Uncle Wiggly Wings

During my teaching career and especially after my life-saving double transplant in 1997, I made it a goal to teach my students important life lessons using history as the foundation for these core life values. My entire transplant story is filled with examples of people helping me, so helping others is one of those core values I treasure. From my donor to those who helped my family financially as well as those who gave medical, emotional and spiritual support, the impact of everyone’s help was life-changing for me. I made it a mission to instill in my students the importance of helping others when you can, whether it be with monetary donations or with time. The list of activities we completed is lengthy, from collecting cereal for the food bank and Lego kits for special needs children to volunteering with senior citizens. I never offered extra credit for participating, rather I used stories, including my own, to teach the value of helping others in order to foster in them the intrinsic will to participate. Time was just as important as money since every student had a different situation. One of my favorite stories from history that I enjoyed using to teach the value of helping others, and typically shared during the Christmas season, was the story of Uncle Wiggly Wings. 

This story starts at the end of World War II. As the Allied countries celebrated victory and families welcomed home loved ones from the war, there was another story not as festive. Former opponents Germany and Japan had faced total war, and their nations were in a state of utter destruction: homes destroyed, factories bombed, infrastructure wrecked, farms ruined and people’s lives in disarray as they were starving and homeless. Fortunately, humanitarian concern had replaced vengeance and the will to fight until unconditional surrender. Plans were quickly organized to help these countries rebuild. 

There was another storm that greatly impacted our willingness to help our former enemies. The power vacuum that was created with the defeat of the Axis Powers was filled by the United States and the Soviet Union, and these two new superpowers began a face-off in what was eventually known as the Cold War. Both countries took action to build alliances, including helping to rebuild war-torn countries. It led to the division of Europe into East and West—divided by what Winston Churchill called the “Iron Curtain.” It wouldn’t take long until the superpowers faced off in a confrontation over European control, and the epicenter of that conflict was the city of Berlin. After the war, Germany was divided into occupation zones with the Americans controlling the west and the Russians dominating the east. Despite the fact Berlin was in the center of the Russian zone, it also was divided into sectors controlled by the opposing powers—that was until 1948 when the Russians, having had enough of the fact that a small piece of land inside their zone was controlled by the West, cut off access to West Berlin. The Soviets added an ultimatum: surrender or starve.

In what was essentially a life-threatening international game of chicken, the Americans and their allies had a decision to make: aid West Berlin or allow the Soviets to gain control of it. The decision wasn’t difficult since surrendering to communist control was not an option, but supplying the people of West Berlin would require an extraordinary effort. It was eventually decided to supply the people with all they needed by flying the supplies into West Berlin. In what became the Berlin Airlift, American and British planes—averaging one plane taking off or landing in West Berlin every 30 seconds—kept the city supplied … and alive. The airlift lasted 15 months and involved 300,000 flights loaded with food, clothing, medicine and even coal. The Russians eventually gave up and abandoned the blockade.

One of the pilots flying C-47 and C-54 cargo planes into Berlin was Lieutenant Gail Halvorsen. Halvorsen joined the Army Air Corps in 1942. Like many veteran pilots from the war, he was assigned to Operational Vittles, the plan to supply Berlin via air. On one trip, after landing at Tempelhof Airport in Berlin, he was filming home movies when he noticed children had gathered around the barbed wire fence surrounding the airbase. He approached the group of approximately 30 children, and the youngsters were excited to see one of the American pilots who was feeding them. They asked numerous questions for nearly an hour. As Halvorsen prepared to leave, they told him not to risk landing when it was foggy because it was dangerous, informing him, “We can get by on a little food.” Halvorson could tell these kids were having a tough time under these circumstances from their disheveled appearance. He was further surprised they didn’t ask for anything or complain. 

The young lieutenant was touched and wanted to do something for them. In his pocket were just two sticks of gum. Halvorsen took them out, and despite his fear that it might get contentious with just two sticks of gum for thirty children, he handed them through the fence. He was astonished when they took the gum, broke it into pieces and shared it with as many as possible. Those who didn’t get a morsel of gum, tore apart the wrappers and sniffed the wrapper for the fresh minty scent. As Halvorsen witnessed the euphoria his small gesture brought, he gave his word he would bring enough for everybody on his next flight. The excitement for everybody was obvious when one child asked, “How will we know which plane is yours?” Halvorsen raised his arms and explained as he rocked right and left that he would wave using the wings of his plane. The next day they searched the sky for their new friend who they named “Uncle Wiggly Wings.”

Lt. Gail Halvorsen

Halvorsen did not disappoint. He and his crew collected their candy and then canvassed the base to collect more candy and gum from others’ rations. They created makeshift parachutes from handkerchiefs and dropped the sweet treats to the children below. The youngsters sprinted to retrieve the candy as it floated to the ground. As the weeks passed, word spread about the “Candy Bomber” and the number of children increased. Halvosen and his crew continued to collect candy and gum when he was summoned to his commanding officer where he feared reprimand for his unauthorized “bombings.” Instead he was commended and informed his idea would be officially sanctioned; the mission was labeled Operation Little Vittles. Soon, other pilots and crew joined the effort. 

When word reached the United States, candy companies donated large quantities of candy and gum. Americans volunteered to make and send more miniature parachutes for the effort. School children collected donations for the effort as well. A total of 21 tons of candy was collected for Operation Little Vittles. Halvorsen received large quantities of mail; some were letters with donations and some were thank you notes. The thank you notes were addressed in a variety of ways: Uncle Wiggly Wings, Chocolate Flier, Gum Drop Kid, Candy Bomber and Uncle of the Heavens. One child amusingly added his address with directions to where he lived a few blocks from the airport and a request that they drop the candy in his backyard. Reality set in when he added, “I live in the bombed-out house.” For this child and all the others living in a devastated city struggling to survive, the candy and gum became more than a sweet treat. It represented hope and a brighter future. It all started with Gail Halvorsen, two sticks of gum and a promise to help.

Operation Little Vittles

Both Operation Vittles and Operation Little Vittles came to an end in 1949. Halvorsen retired from the Air Force in 1974 as a colonel, and his legacy as “Uncle Wiggly Wings” serves as a great example of what one person can do to help others—both in the help he individually provided and what he inspired others to do. Last week, my Pastor at church stated in his weekly message that one can find true joy in the holiday season and enjoy a merry Christmas by helping others. I agree, and whether it be volunteering your time or making a donation, I hope you can find some inspiration from this story and have a joyful holiday.