Air Classics - Where History Flies! - August 2022

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Col. Halvorsen’s children taking part,

along with many of his grandchildren

and great-grandchildren. Being part

of the C-54D crew, I was invited to a

number of private events hosted by the

family and I’d like to extend my thanks

to them for including me in those very

special events. AC

required to release

the remaining

parachutes and

I don’t know

what was more

important for

the children —

retrieving a candy

bar or the souvenir

parachute. The

C-17 then headed

east to Charleston

while Spirit of

Freedom returned

to the airport and was reopened for

tours. The aircraft would spend another

two days in Spanish Fork before

heading to its next engagement at the

Mid-Atlantic Air Museum’s “WWII

Weekend” event.

The Halvorsen family was a large

part of the celebration with all five of

to Spanish Fork. Halvorsen had been a

treasured member of the organization

for 27 years and had even traveled

with the group during their 1998 69-

day European tour to commemorate

the airlift’s 50th anniversary. He also

participated in numerous airshow

events and the annual candy drop

reenactments in Manteo, North

Carolina. When he was unable to

attend the December 2021 reenactment,

BAHF members resolved to bring the

reenactment to Utah. Shocked to learn

of his death, they decided to bring the

C-54 to Utah for the Celebration of Life.

After the formation flight, both

aircraft landed at Provo Airport and

staged at the new passenger terminal for

public tours. The C-17 is an Afghanistan

Airlift veteran and had been set up with

a number of displays with Charleston-

based airmen explaining the aircraft’s

mission. It was amusing to note that the

C-54D wasted no time in marking the

virgin white concrete tarmac of the new

terminal with oil drops!

Later in the day there was a wreath

laying ceremony at Col. Halvorsen’s

graveside, where Gen. Gräfe gave a

moving speech. The contingent then

headed back to the airport where the

C-17 was named Spirit of The Candy

Bomber was scheduled to happen at

5 pm. A stage and about 150 chairs

had been set up and, after speeches by

Provo Mayor Michelle Kaufusi and

General Mike Minihan, the name was

officially unveiled with Halvorsen family

members pulling the cord..

The C-54D was flown back to

Spanish Fork Airport the next morning,

where it was on display prior to the

candy drop that had been scheduled

for mid-day. The event had been well

advertised and a large crowd of children

and their parents had lined up to tour

the airplane prior to the drop. There

was still a very long line when it had to

be cut off so the airplane could depart

for its rendezvous with the C-17, which

would accompany it on the candy drop.

Not long after taking off, the C-54D

accompanied by the C-17 passed over

the airport. During the second pass,

candy-bearing parachutes were released

from the C-54D with excited children

making a beeline to retrieve the candy

bars and parachutes. A third pass was

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Over the formation zone, the weather began to go downhill but the pilots were able to get the

formation done. (Idee Montijo)

Right on schedule, the first load of candy is

dropped from Spirit of Freedom. (RMP)

Over the years, Gail Halvorsen enjoyed many flights with the Berlin

Airlift Historical Foundation C-54.