30 minute read
Week in photos
927th ARW honorary commanders immersed in the Total Force mission
by Staff Sgt. Alexis Suarez
927th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
The 927th Air Refueling Wing, a Reserve component of the U.S. Air Force, relies greatly on the support gained through partnerships with the Tampa Bay community.
The honorary commander program at the 927th ARW s t r i v e s t o educate community leaders on the wing’s mission and foster strong supportive relationships for our Citizen Airmen.
On May 12, more than 15 civic leaders from the Tampa Bay community participated in a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft refueling mission and received a tour of Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla.
Before departing from MacDill, U.S. Air Force Col. Kurt Matthews, 927th ARW commander, welcomed the wing’s honorary commanders and thanked them for being an asset to the wing and its Airmen.
“Our honorary commander program is one of the best I’ve seen and
See MISSION, Page 10
Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexis Suarez
A KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft from the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, refuels a F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, during an honorary commander flight May 12. The honorary commanders were able to lay alongside the KC-135 boom operator to view the refueling mission.
Future of nursing: Telehealth, more innovation, maybe some robots
by Janet A. Aker
Military Health System Communications
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AFNS)—The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has fast-tracked many changes to the Military Health System and forced all providers - especially nurses - to innovate at near-quantum speed with agility and flexibility.
Nurses are the backbone of daily healthcare operations. In the future, nurses will continue to play a vital role in the evolution of modern healthcare.
“Nursing will take on more leadership and strategic roles to transform the healthcare system, better advocate for nursing personnel, and integrate across care to enhance the multi-disciplinary team,” said Brig. Gen. Anita Fligge, Defense Health Agency chief nursing officer.
As the DHA observes 2022 Nurses Week, Fligge and other top DHA nursing officers talked about changes on the horizon for military nursing and the details of how the career field will evolve in the coming years.
They said the pandemic has underscored the connection between health and readiness. Virtual healthcare options will continue to expand, and robotics may play a prominent role in standardized care in the future while continued education for nurses will be essential to maintaining a
Photo by Kemberly Groue
Second Lt. Nina Hoskins, 81st Surgical Operations Squadron operating room nurse, briefs Col. Debra Lovette, 81st Training Wing commander, and other base leadership on robotics surgery capabilities inside the robotics surgery clinic during an 81st Medical Group orientation tour in the Keesler Medical Center on Keesler Air Force Base, Miss., June 16, 2017. The purpose of the tour was to familiarize Lovette with the group’s mission, operations and personnel.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Joshua Hastings
Members assigned to the 6th Contracting Squadron (CONS) pose for a photo at MacDill Air Force Base May 12. The 6th CONS earned the Air Mobility Command functional award for outstanding large contracting squadron due to their performance during the previous quarter. The 6th CONS is responsible for coordinating projects and purchasing essential products for the installation including its joint partners.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexander Cook
Col. Robert Ura, Hillsborough County Sheriff, prepares to give remarks during an opening cremony for National Police Week May 16 at MacDill Air Force Base. Every year, MacDill Airmen come together to celebrate National Police Week by honoring security forces members who currently serve, have served and who have paid the ultimate sacrifice while in the line of duty. National Police Week was May 15 - 21.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Michael Killian
Senior Airman Jonathon Moore, a laboratory technician assigned to the 6th Medical Support Squadron (MDSS), instructs U.S. Air Force Col. Benjamin Jonsson, 6th Air Refueling Wing commander, on conducting a covid test as a part of a visit with the 6th Medical Group at MacDill Air Force Base May 19. The 6th MDSS enables combat capability of the 6th Air Refueling Wing, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Special Operations, as well as 36 partner units.
Risk Management - the key to a safe and enjoyable summer
by Lisa Gonzales
Air Force Safety Center
KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.—The Department of the Air Force reminds Airmen and Guardians to apply sound risk management when enjoying outdoor and recreational activities with family and friends this summer. The summer focus period runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration summer time travel, which includes the summer holidays (Memorial Day, Independence Day and Labor Day), accounts for the highest average motor vehicle crashes and fatality rates per day; over 9,000 lives were lost from May to August of last year.
With more people on the roadways; accidents are bound to happen and not planning ahead is where problems can arise. The use of risk management when planning a road trip means getting your vehicle serviced to ensure the fluids are topped off as well as making sure the tires, spare tire and tire jacks are all in good working condition. Have an emergency roadside kit stocked with flares, reflective gear, first aid items, extra water, blankets, and food in case of possible stranding for long periods of time. Pull over when feeling drowsy, focus on the road at all times and if taking medications, make sure they do not cause drowsiness.
U.S. Air Force graphic
The Department of the Air Force reminds Airmen and Guardians to apply sound risk management when enjoying outdoor and recreational activities with family and friends this summer. The summer focus period runs from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.
See SAFETY, Page 13
From Page 3 ready medical force.
Working in a joint environment within the integrated DHA workforce will improve efficiencies for nurses, allowing them to spend more time on patient care by having standardized policies, procedures and tools across the services, Fligge said.
She pointed to the collaboration already underway in the local healthcare markets. For example, she said, Navy nurses in the Puget Sound market help backfill at the Madigan Army Medical Center and vice-versa. The same collaboration is ongoing in the Colorado market, she said. Air Force nurses are assisting at the Army’s Fort Carson Evans Army Community Hospital.
The pandemic “has opened the doors for nursing to see what could change as to how we care for patients in the future, using technology in a new way, and using data to assist in bed expansion or use of resources more effectively,” said Army Col. Jenifer Meno, DHA deputy chief nurse officer.
The pandemic has “required more precision and flexibility, including virtual healthcare, remote patient monitoring, and touchless medication refills to optimize care delivery,” Fligge said.
Virtual health
The future will mean more virtual healthcare and telehealth services for certain specialties such as dermatology, behavioral health, primary care, urgent care, and obstetrics while maintaining the focus on highquality patient care and increased access to care, Fligge explained.
The expansion of virtual care will help save lives on the battlefield and improve care during humanitarian crises and future pandemics.
Additionally, at home, virtual health will continue to provide MHS beneficiaries with more access and flexibility to get assistance and appointments.
The COVID-19 pandemic has taxed nursing staffs beyond anything in recent memory as they cared for both COVID-19 patients and maintained routine healthcare operations.
The pandemic has “prompted the need for us to re-look at staffing models and ratios to optimize utilization of the workforce, while ensuring safe, high-quality care delivery and positive outcomes.” Fligge said.
The past two-plus years also have seen a “greater awareness and need to address burnout and retention,” Fligge continued.
Better health, better outcomes
Keeping nurses themselves healthy is a key priority for the entire health system, Meno said.
“The more healthy you are makes you more resilient in multiple ways, from being physically healthy, having mental well-being, and spiritual well-being,” she said.
These three are all part of Total Force Fitness, the Department of Defense’s framework for improving holistic health and performance aligned to one’s mission, culture and identity.
She pointed to the increasing use of mobile applications as one way to monitor health across the military community. These apps are available to help decrease stress, monitor exercise habits and support healthy diets.
“Nurses can use that data to assist in educating and teaching patients how to care for themselves as well as recognize triggers that may be a risk to their care,” Meno said.
“If we maintain a healthier mindset, it prepares the body to fight off disease and illness. If we use it to help our patients to be healthier and do preventive activities, that would change potential outcomes for the future.”
More robotics and AI
Nurses have been integrally involved in newer surgical techniques such as robotic surgery since the 2000s.
“Some things never change,” Meno explained. “Nurses in the operating room will continue to be the eyes and ears for the patient. They will continue to ensure that the patient is receiving the best care with high quality and safety.”
Nurses on robotic surgical teams must demonstrate “a very high level of professional knowledge and be experts in robotic technology. This is demonstrated by playing a key role in data collection, analyzing trends and outcomes, and identifying safety issues,” Fligge said.
The nursing team will need to continue to maintain sterile techniques and ensure the integrity of the surgical field, Meno said. The team will need to communicate more in the operating room as technologies evolve. And nurses will use evidence-based teamwork tools from Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety [TeamSTEPPS] to support a highly reliable organization, Meno added.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Bailee A. Darbasie
Maj. William Scott, 99th Surgical Operations Squadron general surgeon, performs surgery using the da Vinci Surgery System at the Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., April 3, 2019. The console provides the surgeon with a magnified, three-dimensional view of the surgical site as the tower sits over the patient and performs the operation.
Photo by Airman 1st Class Bailee A. Darbasie
Majs. Megan Bing, Rachel Nemcic and William Scott, 99th Surgical Operations Squadron surgeons, stand next to the da Vinci Surgery System at the Mike O’Callaghan Military Medical Center, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., April 3, 2019. Scott said the da Vinci is beneficial for surgeon satisfaction and the overall readiness of the 99th Medical Group.
TeamSTEPPS is an evidence-based teamwork system designed to enhance patient outcomes by improving communication and other teamwork skills among healthcare professionals.
Artificial intelligence is already a technology nurses use in everyday care via mobile health and alerts in joint tele-critical care network units. These are an important force multiplier, leveraging virtual health resources to extend critical care expertise and treatment at a distance.
And without a doubt, there are more changes to come. AI and machine learning will assist nurses by using data to help improve the efficiencies of systems and processes, but those technologies are still in their infancy.
More nursing expertise
The pandemic has also meant an “increased capability and use of our nursing workforce by ensuring that personnel are equipped with the education and training to perform at the highest level and scope of practice and license,” Fligge explained.
Meno said she sees more nurses getting certifications to be the subject matter experts in their field.
The increased number of nurses obtaining their Doctorate of Nurse Practice will also grow now that the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has endorsed the movement of advanced nursing practice from a master’s degree to the doctorate level, Meno predicted.
“This doctorate develops nurses to look at process improvement and holistically at improving systems and processes that include other disciplines in patient care.”
Meno explained that hybrid nursing roles discussions have already taken place.
“We see nurses now that are doing hybrid nursing roles due to their versatility and agility. Nurses are not only at the bed side, but they are also clinical nurse specialists, research scientists, advance practice providers, educators and health system leaders.”
Honoring The Candy Bomber
by J.M. Eddins Jr. Airman Magazine
As part of the 75th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Air Force, Air Mobility Command honored one of the fledgling service’s first heroes, Col. Gail Halvorsen, with a celebration of his life and legacy in his hometown of Provo, Utah, May 20-21.
Halvorsen, who died on Feb. 16, 2022 at 101 years old, was known as the “Berlin Candy Bomber” or “Uncle Wiggly Wings” and gained fame for dropping candy from his C-54 Skymaster to German children gathered near the runway of Tempelhof Air Field during the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949.
His personal act of kindness soon spread through his squadron and then became an official part of the Berlin Airlift known as Operation Little Vittles.
A cornerstone for the Candy Bomber Celebration of Life event will be the “Spirit of the Candy Bomber,” a C-17 Globemaster based at Joint Base Charleston that was named in honor of Col. Halvorsen.
The aircraft will be officially unveiled during a public static display on May 20 and is scheduled to fly over the event on May 21, alongside the only airworthy C-54 in existence, dropping candy to the kids in the crowd below.
The Air Force Band and the Band of the Golden West are scheduled to perform during the two-day program.
A 30-minute live broadcast will stream on the Air Mobility Command Facebook page during the May 21 events.
Appearing virtually at the event will be some of the surviving “Berlin Kids”. Those then-children were given hope in the form of a small chocolate bar floating down by a napkin parachute as they struggled to survive in a city utterly destroyed during World War Two and blockaded by the Soviet Union in the first confrontation of the Cold War.
The Berlin Airlift and Operation Little Vittles were the first missions in the U.S. Air Force’s 75 years of delivering hope across the world.
With the Nazi surrender in 1945, the Allies divided the defeated Germany. The French, British and Americans took the western half of the nation spreading the ideals of democracy, while the Communist Russians occupied the eastern half of Germany. Berlin itself was divided into sectors between the allies, but was completely surrounded by the Soviet-controlled sector of Germany.
More than three years after World War II ended, Russian forces blockaded the Allied-controlled areas of Berlin on June 24, 1948, shutting off access to food, coal and medicine to two million German citizens.
Berlin became the first front line of The Cold War and the nine-month old U.S. Air Force was charged with keeping Berliners alive while keeping the Cold War from turning hot.
The Berlin Airlift began two days later, with U.S. Air Force C-47 Skytrains and C-54 Skymasters delivering milk, flour and medicine to West Berlin. Throughout the duration of the blockade, U.S. and British aircraft delivered more than 2.3 million tons of supplies. At the height of the Berlin Airlift, aircraft were landing every three minutes, supplying up to 13,000 tons of food, coal and medicine a day, according to the Air Force Historical Support Division.
Then-1st Lt. Gail Halvorsen, who retired from the Air Force as a colonel in 1974, was one of the American pilots flying around-the-clock missions from Rhein-Main Air Base in West Germany to Tempelhof Air Field in Berlin. He flew 126 missions delivering supplies and food from July 1948 to February 1949.
“We learned very clearly that the new enemy was Stalin. He was taking over where Hitler left off. We knew exactly what Stalin had in mind,” Halvorsen said.
However, some Airmen had mixed emotions about aiding the former enemy that had been shooting at American pilots just three years before. Halvorsen admitting that he had issues at first with the mission, but it quickly changed when he talked with a fellow crewmember.
“He told me that it is a hell of a lot better to feed them (rather) than kill them and that he was glad to be back. That is service before self. That is what causes your enemy to become your friend,” Halvorsen said.
On one of his first missions, the American pilot learned in a conversation with German youth through the perimeter fence at Templehof, that West Berliners may have needed food, but they were even more hungry for hope and freedom.
Between missions, Halvorsen was filming aircraft landings with his Revere movie camera when he encountered about 30 German children between the ages of 8 and 14, he said in his autobiography, “The Berlin Candy Bomber.”
He greeted them with practically all the German he knew, but surprisingly, one of the group spoke English. Halvorsen was soon answering questions about how many sacks of flour and loaves of bread the airplanes carried and what other types of cargo were being airlifted.
He talked with the children for an hour before he realized not one had asked him for anything. Instead, they gave him something he didn’t expect: the best lesson on freedom he’d ever heard.
“I got five steps away from them, and then it hit me,” said Halvorsen. “I’d been dead-stopped for an hour, and not one kid had put out their hand. Not one.”
The contrast was so stark because during World War II, and dating all the way back to George Washington, if you were in an American uniform walking down the street, kids would chase you and ask for chocolate and gum.
“The reason they didn’t was they were so grateful to our fliers to be free. They wouldn’t be a beggar for more than freedom,” said Halvorsen. “Hitler’s past and Stalin’s future was their nightmare. American-style freedom was their dream. They knew what freedom was about. They said, ‘Someday we’ll have enough to eat, but if we lose our freedom, we’ll never get it back.’ These were kids, and they were teaching me about freedom. That’s what just blew me away… That was the trigger. I reached into my pocket, but all I had were two sticks of gum. Right then, the smallest decision I made changed the rest of my life.”
When he reached into his pocket for the two sticks of Wrigley’s Doublemint gum, Halvorsen debated the wisdom of giving it to them. Perhaps they’d fight over it. Yet, he broke each in half and passed four halves through the barbed wire, then braced for the rush of children to the fence.
It never came.
The children who didn’t get any of the gum only asked for a piece of the wrapper so they could smell the aroma. Their reaction, along with the surprise the pilot felt when they didn’t beg for anything, led to his decision to do more for them.
The man the German children would later call “Onkel Wackelflugel” or Uncle Wiggly Wings, came up with an idea that would not only change the lives of those children, but would also help the West win the ideological war with the Soviets for Germany’s future.
Halvorsen told the kids he would drop something to them on his next landing at Templehof if they promised to share. He would signal them on approach that it was his plane by wiggling the wings, something he’d done for his parents after he received his pilot’s license in 1941.
Back at Rhein-Main Air Base, just 280 miles away, he combined his candy rations with those of his co-pilot and engineer, made parachutes out of handkerchiefs and string and tied them to chocolate and gum for the first “Operation Little Vittles” drop from his C-54 Skymaster July 18, 1948.
“The only way I could get back to deliver it was to drop it from the airplane, 100 feet over their heads, on the approach between the barbed wire fence and bombed-out buildings,” Halvorsen said. “A red light came on that said you can’t drop it without permission. But I rationalized it by saying that starving 2 million people isn’t according to Hoyle, either, so what’s a few candy bars?”
The amount of candy steadily increased, along with the number of waiting children, for three weeks until a Berlin newspaper published a photo of the now famous “Candy Bomber.”
Soon, stacks of letters began arriving at Templehof base operations addressed to “Der Schokoladen Flieger” (the Chocolate Flyer), or “Onkel Wackelflugel.”
As part of the 75th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. Air Force, Air Mobility Command honored one of the fledgling service’s first heroes, Col. Gail Halvorsen, with a celebration of his life and legacy in his hometown of Provo, Utah, May 20-21.
Children in West Berlin watch U.S. Air Force transport planes land at Templehof Airport during the Berlin Airlift in 1948. During the height of the operation, an aircraft landed every thirty seconds in West Berlin. The USAF delivered 1,783,573 tons and the RAF 541,937, on a total of 278,228 flights from June, 1948 to May, 1949.
From Page 3 has been recognized above the wing level,” said Matthews. “Many of you know so much about our wing already and your support is highly appreciated.”
The honorary commanders were talked through the flight plan that included the refueling of three F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 482nd Fighter Wing, landing at Homestead ARB and receiving a base tour before returning to MacDill.
The honorary commander’s tour at Homestead ARB honed in on the Total Force aspect of the military.
The 125th Fighter Wing from the Florida Air National Guard performed a simulated fighter aircraft alert “scramble”, U.S. Special Operations Command South gave a mission briefing and showed their memorial site, and the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security Team ended the day with a mission briefing and allowed the honorary commanders to step inside a response boat.
The honorary commanders left with greater insight of the mission of the 927th ARW – “Combat ready Citizen Airmen fueling the fight.”
Photo by Staff Sgt. Alexis Suarez)
Sixteen Tampa honorary commanders and civic leaders from the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, flew across the state to tour Homestead Air Reserve Base, Florida, May 12, 2022. During the flight to Homestead ARB, the honorary commanders were able to view three F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft from the 482nd Fighter Wing being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft from the 927th ARW.
FORT LEE, Va.—The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is implementing shopping limits on select specialty baby formula items as the agency works with its distributors to increase supply levels.
Since May 13, in conjunction with established WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program purchasing limits at state level, commissaries have placed product limitations on all classified specialty baby formula, similar to the limits customers are seeing in commercial retailers and military exchanges. Purchase limits can vary by location based on local state WIC purchasing limits. Overseas stores are also tied to purchasing limits through the WIC-Overseas program.
“We’re implementing purchase limits because of increased demand and to ensure that everyone has equal access to essential items, and to prevent ‘panic buying’ where product is available,” said DeCA Director and CEO Bill Moore, “The availability of baby formula for all our stores is fluid right now and evolving daily. We are working with our distributors to increase our supply levels of these critical products.”
The commissaries’ current stock levels of available baby formula are as follows: 50 percent for CONUS and 70 percent for OCONUS commissaries (not counting the recalled products we had to pull from our shelves). “If the availability of baby formula becomes an issue for overseas commissaries the agency will airlift product, if necessary, and assuming the products are available,” Moore said.
For commissaries in Europe there are also alternative options for supply through locally produced products, called “OSA” (offshore acquired items). OSA items are sometimes purchased by overseas commissaries to supplement U.S. stock assortments when needed.
For commissaries in the Pacific, the OSA option isn’t available because there are currently no approved local sources for baby formula, making these stores dependent on DeCA’s distributors.
“Across our commissaries, we are in the same position as commercial retailers,” Moore said. “Our distributors are receiving limited allocations of the quantities (essentially, less than they would like to order), which limits supply to our stores.
“Bottom line, we want our customers to know we are doing everything we can to get the products they need onto their store shelves –especially to our overseas and remote commissaries.”
TESTIFY
From Page 2
Speaking on the Air Force’s role in the recently updated National Defense Strategy, Brown also stressed the importance the service will play.
“The operational imperatives in the National Defense Strategy are in alignment with what our nation demands of our Air Force,” Brown said. “The Air Force we are building is critical to integrated deterrence, campaigning and enduring advantages.”
The Department of the Air Force FY 2023 budget request is approximately $194 billion, a $20.2 billion or 11.7% increase from the FY 2022 request. The U.S. Air Force budget of $169.5 billion is a $13.2 billion increase over the ’22 request, and the U.S. Space Force budget of $24.5 billion is a $7.1 billion increase.
Photo by Eric Dietrich
Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr. testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for the Department of the Air Force’s fiscal year 2023 budget request, Washington, D.C., May 17, 2022.
Photo by Eric Dietrich
Chief of Space Operations Gen. John W. “Jay” Raymond testifies before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense for the Department of the Air Force’s fiscal year 2023 budget request, Washington, D.C., May 17.
From Page 5
The Department of the Air Force lost 15 service members to preventable mishaps during last year’s summer focus. The leading causes of those fatalities were motor vehicle accidents and water-related activities. According to the Summer Safety and Health Advocacy Memorandum sent out by Acting Secretary of the Air Force John P. Roth, “simple actions – such as wearing a seatbelt or motorcycle helmet, putting on a proper life preserver, or focusing on the road and not your cell phone – saves lives.”
Summer allows us time to share in the enjoyment of warmer weather activities. It’s important to keep in mind the risks of injury prior to participating. Camping, traveling, or boating are all activities sure to draw people outside with the season change. The dangers of these fun-filled activities can often be overlooked and result in an emergency room visit or worse.
“Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start to summer and many families will be heading outdoors to enjoy the warmer weather and taking road trips to visit family and friends, said Michael Ballard, chief of Occupational Safety for the DAF. “I encourage each of you to make a risk assessment before you travel or when participating in summer activities to help prevent or mitigate injuries or deaths. The loss of one Airman, Guardian, or family member is one too many!”
The DAF has established Air Force Instruction 90-802, Risk Management guidance to assist in identifying and mitigating safety and health hazards to make informed decisions. Risk is inherent in all activities, both on and off duty. By performing a risk assessment Airmen and Guardians can systematically evaluate possible courses of action, identify risks and benefits, and determine the best course of action for any given situation.
In the last six years, motor vehicles made up the majority of mishaps resulting in injury with 885, followed by team sports with 596. Last summer alone, service members suffered 470 mishaps that took them out of work for at least one day. When a service member is unable to work this puts a strain on other members in their work areas and is detrimental to getting the mission accomplished.
Keeping risk management a part of summer planning can help mitigate the risks associated with all of those fun-filled activities.
For additional information, visits the website at https://www.safety.af.mil/Divisions/Occupational-Safety-Division/Summer-Safety/
Be sure to visit the official 6th Air Refueling Wing website at www.macdill.af.mil
From Page 8
One day, after he returned from Berlin, Halvorsen was summoned by Col. James R. Haun, the C-54 squadron commander. Haun had received a call from Brig. Gen. William H. Tunner, deputy commander of operations during the airlift, who wanted to know who was dropping parachutes over Berlin.
Halvorsen knew he was in trouble when Haun showed him the newspaper with the picture of little parachutes flying out of his C-54.
“You got me in a little trouble there, Halvorsen,” Haun told him.
“I’d had a long relationship with him, but he was put out because he was sandbagged,” Halvorsen said. “So when I talk to kids, especially high school kids, I say, ‘when you get a job, don’t sandbag your boss.’ He said to keep [dropping candy], but keep him informed. It just went crazy after that.”
Fellow pilots donated their candy rations. Eventually, they ran out of parachutes, so they made more from cloth and old shirt-sleeves until noncommissioned officers’ and officers’ wives at Rhein-Main AB began making them.
Later, the American Confectioners Association donated 18 tons of candy, mostly sent through a Chicopee, Massachusetts school where students attached it to parachutes before sending to Berlin through thenWestover Air Force Base.
By the end of the Berlin Airlift in September 1949, American pilots had dropped 250,000 parachutes and 23 tons of candy.
“Willie Williams took over after I left Berlin,” Halvorsen said. “And he ended up dropping even more candy than I did.”
Since the Berlin Airlift ended, Halvorsen has met countless Germans whose lives were changed because of “Operation Little Vittles.”
One of them, a 7-year-old girl named Mercedes, wrote in a letter in 1948 that she loved “Der Schokoladen Flieger,” but was concerned for her chickens, who thought the airlift planes were chicken hawks. Mercedes asked him to drop candy near the white chickens because she didn’t care if he scared them.
Halvorsen tried, but never could find Mercedes’ white chickens, so he wrote her a letter and sent her candy through the Berlin mail.
The two would finally meet face-to-face 24 years later when Halvorsen returned to Berlin as Templehof commander in the early 1970s. Mercedes’ husband, Peter Wild, convinced the Templehof commander to come to his home for dinner. Mercedes showed him the letter he’d written her in 1948, along with the chickens she’d written about in her own letter.
It was a friendship immortalized in Margot Theis Raven’s children’s book, “Mercedes and the Chocolate Pilot.”
Halvorsen returned to Berlin nearly 40 times since the airlift. In 1974, he received one of Germany’s highest medals, the Grosses Bundesverdienstkreuz, and carried the German team’s national placard into RiceEccles Stadium during the opening march for the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Halvorsen participated in a re-enactment of “Operation Little Vittles” during the 40th and 50th anniversaries of the Berlin Airlift and also dropped candy from a C-130 Hercules during Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Halvorsen kept a busy schedule as he and his wife, Lorraine, split their time between their homes in Arizona and Utah. Several times a year he would fly the C-54 “Spirit of Freedom,” with FAA certification to fly second-in-command. He also visited many schools, both stateside and overseas, and visited Iraq to review Air Mobility Command transport operations and visit troops deployed in Southwest Asia.
Seventy-five years since the Berlin Airlift, the colonel remained universally beloved as the “Candy Bomber,” but he enjoyed one thing about his perpetual notoriety the most.
“The thing I enjoy the most about being the ‘Candy Bomber’ is seeing the children’s reaction even now to the idea of a chocolate bar coming out of the sky,” he said. “The most fun I have is doing air drops because even here in the states, there’s something magical about a parachute flying out of the sky with a candy bar on it.”
Halvorsen believed the praise he received for bringing hope to a generation of Germans through his candy bombing deflects much of the credit to that first group of children at the barbed wire fence at Templehof.
Their gratitude and thankfulness for the pilots’ efforts to keep them free during the Berlin Airlift inspired him to reach into his pocket for those two sticks of gum.
That “smallest decision,” as Halvorsen called it, led to 23 tons of candy dropped from the sky to the children of West Berlin and changed countless lives, not to mention the life of the Candy Bomber, himself.
