As Utah’s Candy Bomber turns 100, his sweet story remains timeless

Deseret News ^ | 4 Oct 2020 | Lee Benson

[Rummyfan]

It’s a sweet story that doesn’t grow old, and the same might be said about the man telling it.

Gail S. “Hal” Halvorsen needs no prodding to talk about something he’s been talking about for 72 years.

Relaxing in the shade of an apple tree in the backyard of the house he built in 1974 when he retired from the U.S. Air Force and returned to Utah, he enthusiastically launches into a retelling of the time he was called on the carpet by his commanding officer in the summer of 1948.

He had just returned to his airbase after flying a C-54 cargo plane to Berlin. Three years after the end of World War II, Germany was a divided country, the east part communist, the west part free. Berlin, the capital, was also divided, but with the geographic misfortune — at least for the free part — of being located in the east.

When the Soviet Union, East Germany’s landlord, decided in June of 1948 to starve the landlocked free Berlin into submission by closing the roads and railways from West Germany that supplied the city with the necessities of life, America, Great Britain and several other allies, recognizing that the Soviets couldn’t close the skies, launched the Berlin airlift.

[Rummyfan]

If this isn't a feel-good story I don't know what is. God Bless Gail Halvorsen.

[Rummyfan]

The Berliners called them rosinen bombers... raisin bombers!

[Pilgrim's Progress]

Note to self. If I am ever in this situation, go ahead and shoot a few of them. I am going to get in trouble anyway, might as well get my money’s worth.

[Pilgrim's Progress]

POSTED TO WRONG THREAD . . . Meant this for the McCloskey thread.

[JennysCool]

I remember when newspapers loved telling stories like this, stories people would clip and save to show to others. Back before all they did was constantly promote liberal politics and bash Republican Presidents.

Good for the Deseret News.

[reintarnation]

Hal’s a well known legend in these parts (Utah).

[Quick Shot]

Great Story, Thanks

[Old Grumpy]

A SWEET story!

[JennysCool]

Here’s hoping Hal makes it to 110 ... and then re-enlists! :)

[Fiddlstix]

[Empire_of_Liberty]

POSTED TO WRONG THREAD . . . Meant this for the McCloskey thread.

---

It sure made for an interesting read, though. I was thinking, “That’s harsh!”

[SaveFerris]

[Note to self. If I am ever in this situation, go ahead and shoot a few of them.]

Depends upon which kind of candy they’re bombing us with.

If it’s Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, it’s all good to me.

If it’s small pieces of Holiday fruitcake, well then, I can understand.

I’m trying to figure out which candy I dislike the most, at this moment.

(sorry, couldn’t resist having a bit of fun)
:)

[HighSierra5]

I wonder if he ever met the smiley bomber?

[lefty-lie-spy]

Circus Peanuts, of course.

[ocrp1982]

There is an age-old Military Saying, “Better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission”.

[SaveFerris]

LOL

[marktwain]

There is an age-old Military Saying, “Better to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission”.

I think it is a very American military saying.

Not so sure it holds for other militarys...

[SunkenCiv]

[Deaf Smith]

The Smiley Face Bomber?

Note that it was coined by FReepers and turned in to the FBI for resolution.

[SaveFerris]

NSA’s Google sez:

“What is the most hated candy?

Circus Peanuts

These are by far the most-hated candy in America. Nothing about a circus peanut makes sense. It’s a chewy orange marshmallow shaped like a peanut, and for some inexplicable reason it tastes like banana.Oct 19, 2017”

Candy corn seems to be highly-ranked (as disliked)