Operation 'Little Vittles' Col Gail Halvorsen Berlin Airlift Plaque
Details:
In the former Airport Check-in building (Besucherzentrum) on the left side of the entry door.
A framed glass plaque mounted on the wall of the former terminal.
The plaque remembers "Operation Little Vittles" during which US Air Force planes threw to the children of West Berlin while landing at Tem[elhof Airport during the Berlin Airlift. Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen is credited with the idea and is remembered as the "Candy Bomber".
The plaque was inaugurated on May 12, 2024 in the presence of the Mayor of Berlin and Colonel Halvorsen's daughter.
Special thanks to Joakim Steinweden of the Association of the U.S. Army, GEN C. W. Abrams Chapter (Germany) and of the U.S. Military Vehicle Club e.V.
Monument Text:
The inscription on the plaque is written in German and reads:
BERLINER GEDENKTAFEL
Auf diesem Flughafen landeten die Flugzeuge, aus denen
während der Berliner Luftbrücke im Rahmen der
»OPERATION LITTLE VITTLES«
ab dem 18. Juli 1948 Süigkeiten für West-Berliner Kinder
abgeworfen wurden. Diese Aktion geht zurück auf die
Initiative des US-amerikanischen Piloten GAIL S. HALVORSEN
und wurde zum Symbol eines neuen Verhältnisses
zwischen der künftigen Bundesrepublik und den
USA nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg.
English Translation:
BERLIN MEMORIAL PLATE
During the Berlin Airlift
planes that landed at this airport were part of
»OPERATION LITTLE VITTLES«
From July 18, 1948, West Berlin children
received sweets thrown from the planes due to the
Initiative of the US pilot GAIL S. HALVORSEN
and it became a symbol of a new relationship
between the future Federal Republic and the
USA after the Second World War.
Commemorates:
People:
Gail Seymour “The Candy Bomber” Halvorsen
Units:
United States Air Force
Wars:
Cold War
Battles:
Berlin Airlift
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