CAP Bids Farewell
to Legendary 'Uncle Wiggly Wings'
Civil Air Patrol is mourning the passing of retired U.S. Air Force Col. Gail S. Halvorsen — an aviation legend with deep connections to CAP. He died Feb. 16 at age 101.
Halvorsen was known as the “Berlin Candy Bomber” or “Uncle Wiggly Wings” for his service in 1948-1949 during the Berlin Airlift, conducted to combat the Soviet blockade of West Berlin. He earned his nicknames after deciding to include gum and candy bars in his food drops, telling children he met in Berlin that he would wiggle his wings so they could identify his plane with the candy. His initial small act of kindness, offering his last two sticks of gum to German children, blossomed into Operation Little Vittles, during which more than 23 tons of candy was delivered.
Before joining the military and flying transport planes in the South Atlantic, Halvorsen honed his skills as a beginning pilot in one of the earliest Civil Air Patrol flight training programs. In December 2014 he was one of the recipients of a replica Congressional Gold Medal (pictured) honoring CAP for wartime volunteer service.
The importance of educating the next generation of aviators through motivational exposure and hands-on aviation and STEM-themed experiences was very important to Halvorsen, who lent his name to a CAP Aerospace Education program
activity booklet about his role in the Berlin Airlift.
Halvorsen’s mission was to share the values that led his life — “gratitude, hope, service before self, and little things add up to big things” and the importance of community service through service projects.
His funeral for the former CAP alumnus was livestreamed this morning.
Condolences for the family can be sent to gail@thecandybomber.org.
