Photo and Article by Dale Marcy

At a lecture at the Gila Valley Senior Center, speaker Merritt Helfferich, spoke about the events that led up to the devastation, division and eventual Russian blockade of Berlin. The event was hosted by the Gila Valley Library on Nov. 22.

On a visit to Berlin, Helfferich visited the German Technical Museum and was introduced to the heartwarming story of the Candy Bombers.

A slide presentation helped to paint a mental picture of the horrific conditions in Berlin after the War. The blockade left millions of men, women and children without basic supplies of food and fuel for heat.

According to Helfferich, "In 1948, the US and Britain used three narrow flight corridors to establish the Berlin airdrops of approximately 1,500 tons of food each day. As the planes landed, children often lined the fences watching and cheering on the pilots. Early on, C-47 Airlift Pilot Gail Halversen began a conversation with some of the children that led to some very remarkable actions."

Initially Halversen found that he had only 2 sticks of gum but gave them to the children to share. Their response was overwhelming and Halversen was inspired to find a way to continue to reach out to the young people. He told them to watch for the plane that wiggled its wings and that would be him.

Helfferich told the group that was how "The Candy Bomber was born and soon other pilots joined in dropping candy and dried fruit from their planes. All over Berlin the pilots became known as the Candy or Raisin Bombers and the legend continues to this day."

According to audience member Madge Slavec, "the story of how these pilots were able to accomplish this outreach was amazing and the photographs were heartwarming. I am sure it helped to bring hope and optimism to an entire generation of young people in the aftermath of war."

Sixty years after the end of the Airlift, Halverson, who was admired and loved by the people of Berlin, was invited back and flew a C-47 dropping candy and raisins once again.

Gila Valley Library Board Chair Dale Marcy said: " the program was so well received and so meaningful in light of today's world events, we have invited Mr. Helfferich to repeat the program again after the first of the year."