Col. Halvorsen To Drop Candy At ECG On December 13

From the cockpit of a C-54, US Air Force Col. Gail Halvorsen made international news in 1948 when he dropped chocolate bars and gum to West German children, deprived of food and treats through a Soviet-controlled blockade.

Known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings" and "The Chocolate Flier," Halvorsen will again be the apple of children's eyes when he drops sweets in North Carolina during a re-enactment of the famous 1948-49 Berlin Airlift, December 13 at 1 pm at the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Regional Airport (ECG). This year marks the 60th anniversary of the airlift.

"Elizabeth City has launched many news-making events, from hosting the Wright brothers before their first flight to the deployment of blimps during World War II," said Wayne Harris, director of the Albemarle Economic Development Commission. "The opportunity to witness this historical re-enactment is one that should not be missed."

Presented by the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, the re-enactment is sponsored by DRS Technologies, which operates an aircraft maintenance facility in Elizabeth City. Eastern Aviation Fuel is donating gasoline for the flight. And an Elizabeth City confectionary, The Chocolate House, is providing 100 hand-crafted commemorative chocolate bars that Halvorsen will drop from the "Spirit of Freedom," a restored 1945 Douglas C-54E aircraft.

While Halvorsen's crew has conducted educational programs in Elizabeth City before, this is the first time the event is open to the public. "This is a chance to learn from the veterans that served during one of the great humanitarian efforts in history," said Airport Director Scott Hinton.

There are few in aviation who don't know the story of Halvorsen's exploits over Berlin... but it bears repeating. When the Soviet Union blocked access to western Berlin in 1948, Allied forces intervened, dropping tons of food, milk, flour and medicine to residents whose homes had been ravaged during World War II.

During a flight break, airlift pilot Halvorsen noticed children gathered near Tempelhof Air Base. He gave them his last two sticks of chewing gum and promised to return with chocolates. Wanting to know how they would know it was Halvorsen, he said he would wiggle the wings of his plane. He soon became known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings."

The chocolate drop caught the attention of the media and major candy companies, which soon began providing the sweets. With the help of other crews, more than 23 tons of candy were dropped on Berlin by the end of the airlift.

Located halfway between Norfolk, VA, and North Carolina's Outer Banks, Elizabeth City is home to the nation's largest US Coast Guard base and a growing business sector that caters to the aviation and aerospace industry. Earlier this year, the city broke ground on a $13 million Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Aviation Research and Commerce Park, which will open in phases over the next few years.

FMI: www.discoverec.com, www.spiritoffreedom.org