BYU

Harold B. Lee Library

The Candy Bomber

June 30, 2011

Colonel Gail S. Halverson of the USAF was responsible for the invention and addition of “Operation Little Vittles” to the larger American “Operation Vittles” and eventual expansion to the entire Berlin Airlift in post-WWII Germany. “Operation Little Vittles” dropped candy to the children of West Berlin. It was difficult for the children to distinguish his plane from the others that were coming in every minute, so he told them he would wiggle his wings to discern him from the others. This is where he attained the affectionate title “Onkel Wackelflugel,” or “Uncle Wiggly Wings.” The “candy bombings” were a huge success and spread to the entire American “Operation Vittles” and was later adopted by other countries. By the end of the blockade 23 tons of candy had been dropped to awaiting children. The candy was attached to tiny parachutes made of handkerchiefs. This ingenious gesture of goodwill has found contemporaneous use in other countries such as Iraq. Col. Halvorsen’s legacy lives on and the L. Tom Perry Special Collections is proud to have acquired his personal collection of correspondence, photos, newspaper articles, and candy parachutes. A student Reference Assistant will be happy to help you find this collection and others you would like to see. (The call number for this collection is MSS 2220.)