Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

FReeper Canteen ~ The Berlin Airlift Part 3: Operation Little Vittles ~ December 22, 2008
Serving The Best Troops And Veterans In The World | StarCMC and Frosty The Snowman

Posted on 12/21/2008 5:00:07 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska

Our Troops Rock!  Thank you for all you do!
 
For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces.
 
Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today!
 

 
~ Hall of Heroes ~

The Berlin Airlift
Part 3:  Operation Little Vittles

All info and photos from this website.

Link to Part One
Link to Part Two

ArmyPatch small   NavySeal small   Air Force Seal   Marines Seal small   Coast Guard Seal small (better)
 

"DER SCHOKOLADEN FLIEGER"
 

OPERATION LITTLE VITTLES
 


40K JPEG
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 1st 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"       

 

 

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!



TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: berlinairlift; canteen; military; troopsupport
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300 ... 541-547 next last
To: TASMANIANRED

Good evening, Taz...((HUGS))...stayed below 10 all day today. I think I have everything finished for Christmas now. Did you get some pictures of your ornaments?


261 posted on 12/21/2008 8:50:15 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska; LUV W

Hey Ma...send some of that snow this way...oh and dump a little bit on Luv W while you’re at it :)


262 posted on 12/21/2008 8:52:25 PM PST by txradioguy (9/11 We Will Not Tire...We Will Not Falter...We Will Not Fail)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 261 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

I’m with you, Lady!
How much snow ya got?


263 posted on 12/21/2008 8:53:01 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 257 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy

Howdy!


264 posted on 12/21/2008 8:53:15 PM PST by luvie (Now....on to 2012........Palin/Jindal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 252 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

Evening Lady.

Looks like you may have gotten your wish.

Got photo’s?


265 posted on 12/21/2008 8:53:44 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 257 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag
I'll be celebrating Christmas in the sandbox for the first time in all those years I've been here.

I was kind of bummed out about that at first, but we're having some nice get-togethers and the Iraqis are all getting into Christmas.

Iraqi Christians have boldly decorated around the city for the first time in years. Turns out, it's all quite beautiful.

I hope you get your white Christmas. As much as I don't like snow, a light dusting at Christmas is very nice. :)

266 posted on 12/21/2008 8:53:51 PM PST by Allegra
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 257 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy

BRAT! I don’t need snow! LOL!

A little rain might be nice, though! :D


267 posted on 12/21/2008 8:54:04 PM PST by luvie (Now....on to 2012........Palin/Jindal)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 262 | View Replies]

To: HiJinx

But it’s a dry heat.


268 posted on 12/21/2008 8:54:14 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 258 | View Replies]

To: Kirkwood

I know what you mean.
What was scarey today was the white out conditions..
I hate dat!


269 posted on 12/21/2008 8:54:19 PM PST by MS.BEHAVIN (Women who behave rarely make history)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 253 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy

Doing fine and dandy other than the cold.


270 posted on 12/21/2008 8:54:42 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 259 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

Good evenin. Busy at the store today?


271 posted on 12/21/2008 8:55:04 PM PST by txradioguy (9/11 We Will Not Tire...We Will Not Falter...We Will Not Fail)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 264 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

Evening/Morning Allegra. Hugs.


272 posted on 12/21/2008 8:55:11 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 260 | View Replies]

To: Lady Jag

I remember a birthday in a hot tub under pine trees and red-rock buttes with a foot of snow on the ground - that was almost the best!


273 posted on 12/21/2008 8:55:39 PM PST by HiJinx (~ Support our Troops ~ www.americasupportsyou.mil ~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 257 | View Replies]

To: MS.BEHAVIN
This is what some of the roads were like after it was all over. The snow reached the roof of our 1 story house.

274 posted on 12/21/2008 8:55:43 PM PST by Kirkwood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 212 | View Replies]

To: Kathy in Alaska

I do have pictures but there is a hitch.

Tried to email them to myself and they wouldn’t go.

Gonna have to get Tazman to help me.


275 posted on 12/21/2008 8:56:05 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 261 | View Replies]

To: txradioguy; LUV W; Lady Jag; MS.BEHAVIN

You need to ask Lady Jag and ms b to send some. They are each the recipients of more than a foot of new stuff. And, they are much closer. LOL!


276 posted on 12/21/2008 8:56:56 PM PST by Kathy in Alaska (~ RIP Brian...heaven's gain...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 262 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

Prayers for your Christians.

Tis a risky place to put your faith on public display.


277 posted on 12/21/2008 8:57:24 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 266 | View Replies]

To: Allegra

Allegra I know how you feel.

But spending Christmas far away like that IMHO gives you a much better appreciation for what we have back here.


278 posted on 12/21/2008 8:57:44 PM PST by txradioguy (9/11 We Will Not Tire...We Will Not Falter...We Will Not Fail)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 266 | View Replies]

To: Kirkwood

That is just awful.


279 posted on 12/21/2008 8:58:15 PM PST by TASMANIANRED (TAZ:Untamed, Unpredictable, Uninhibited.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 274 | View Replies]

To: LUV W

Yeah you need some snow out there. Otherwise I can’t toss a snowball at you :)


280 posted on 12/21/2008 8:58:25 PM PST by txradioguy (9/11 We Will Not Tire...We Will Not Falter...We Will Not Fail)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 267 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-20 ... 241-260261-280281-300 ... 541-547 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson