Distinguished USAF Career As Air Mobility Command Commander

The Candy Bomber Foundation announced that Gen.(ret) Mike Minihan will join the Foundation as its new Chairman of the Board on November 1, 2024.

This is the first position for Gen. Minihan since he recently retired from the U.S. Air Force after a distinguished 34-year career, ending as the commander of the Air Mobility Command. He served as a pilot, accumulating 3,400 flight hours with multiple deployments and many years overseas serving in Germany and the Republic of Korea.

Minihan holds a B.S. degree from Auburn University in Alabama and three masters’ degrees. He commanded at the squadron, wing, task force, and major command levels, and was a command pilot with qualifications in the C-130, KC-10, and C-32 aircraft.

The Candy Bomber Foundation gets its moniker from the nickname of Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, who served in the Army Air Corps during and after World War II. His exploits earned him the nickname “Berlin Candy Bomber” for his daring flights to deliver humanitarian supplies into Communist-controlled Berlin during 1948-49.

At some point Halvorsen began dropping candy to the children of Berlin with no authorization from superiors. But he gained hero status as well as support from around the world for his flights, known as Operation Little Vittles. Halvorsen dropped more than 23 tons of candy, bringing happiness and hope to those on the ground, for which he was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014. Halvorsen passed away in 2022 at the age of 101.

Gen. Minihan said, “As a young child, I intently listened to my grandfather’s flying stories including his role in the Berlin Airlift. Colonel Halverson’s legendary exploits, which carried on well past his actions during the Berlin Airlift, inspired me throughout my career. It is an honor to keep his story alive and hopefully inspiring similar selfless acts of service.”

FMI:  www.thecandybomber.org/