THE FEARFUL FIFTIES
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| Why is this American Air Force Plane Dropping Candy on Germany, a Country in Europe? |
Remember, after World War II, Germany and its capital Berlin were divided. The Soviets controlled the eastern part and America, along with its allies Britain and France, controlled the rest.
In June 1948, the Soviets decided to make a move to control Germany, the most important country in Europe. They blocked all the roads and railroads into Berlin, making it impossible for those living in the American and allied parts of the city to get supplies.
In this video the Soviets shut off power to West Berlin.
Beginning on June 26, 1948, America responded with the "Berlin Airlift" to fly in everything a city needed to keep going including coal for heating, food and milk, machinery, soap, medical supplies and newspapers.
The U.S. Air Force even sent a baby camel for the children of Berlin. American pilots were known for dropping candy with little parachutes from their planes for the kids of Berlin.
Planes delivered up to 2,500 tons of food, fuel, and supplies a day to Berlin. Planes flew around the clock, and during the peak daylight hours, planes landed at the rate of one per minute. The blockade ended in June 1949, but the airlift continued until September 30. In 15 months two million tons of food valued at 224 million dollars had been delivered, and West Berlin remained free. Like Germany itself, Berlin was finally reunified in 1989 which we will explore later.
Planes delivered up to 2,500 tons of food, fuel, and supplies a day to Berlin. Planes flew around the clock, and during the peak daylight hours, planes landed at the rate of one per minute. The blockade ended in June 1949, but the airlift continued until September 30. In 15 months two million tons of food valued at 224 million dollars had been delivered, and West Berlin remained free. Like Germany itself, Berlin was finally reunified in 1989 which we will explore later.
Comment on the blog:
Share one fact from any of the videos that you found interesting.
The fact I found most interesting is that Mercedes Wild wrote a letter to Uncle Wiggle Wings so that she could get some candy.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting, but really a touching fact, that I found was when the Candy Bomber gave out four pieces of gum to the children waiting at the gate and immediately (not one child being greedy) they all distributed it in even amounts to the whole group! They had so little, yet they were willing to give so much. It reminds me of the story when Jesus fed a whole crowd with just a few fish and loaves of bread. But rather than the children's gum being multiplied, their little giving hearts divided it equally. I loved this story!
ReplyDeleteWhat I found interesting is the sleep schedule of the pilots of the Berlin Blockade. They fly all night, sleep six hours in the middle of the day, and go back to flying. How unhealthy!
ReplyDeleteI didn't know a book was written about the 'Candy Bomber's' story. It was also cool that he dropped the chocolate from parachutes.
ReplyDeleteI did not know how the Western side was literally blocked off from electricity and normal supplies. It sort of reminded me of Operation Starve Britain.
ReplyDeleteThe fact i didn't know is that those kids waiting at the fence were starving???!!!
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ReplyDeleteA fact I thought was interesting is that Gail Halvorson still suited up for airshows even when he was 93 years old. That's pretty cool how somebody could still do the thing they loved most, even when he was that old! He is now a retired career officer and is 96 years old.
ReplyDeleteI thought that it was interesting that the pilots cared for the kids and thought of them enough to bring them candy.
ReplyDeleteSomething I found interesting (because i didn't know this) was that the airlift campaign was called operation "vittles".
ReplyDeleteI thought the most interesting fact was that he started doing it after he saw a group of kids at the end of the runway, behind barbed wire. I can picture that sight well, and it must have been a touching moment :)
ReplyDeleteI loved the fact that the children were the ones to inspire that man. It seems like such a profound thing for kids to say and think about! It really shows how much hope they had and that is super cool.
ReplyDeleteone fact I found interesting was that in the end 23 TONS of candy had been dropped for the children, and by the way Mrs. Tvedt the 3rd video size in the blog was a wee bit small ;)
ReplyDeleteI know ... it couldn't be any tinier. Sorry about that! :)
DeleteThe fact I found most interesting is that the name "Uncle Wiggle Wings" actually arose because he would signal the children by wiggling the wings of his plan when he went to drop the candy. (In the last video)
ReplyDeleteI thought it was interesting how much they were flying, and how often planes landed.
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