FReeper Canteen ~ The Berlin Airlift Part 3: Operation Little Vittles ~ December 15, 2014

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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Part 3:  Operation Little Vittles
All info and photos from this website.

Link to Part One
Link to Part Two

           

"DER SCHOKOLADEN FLIEGER"
 

OPERATION LITTLE VITTLES
 

	General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force is shown presenting the 1948 Cheney Award to 1st Lieutenant Gail S. Halvorsen, USAF, former Berlin Airlift pilot and originator of Operation Little Vittles while his wife, second from left, looks on.
U.S. Air Force Photograph Negative Number A-35720 AC National Air and Space Archives Videodisc Number 3B-38771

One of the most poignant stories of the Berlin Airlift was that of one 1^st Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen.  Halvorsen was somewhat of an ammeter moviemaker, and on July 17, he decided that on one of his off days, he would hitch a ride as a passenger on a C-54 and visit the City he was saving.  Once at Tempelhof, Halvorsen walked to the end of the runway to film some aircraft landings when he noticed a group of children near the fence watching the planes, too.  He went over to them.  They asked questions about the aircraft, the cargo, how fast it was going and things like that.  During this conversation he noticed that these children, unlike others he had encountered in Europe as a Ferry command Pilot during the War, did not ask him for any candy or gum, like others always had.  This struck him funny, and he knew that they were too proud to beg for such things.  Some having been born during wartime had not even heard of treats like that.  He made a fateful decision at that moment which was to become one of the symbols of the airlift.  He reached into his pocket and found that he had only two sticks of Wrigley's Doublemint Gum.  He remarked that if they did not fight over it, he would drop some candy to them if they were there the next day.  They agreed, took the sticks of gum and divided it amongst themselves, some happy to get only a piece of the wrapper.  Before he left them, a child asked him how they would know it was him flying over.  He replied, "I'll wiggle my wings." 
True to his word, the very next day, on approach to Berlin, he rocked the airplane and dropped some chocolate bars attached to a handkerchief parachute to the children waiting below.  Every day, the number of children would increase and he made several more drops.  Soon there was a stack of mail in Base Ops addressed to "Uncle Wiggly Wings', "The Chocolate Uncle" and "The Chocolate Flier". 
Halvorsen didn't tell anyone about what he was doing for fear he'd get in trouble.  Then, he was called into his commander and asked what he was doing.  He replied 'Flying, Sir."  His commander asked again, and received the same response.  He then pulled out a newspaper with a picture of Halvorsen's plane and tiny parachutes trailing behind.  Apparently, a newspaper reporter narrowly escaped being hit on the head with a chocolate bar.  His commander wasn't happy about it, but General Tunner though it was just the kind of gesture that the operation needed.  It was dubbed "Operation Little Vittles".  It continued, and many C-54 pilots participated.  Candy and parachutes were assembled and sent from Chicopee Falls, MA to assist in the gesture.  In the end, over three tons of candy was dropped over Berlin, some even in the Soviet sector.  For this simple kindhearted gesture, Halvorsen became the most recognized pilot of the Berlin Airlift. 

THE EASTER PARADE
 

By April 1949, airlift operations were going rather smoothly, and General Tunner wanted to break up the monotony.  He liked the idea of a big event that would show the capabilities of his command, as well as give everyone a big morale boost.  He wanted to set a record.  In order to do that, much planning was necessary, and it was decided that on Easter Sunday, the only cargo was to be coal.  In fact general Tunner wanted to shatter all previous tonnage records set so far.  Secretly, coal was stockpiled for the event.  Maintenance schedules were altered so that the maximum number of planes was available.  Everyone put in extra effort for this special event.  From 12:00PM April 15, to 12:00PM April 16, 1949, crews worked overtime to deliver more tonnage than had ever been delivered in a 24 hour period.  When it was over, 12,941 tons of coal had been delivered as a result of 1,383 flights without a single accident.  As a matter of fact, as a result, the daily tonnage also increased from 6,729 tons a day before the Easter Parade, to 8,893 tons per day, an unexpected benefit.  This was the straw that broke the camel's back. 

THE END OF THE BLOCKADE
 

On May 12, 1949, the Soviets capitulated.  The blockade was over.  It was decided to continue supplying Berlin by air in addition to the land routes in order to build up a sufficient supply of goods.  The Airlift officially ended on Sept. 30, 1949, fifteen months after its meager beginnings in June of '48.  In total, the US delivered 1,783,572.7 tons, while 541,936.9 tons were delivered by the British totaling 2.3 Million tons from 277, 569 total flights to Berlin.  C-47's and C-54's alone traveled over 92 million miles in order to do so.  These were astounding figures, considering that in the beginning it seemed impossible to even try.  Nevertheless, even the greatest operation is not without risk.  A total of 101 fatalities were recorded as a result of the operation, including 31 Americans, mostly due to crashes. 

The end of the blockade was unexpected; however, as bigger plans were made and bigger planes were set to replace the existing fleet of C-54's.  The USAF had already used a C-74 "Globemaster" and one Boeing YC-97A "Stratofreighter" in the airlift, testing the feasibility of heavy-lift transports and their use in a continued operation.  The Douglas C-124 "Globemaster II" was coming and the plan was to use C-97's and 124's to continue the operation without as many flights.  Fortunately, that was not necessary. 

Boeing C-97 "Stratofreighter" owned by the Foundation                Fairchild C-82 "Packet"                                  Douglas C-74 "Globemaster"       

 

...continued and concluded next week....

 

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[Kathy in Alaska]

A road trip to share with more family....enjoy!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, dadfly....glad you are enjoying the history of the Berlin Airlift.

[Kathy in Alaska]

ROTFLMBO!!! That’s me....I have the Nyquil Blues. Can’t drink the stuff. It keeps me wide awake. I wish it would work.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

Monday music bump.

Good Monday morning, Acad1228. How's it going?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mayor, and happy Monday.

Thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good Monday morning, Ladies. Thanks for this morning’s thread, Star. How’s it going?

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, E...((HUGS))...you and Bo have a great Monday.

I’ve been sick all weekend, so I’m off to bed and try for some sleep.

[Kathy in Alaska]

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning/afternoon/evening/night Troops, wherever you are.

Thank you for doing your part to help keep all of us free and safe.

Thanks, unique, for the pastries.

Coffee is always on........

How about a donut?

Cookies?

Veggies?

Snacks?

[E.G.C.]

Monday morning coffee bump.

Hopefully you'll get to feeling better soon.

[Soaring Feather]

Bird visits are slow. Daughter bought a new feeder, hung it up higher to keep invaders out and bought suet, too, nothing happening.

[left that other site]

Yes! A quartet!

And I introduced some Christmas Music into the program! :-)

[beachn4fun]

Good morning, Canteen.

Good morning to our

AWESOME

Military, our Allies, and their families.

Thank you, Star, for preparing the Canteen
for today’s activities.

Ready for the annual Berlin Airlift.

This is a short week for me
so I'll be moving into lurker mode as soon as I hit he post button.

Time for me to make my rounds.
Please stick around and visit with the military
and/or family members.
That's what we're here for.

The FR Canteen is ALWAYS

Come in and sit for a while.
There's always plenty of coffee, tea,
pancakes, conversation, silliness,
and plain old BS

REMEMBER THEM ~ DEFENDERS OF FREEDOM

FR CANTEEN MISSION STATEMENT

Showing support and boosting the morale of our military and our allied military and the family members of the above. Honoring those who have served before.

[PROCON]

Morning Beachie!

A short week, huh; you starting your Christmas vacation early?

Nothing big on my end although the winding down NFL season is starting to get interesting; hoping my Seahawks can repeat.

Still sipping on coffee.

Have a great day!

[SandRat]

Just Maddie, Maddie’s Mom & MrsSR.

[luvie]

Well, it's not actually snowing here...
...but it IS colder this morning!
Not complaining....after all it IS December! LOL!
Hope Monday is easy on you Early Birds!
....and you have a warm fire waiting for you at quittin' time!
((((hugs))))


Arrow.....is it cold there, too?

[E.G.C.]

((HUGS))Good morning, Ladies. How’s it going?

[Old Sarge]

Morning, Luvvie!

We are having CHILLY weather here in the Sunshine State - fire in the hearth almost constant to ward off the damp - and the house looks like a craft shop blew up!

[beachn4fun]

Good morning Pro ((HUGS))

Nope, got a doctor appointment on Thursday and decided to take Friday off as well. Next Wed., noonish, begins my winter vacation. Looking forward to it.

We didn’t watch football this weekend; instead we rented Guardians of the Galaxy. And I got the tree done. Still waiting for one last order to come in, then *big sigh*.

I have the thread this week so might see you later Thursday evening as I’ll be able to stick around for a bit.

Have a magically, merry Monday

[beachn4fun]

Good morning night owl ((HUGS))

Although you do look pretty alert trying to hide in the snow.