'Candy Bomber' Gail Halvorsen lands at Utah school

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune
Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, signs Richie Saunders' sweater as Jake Sexton waits his turn at Oquirrh Hills Middle School on Wednesday.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, speaks to seventh-grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his history lesson with seventh grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, visits with seventh-grade students before speaking at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, visits with Emma Barlow, 16, before speaking at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, autographs Jakes Sexton's sweater at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his teddy bear story with 8-year-old Avery Navratil, before speaking at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Avery's mother, Kimberly Navratil is in the red shirt.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, autographs Eve Barlow's sweater at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015.

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Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, signs Richie Saunders' sweater as Jake Sexton waits his turn at Oquirrh Hills Middle School on Wednesday. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, speaks to seventh-grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his history lesson with seventh grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his history lesson with seventh-grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, speaks to seventh-grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, signs Richie Saunders' sweater at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, visits with seventh-grade students before speaking at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, visits with Emma Barlow, 16, before speaking at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, autographs Jakes Sexton's sweater at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his history lesson with seventh-grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his teddy bear story with 8-year-old Avery Navratil, before speaking at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Avery's mother, Kimberly Navratil is in the red shirt. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, autographs Eve Barlow's sweater at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his teddy bear story with 8-year-old Avery Navratil, before speaking at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015. Avery's mother, Kimberly Navratil is in the red shirt. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, shares his history lesson with seventh-grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Gail Halvorsen, 94 years old and known around the world as the Berlin Candy Bomber, speaks to seventh-grade students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School, Wednesday, April 1, 2015

The Salt Lake Tribune

· April 2, 2015 8:03 am

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Riverton • Gail Halvorsen, known as The Candy Bomber, spoke to students Wednesday at Oquirrh Hills Middle School.

Halvorsen, 94, earned his nickname and became an international symbol of goodwill as an Air Force cargo pilot. During the Berlin Airlift, Halvorsen and his crew tossed candy out of their airplane to the children of West Berlin. Halvorsen was born and raised in Utah and today lives in Arizona.

Click here to read an interview with Halvorsen on the eve of his 94th birthday.