Danville Mayor, Mike Doyle to introduce his long time friend - the world famous Berlin Candy Bomber, Colonel Gail Halvorsen.
On Sunday, July18th at 7:00pm in Danville, Colonel Gail Halvorsen will share his story of how he came to be known as the "Berlin Candy Bomber" in a talk entitled "Berlin and Back On Two Sticks of Gum". Danville's Mayor, Mike Doyle, who was also a pilot during the Berlin Airlift, and a good friend of Colonel Halvorsen, will also be attending.
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During the Russian blockade of West Berlin following WWII, American and British pilots delivered more than 2 million tons of food and fuel to a starving city in what became known as The Berlin Airlift or "Operation Vittles". However, it was Lt. Gail Halvorsen's decision to airdrop candy to the children of Berlin (Operation Little Vittles) that won the hearts of the German people and earned him the title of the "Berlin Candy Bomber" and "Uncle Wiggly Wings". Operation Little Vittles eventually dropped more than 21 tons of candy during the airlift. As one young Berliner later told Lt. Halvorsen, "It wasn't [just] chocolate. It was hope. And without hope the soul dies."
The public is invited to attend this free presentation by Colonel Halvorsen at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 655 Old Orchard Rd, Danville, CA on Sunday, July 18th at 7:00pm. If you were a resident of Berlin during the airlift, and plan to attend, please email Chris Saunders at cabanachris@gmail.com and she will make special arrangements for you to meet Colonel Halvorsen.
