During the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949, Col. Gail Halvorsen piloted transport missions delivering humanitarian aid to the city from his C-54 Skymaster. Better known as the “Candy Bomber,” Col. Halvorsen brought hope to Berlin’s young children by airdropping candy attached to small parachutes.
In recognition of the late Col. Halvorsen’s lifetime of service, this year, the U.S. Air Force named one of its modern C-17 Globemaster III aircraft “Spirit of the Candy Bomber.”
The Globemaster III is the most flexible cargo aircraft in today’s Air Force, delivering equipment, transporting troops, and evacuating the injured around the world.
A fitting tribute to Col. Halvorsen’s legacy, the Spirit of the Candy Bomber specifically has delivered humanitarian aid and performed civilian evacuations across the globe.