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Halvorsen, Gail S.

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1920-

Biographical History

Gail S. Halvorsen (1920- ) is a pilot, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and a local ecclesiastical leader in Arizona and Utah.

Gail Seymour Halvorsen was born on October 10, 1920 in Salt Lake City, Utah. He was raised on farms in Utah and Idaho, and at age 21 earned a private pilot license under the non-college Civilian Pilot Training program in September 1941. After joining the United States Army Air Corps in June 1942, he was assigned to the South Atlantic Theater as a pilot flying transport operations.

After World War II he flew in the Berlin Airlift, where he became known as "Uncle Wiggly Wings", the "Chocolate Flyer", and the "Berlin Candy Bomber" after dropping candy attached to parachutes to the children of blockaded Berlin. His actions sparked interest in the United States, and individuals and groups all over the country donated candy and handkerchief parachutes to be given to Berlin children. He returned to the United States in January of 1949, five months before the end of the blockade.

After his return home he married Alta Jolley, with whom he later had five children, on April 16, 1949. He earned his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in aeronautical engineering at the University of Florida, finishing in 1952. Halvorsen graduated from Air Command and Staff College in 1958. He was assigned to the Air Force Space Systems Division and then the Foreign Technology Division of Air Force Systems Command working at air force bases around America and Germany. He served at Vandenberg Tracking Station in California working on the Dyna Soar missile project and the Titan III Space Launch Vehicle until 1970, when he moved back to Berlin with his family to serve as commander of Tempelhof Central Airport from 1970-1974.

Colonel Halvorsen retired from the military in 1974, when he moved to Provo and took a position as the Dean of Student Life at Brigham Young University until 1984. He served missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints with his wife, Alta Halvorsen, in the England South Mission from 1986-1987, and in the St. Petersburg Russia Mission from 1995-1997. Throughout his retirement he has traveled extensively for numerous speaking events and candy drops, largely around the United States.

Gail and Alta Halvorsen had twenty-four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Alta passed away on January 21, 1999. Gail Halvorsen is now married to Lorraine Pace, who has three children, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Citation:
UPB files, May 3, 2018 (Gail S. Halvorsen; b. Oct. 10, 1920 Salt Lake City; returned from Berlin Jan. 1949; m. Alta Jolley Apr. 16, 1949; five children; Air Command and Staff College 1958; Vandenberg Tracking Station working on Dyna Soar; commander of Tempelhof Central Airport 1970-1974; ret. from military 1974 as a Colonel; Dean of Student Life at BYU 1974-1984; England South Mission 1986-1987; St. Petersburg Russia Mission 1995-1997; speaking events and candy drops; m. Lorraine Pace)

The Berlin Candy Bomber, 2006: p. 255 (towns in Utah and Idaho; pilot license Sept. 1941 from non-college Civilian Pilot Training Program; Joined Air Corps June 1942; flew transport in South Atlantic Theater; flew in Berlin Airlift; "Uncle Wiggly Wings" and "Chocolate Flyer"; candy drops in Berlin; Univ. of Florida Bachelor's and Master's degrees in aeronautical engineering received 1952; LDS ecclesiastical leader)

Deseret News, via WWW, May 3, 2018 (Alta Jolley Halvorsen d. Jan. 21, 1999)

Found in 7 Collections and/or Records:

Gail S. Halvorsen CD-ROMs of digital photographs, 1998-2017

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2220 Series 2 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 10 Sub-Series 4
Scope and Contents

Contains CD-ROMS with photographs, many of candy bomber-themed events with Gail S. Halvorsen. Dated 1998-2017.

Dates: 1998-2017

Gail S. Halvorsen collection of essays, books, and other materials related to the Berlin Airlift, 1974-2014

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2220 Series 2 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents

Contains research papers, book excerpts, and fact sheets related to WWII, the Cold War, the Berlin Airlift, airplanes, and other topics of interest to Gail S. Halvorsen. Materials dated 1974-2014.

Dates: 1974-2014

Gail S. Halvorsen collection of firsthand accounts of WWII and the Berlin Airlift, 1962-2010

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2220 Series 2 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 7
Scope and Contents

Contains personal recollections of WWII, the Berlin Airlift, and the Cold War from Americans and Berliners. Materials dated 1962-2010.

Dates: 1962-2010

Gail S. Halvorsen collection of video, audio and digital media, 1975-2017

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2220 Series 2 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 10
Scope and Contents

Contains media relating to the Berlin Airlift and the Cold War, military topics, events Gail Halvorsen attended, and television shows he participated in. Includes various video formats, audio cassette tapes, and digital photographs. Materials dated 1975-2017.

Dates: 1975-2017

Gail S. Halvorsen collection of video tapes, 1975-2009

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2220 Series 2 Sub-Series 3 Sub-Series 10 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents

Contains VHSs from the collection of Gail S. Halvorsen, including television programs, interviews, speeches, and videos of events he took part in. The videos discuss World War II, the Cold War, the Berlin airlift, Operation Little Vittles, and Gail S. Halvorsen's life. The events depicted took place mostly in the United States and Germany. Dated 1975-2009.

Dates: 1975-2009

Gail S. Halvorsen photographs, slides, and films on military career, 1937-1974

 Sub-Series
Identifier: MSS 2220 Series 3 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents

Contains photographs, slides, and films from Gail S. Halvorsen's life and activities in the military. Dated 1937-1974.

Dates: 1937-1974

Gail S. Halvorsen papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS 2220
Scope and Contents Contains letters, emails, photographs, video and audio recordings, awards, ephemera and other memorabilia from the personal collection of Gail S. Halvorsen. Most of the material is directly related to his role as the "Candy Bomber" during the Berlin Airlift, which he continued to receive recognition for long after the end of the blockade. Included are items relating to his military career after the Berlin Airlift, including material on the Cold War, his retirement activities, his family, and...
Dates: 1905-2018; Majority of material found within 1920-2018

Filtered By

  • Subject: Cold War X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 6
Collection 1
 
Subject
Berlin (Germany) -- History -- Blockade, 1948-1949 6
Air pilots, Military -- United States 4
World War, 1939-1945 3
CD-ROMs 2
Histories (Literary works) 2