Europe
Ceremony held to commemorate the 62nd anniversary of the Berlin Airlift
Stars and Stripes
May 16, 2011
"Candy Bomber" Gail Halvorsen signs an autograph for Caleb Magowan of Wiesbaden Boy Scout Troop 65 at a ceremony Monday in Frankfurt, Germany, commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift. The Scouts, along with soldiers and members of the Junior ROTC from Wiesbaden, participated in the ceremony. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
"Candy Bomber" Gail Halvorsen signs an autograph for Caleb Magowan of Wiesbaden Boy Scout Troop 65 at a ceremony Monday in Frankfurt, Germany, commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift. The Scouts, along with soldiers and members of the Junior ROTC from Wiesbaden, participated in the ceremony. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Guests listen to remarks by Col. John Shapland, commander of Ramstein Air Base's 435th Air Ground Operations Wing, at a ceremony in Frankfurt, Germany, on Monday commemorating the 62nd anniversary of the Berlin Airlift. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
In June 1948, the Soviets established a land and water blockade of West Berlin. On June 26, 1948, the first relief flight left the airfield in Wiesbaden for Berlin, carrying food, medicine and other supplies.
Candy Bomber" Gail Halvorsen was legendary among Berlin children for dropping chocolate bars tied to parachutes during the airlift.