Funeral services for Utah’s Gail S. Halvorsen, the much-saluted “Berlin Candy Bomber,” will be Tuesday morning in Provo.
Halvorsen, a U.S. Air Force cargo pilot, gained fame for dropping treats to children during the Berlin airlift in 1948-49. When the Soviet Union cut off access to West Berlin and stopped supplying food for residents, the United States responded by flying supplies into the city.
(The Associated Press) Gail Halvorsen throws chocolate and chewing gum on parachutes from a "Raisin Bomber" over Berlin in October 1948. Halvorsen died last week at age 101.
More than 23 tons of candy were dropped from U.S. Air Force planes through Halvorsen’s Operation Little Vittles, which made him a hero in Germany, the United States and eventually around the globe. He died Feb. 16 at age 101.
There will be two viewings before the funeral:
• Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Nelson Family Mortuary, 4780 N. University Ave., Provo.
• Tuesday from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the Edgemont Stake Center of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 303 W. 3700 North, Provo.
The funeral will follow at 11 a.m. at the Edgemont meetinghouse. There will be an overflow building at 3511 N. 180 East, and the funeral service can be viewed on YouTube.
Halvorsen will be interred at the Provo City Cemetery, 610 S. State St.
Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Former Air Force Col. Gal Halvorsen drops 1000 candy bars from a World War II bomber over Scera Park, in 2015. He died last week and will be buried Tuesday in Provo.
According to the Gail S. Halvorsen Foundation, “long before his passing” the colonel asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the following organizations:
• Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation (www.spiritoffreedom.org).
• Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Foundation(GailSHalvorsenAviationEducationMemorialFund).
• Primary Children’s Hospital (https://intermountainhealthcare.org/primary-childrens/give).
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