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Legendary "Candy Bomber" to Drop Chocolates on EC

Dec 4, 2008 - From the cockpit of a C-54, U.S. Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen made international news in 1948 when he dropped chocolate bars and bubble gum to West German children, deprived of food - and treats - through a Soviet-controlled blockade.

Known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" and "The Chocolate Flier," Halvorsen will again be apple of children's eyes when he drops sweets to Elizabeth City youth during a re-enactment of the famous 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport.

Hosting the event is a great fit for Elizabeth City, an area with a rich aviation history - and a burgeoning future.

"From hosting the Wright Brothers before their historic flight, to the deployment of blimps that fought enemy submarines during World War II, to the recent ground-breaking of the new Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Aviation Research Commerce Park, Elizabeth City has launched many news-making events," said Wayne Harris, director of the Albemarle Economic Development Commission. "The opportunity to witness this historical re-enactment is one that should not be missed."

Presented by the not-for-profit Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, the event has drawn support from a number of Elizabeth City businesses. DRS Technologies, which operates an aircraft maintenance facility in Elizabeth City, is the event's primary sponsor, donating $10,000 toward the event. Eastern Aviation Fuel is donating 1,000 gallons of gasoline for the flight. A gourmet confectionary, The Chocolate House, is providing 100 hand-crafted commemorative chocolate bars that Halvorsen will drop from a restored 1945 Douglas C-54E aircraft.

While Halvorsen and his crew have conducted educational programs at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport in the past, this is the first time the Airport Authority has opened the event to the public.

"This event is one of the most important things we do all year," said Airport Director Scott Hinton. "It's a chance for children to learn from the veterans that served during one of the greatest humanitarian efforts in history."

When the Soviet Union blocked railroad, street and barge access to the western sectors of Berlin in 1948, Allied forces intervened by dropping tons of cargo including food, milk, flour and medicine to residents whose homes had been ravaged during World War II.

During a flight break, Halvorsen, an airlift pilot, noticed children gathered outside the Tempelhof Air Base. He gave the group his last two sticks of chewing gum and promised to return with chocolates. Wanting to know how they would know it was Halvorsen, he told the children he would wiggle the wings of his plane, and he soon became known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings."

The chocolate drop caught the attention of the news media and major candy companies, which soon began providing the sweets. With the help of other crews, more than 23 tons of candy was dropped on Berlin by the end of the airlift.

In addition to the airlift re-enactment Dec. 13, the "Spirit of Freedom," the C-54E aircraft that doubles as a museum, will be open to the public for tours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Airport.

On Tuesday Dec. 9 and Wednesday Dec. 10, Dr. Georg Schulze Zumkley, a German diplomat and project manager for the German Embassy’s "Friends Always" airlift project, will be on hand speaking to students touring the exhibit. He will also bring a nine-panel display highlighting the 60Th anniversary of the airlift.

Headquartered in Farmingdale, N.J., the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation (www.spiritoffreedom.com) is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Berlin Airlift.

For more information, contact Scott Hinton, Manager, Elizabeth City Regional Airport, at (252) 335-5634 or email him at shinton@ecgairport.com.

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