I met him at a conference in 2019. He told his story and was just really awe inspiring against the backdrop of what was going on in Germany at the time. Quite the guy, glad to have served in his Air Force!
After one of those missions, while waiting for his aircraft to be reloaded, Col (Retd) Halvorsen saw 30 German children by the wire fence. He spoke with them for a while and was astounded by how grateful they were for something as simple as a bag of flour.
Speaking with BFBS in 1998, Gail described the children he met, saying: "The children of Berlin didn't have any gum and candy, hadn't had any for months.
"And the ones I met didn't beg for any, I couldn't believe that these kids would not ask for it.
"They were so grateful, thankful to have flour, to be free. They wouldn't lower themselves to be beggars."
The moment moved Col (Retd) Halvorsen so much that he broke the two pieces of chewing gum he had on him in half and was able to hand out four pieces to the children, but 26 others went empty-handed. He said: "They just wanted a piece of the wrapper to smell and then once they got a half a stick, tore off the wrapper and let them smell it.
"And I couldn't believe it for a smell, the reaction."
This chance encounter inspired Col (Retd) Halvorsen to return with more chewing gum plus sweets and chocolates for the children of Berlin.
Following his first encounter with the children of Berlin, Col (Retd) Halvorsen was determined to return as soon as possible with more treats, so that those who missed out the first time could enjoy some 'candy'. He said: "I told the other kids they could come back the next day and ... I'd drop enough gum for all of them to have some.
"Well, we couldn't buy very much gum and candy in the American military, so I'd have to wait a week.
"All week the kids were out there still waving, so I dropped it again and the crowd got bigger and bigger."
A few weeks later, one of the miniature parachutes containing sweet treats almost hit someone who worked at a German newspaper, prompting him to take a photo of Col (Retd) Halvorsen's aircraft and the parachutes.
This was a turning point in the story of the Candy Bomber as the veteran explained to BFBS, saying: "He got a picture of my airplane and the parachutes and my Colonel saw it and he got angry with me.
"He said, 'Why didn't you ask permission?' And I said, 'I didn't think you'd approve it' and he said 'you're right but the General saw it and he likes it so keep doing it'.
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