California. While on this assignment, Halvorsen researched and developed various space projects. The most notable of these was the Titan III launch vehicle program, which he chaired source selection.[21] Halvorsen would serve as part of Air Force Systems Command for the next four years.

From 1962 to 1965, Colonel Halvorsen served in Wiesbaden, West Germany, with the Foreign Technology division of AF Systems Command. He was next assigned to the Deputy Chief of Staff for Research and Development, HQ USAF, the Pentagon, and in the Directorate of Space and Technology. He developed plans for the advanced manned reusable spacecraft, space policy and procedures, and on the Manned Orbital Laboratory Project. He then was given the command of the 659th Instrumentation Squadron of the AF Systems Command Satellite Control Facility, Vandenberg AFB, California, which was involved in both satellite launch and orbit operations.

Colonel Halvorsen then became the Commander of the 7350th Air Base Group at Templehof Central Airport, Berlin, Germany, in February 1970.[22] It was the very same airfield he flew to daily during the Berlin Airlift; the same airfield from which he dropped thousands of pounds of candy. During this period, he also served as the US Air Force Europe Representative in Berlin until February 1974, as well as completing a Masters Degree in Guidance and Counseling from Wayne State University through an on-base educational program. His final assignment was as the Inspector General, Ogden Air Materiel Center, Hill AFB, Utah, where he retired on 31 August 1974, having accumulated over 8,000 flying hours and 31 years of military service.


From 1976 until 1986 he was the Assistant Dean of Student Life at Brigham Young University. He participated in a C-130 night food resupply drop over Bosnia in March 1994. He flew in the 1998 Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation C-54, the “Spirit of Freedom,” across the North Atlantic for 69 days, including 27 air shows in four European countries. Halvorsen would go on to fulfill several domestic and overseas assignments during the remainder of his Air Force career. He returned to Germany in 1969 or early 1970, this time as the commander of Tempelhof Air Base in West Berlin. In this role Halvorsen was required to host official parties at his house. Being a devout member of the LDS Church, Halvorsen became famous for his non-alcoholic concoctions served at these parties.

Awards

Halvorsen has been honored extensively by both national and international communities. Some of his most prominent awards include the Legion of Merit, Cheney Award 1948-49, Ira Eaker “Fellow” Award 1998, Americanism Award Air Force Sergeants Association 1998, Service Cross to the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany from the President of Germany 1974, the Freedom Award from the City of Provo, The Distinguished Humanitarian Award from the Institute of German American Relations (1999), and The Eric Warburg Pries.


Later life

After the Berlin Airlift Gail flew and dropped candy over his hometown in Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2002 he was invited to the Olympics to lead Germany during the opening ceremony. He was also invited to the house of a girl named Mercedes, whom Gail had met during the airlift. When he went to her house he was happy to see that she was married with two children. Every year he goes back and drops candy to commemorate the Berlin Airlift.

Gail Halvorsen in Berlin in 1989, during the 40th anniversary of the airlift.

In 1998, Col. Halvorsen was part of the regular flight crew of the C-54 "Spirit of Freedom" and took part in a 71 day European tour including two Atlantic Ocean crossings in the then 53-year-old airplane. During the tour, he and several other Airlift Veterans (Who were also on the crew) took part in ceremonies in Germany, France, and the UK commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Airlift. Halvorsen remains a semi-active member of the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation (www.spiritoffreedom.org), occasionally co-piloting the C-54 and reenacting his "Little Vittles" candy drops.

In May 1999 Halvorsen flew over the Albania Kosovo refuge Camp Hope with gifts for the children. He was inducted into the Airlift/Tanker Hall of Fame in November 1999 and the Utah Aviation Hall of Fame in May 2001. In December 2000 while based in Guam Gail participated in a “Christmas Drop” to natives of seven Micronesian Islands. In June 2001 an aircraft loader (25,000 pound capacity) was named the,“Halvorsen Loader”. In 2012 he made five drops of parachutes and chocolate to elementary schools.

Three of Alta and Hal's grandchildren have attended a school named for him in Frankfurt, Germany. In December 2012, the Mormon Tabernacle Choir did a program “Christmas from Heaven” about his candy drops. A middle school in Berlin was named after Halvorsen in 2013. In 2014 he was part of an Honor Flight to Washington DC. On the way home in Texas he flew a two place P-51 Mustang; a lifelong dream! He belongs to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and has been a Stake President, Bishop, and High Councilman.

Gail married Alta Jolley of Zion National Park on 16 April 1949. They had five children, 24 grandchildren and 43 great grandchildren. Alta died in January 1999, just short of fifty years of marriage. Gail is now married to his high school sweetheart from 1939, Lorraine Pace. She has three children, eight grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. They currently spend most of their time in Arizona, although Gail still manages his farm in Utah.

KCSG Television broadcast A Tribute to Southern Utah Veterans on November 11, 2015, to coincide with Armistice day. It was rebroadcast November 14, 2015, and twice on November 15, 2015. Stories included the Southern Utah Veterans Honor Flight, the Southern Utah Veterans Home Eagle Guardian Dedication, and Gail "The Candy Bomber".[23]

Military career

Halvorsen would go on to fulfill several domestic and overseas assignments during the remainder of his Air Force career. He returned to Germany in 1969 or early 1970, this time as the commander of Tempelhof Air Base in West Berlin. In this role Halvorsen was required to host official parties at his house. Being a devout member of the LDS Church, Halvorsen became famous for his non-alcoholic concoctions served at these parties.

German-American relations

Halvorsen's actions as the original candy bomber had a substantial impact on the postwar perception of Americans in Germany and are still pointed to as a symbol of German-American relations. Halvorsen has appeared many times on German television over the years, often paired with some of the children (now grown adults) who received his candy parachutes. In 1974 he was decorated with the "Großes Bundesverdienstkreuz" (Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany), Germany's highest medal. During the opening march for the 2002 Winter Olympics on February 8, Halvorsen carried the German team's national placard into Rice-Eccles Olympic Stadium.

In 1989, Halvorsen engaged in a re-enactment of the actions in Berlin for the fortieth anniversary of the Airlift. During Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia and Herzegovina, he dropped candy from a USAF C-130 of the 435th Airlift Wing, flying from Rhein-Main Air Base, Germany. Halvorsen also participated in closing ceremonies for Tempelhof Air Base in 1993 and in 50th anniversary celebrations of the Airlift in Berlin in 1998. In 2004 Halvorsen hoped to launch a similar action for the children of Iraq. The United States military has modeled some of Halvorsen's actions in Iraq, dropping toys, teddy bears, and soccer balls to Iraqi children.[24]

In 2008, Halvorsen was honored as Grand Marshal of the German-American Steuben Parade in New York City.[25] He was celebrated by tens of thousands of spectators on Fifth Avenue.

Legacy

The United States Air Force has helped cement Colonel Halvorsen's airlift legacy by naming its next generation, 25,000-pound capacity aircraft loading vehicle in his honor. The Air Force has also created the Col. Gail Halvorsen Award for outstanding air transportation support in the logistics readiness career field. Colonel Halvorsen's son, Robert, was an Air Force Lockheed C-130 Hercules pilot and later a captain with Delta Air Lines. Colonel Halvorsen's grandson was in the Navy as an LDS Chaplain at the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego, California.

The Gail S. Halvorsen Elementary School at Rhein-Main Air Base, Frankfurt, Germany was named in his honor; Rhein-Main has since closed.

On June 15, 2013 a secondary school in the Berlin suburb of Zehlendorf was named in his honor. Colonel Halvorsen was present for the naming of the school.[26] This marked the second time a school in Berlin has been named after a living person.

Service as LDS missionary

In 1995 Halvorsen, along with his wife Alta, arrived in St. Petersburg, Russia to serve as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their duties included training teachers and visiting institute classes, as well as working with church youth groups. Halvorsen and his wife also served as missionaries for the church in London, England in the 1980s.

References

  1. ^ a b Thompson, Warren E. (2009). "Gail Halvorsen". Aircraft Illustrated. 42 (10): 24–29. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Uncle Wiggly Wings: This Utah Flier, Now In the Air Force, Won Berlin With Chocolate Bar Bombs". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. January 23, 1949. p. 64. Retrieved June 8, 2016.
  3. ^ http://www.standard.net/Local/2014/12/01/Candy-Bomber-to-receive-Congressional-Gold-Medal.html
  4. ^ "Obituaries: Sherman B. Halvorsen". The Salt Lake Tribune. Salt Lake City, Utah. 8 April 1935. p. 9. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  5. ^ a b c d e Cottingham, David Thomas (26 February 1949). "Down the Runway". The Daily Mail. Hagerstown, Maryland. p. 3. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  6. ^ "With Military in Box Elder". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. 28 March 1943. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  7. ^ Launius, Roger D. Interview with Colonel Gail S. Halverson, USAF-Ret, 13 May 1988.
  8. ^ Roughton, Randy (2011). "Forever the Candy Bomber:". Airman. 55 (3): 44-47. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  9. ^ a b c Lauterborn, David. "Interview with Gail Halvorsen, the Berlin Candy Bomber". www.historynet.com. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Highlights in the News: 'Little Vittles' Comes to an End". Portland Press Herald. Portland, Maine. 14 May 1949. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  11. ^ "Committee Meets on Little Vittles". www.pbs.org. 17 November 1948. Retrieved June 9, 2016. {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  12. ^ "Berlin Tots' Thank You Gifts Burden 'Little Vittles' Flier". The Fresno Bee The Republican. Fresno, California. 25 January 1949. p. 8. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  13. ^ "'Chocolate Flier' Candy and Gum Operation for Reich Goes On". Amarillo Daily News. Amarillo, Texas. 26 January 1949. p. 4. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  14. ^ "'Little Vittles' Flier Thanks Her". The Marysville Tribune. Marysville, Ohio. 26 January 1949. p. 4. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  15. ^ "'Little Vittles' Donors to Meet Pilot Founder". The Portsmouth Herald. Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 22 January 1949. p. 2. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  16. ^ "Chicopee Children Plan Fete For 'Little Vittles' Pilot". The Berkshire Eagle. Pittsfield, Massachusetts. 26 January 1949. p. 9. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  17. ^ Volk, Greg (13 June 2014). "How One Pilot's Sweet Tooth Helped Defeat Communism". mentalfloss.com. Retrieved June 9, 2016.
  18. ^ Grier, Peter (March 2013). "Halvorsen: Candy Bomber, Engineer, Unofficial Ambassador" (PDF). Air Force Magazine: 64–68. Retrieved June 10, 2016.
  19. ^ "1999-Gail S. Halvorsen, USAF (Ret)". www.atlink.org. Retrieved June 13, 2016.
  20. ^ airforce.togetherweserved.com http://airforce.togetherweserved.com/usaf/servlet/tws.webapp.WebApps?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile&type=Person&ID=114316. Retrieved June 13, 2016. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  21. ^ "Gail S. Halvorsen". www.au.af.mil. Retrieved June 13, 2016. {{cite web}}: |archive-url= requires |archive-date= (help)
  22. ^ "Utahn Chosen Commander of Tempelhof". The Ogden Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. 22 January 1970. p. 14.
  23. ^ KCSG Television and The Candy Bomber (Utah)- Retrieved 2016-05-22
  24. ^ Del Rosario, Derek (15 July 2005). "Teddy Troopers 'Jump' Into Arms of Iraqi Children". American Forces Press Service. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  25. ^ "Three Grand Marshals for the 51st German-American Steuben Parade". The German-American Steuben Parade of New York. July 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  26. ^ "Schule für den "Candy Bomber" (German)". Der Tagesspiegel (Newspaper). June 2013. Retrieved 19 June 2013.

Additional reading

  • Christmas From Heaven:The True Story of the Berlin Candy Bomber; Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2013, 978-1-609077006
  • Cherny, Andrei The Candy Bombers -- The Untold Story of the Berlin Airlift and America's Finest Hour, The Berkley Publishing Group, 2009, ISBN 978-0-425-22771-8
  • The Berlin Candy Bomber. – Bountiful, UT: Horizon Publishers, 1990. – ISBN 0-88290-361-6 (3rd edition, 2002. ISBN 0-88290-616-X)
  • "Famed 'Candy Bomber' reflects on Air Force heritage..." Staff Sgt. Amaani Lyle. Capital Flyer: Andrews Air Force Base, http://www.capflyer.com/stories/052208/news_20080522009.shtml, Retrieved July 22, 2008.
  • Miller, Roger G. (2002) [1998]. To Save a City: The Berlin Airlift 1948-1949. Honolulu, Hawaii: University Press of the Pacific. ISBN 0-89875-805-X. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  • To Save a City: The Berlin Airlift 1948-1949 George M. Miller.
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