Museum, Douglas School District re-enact 'candy bomber' mission Published Sept. 25, 2008 South Dakota Air and Space Museum BOX ELDER, S.D. -- The South Dakota Air and Space Museum has partnered with the Douglas School District to re-enact a "candy drop" from the 1948 Berlin Airlift Sept. 29 at 1:30 p.m. at the Douglas Middle School football field. The event is free and open to the public and scheduled to feature retired Col. Gail Halvorsen, the original "candy bomber" from the airlift, and Rapid City, S.D.'s own Berlin Airlift veteran retired Air Force Lt. Col. Charles Childs. The two gentlemen will be elevated in a personnel lift device on the football field to drop parachuted candy to children from Douglas-area schools. "The aircrews began the practice of hand dropping candy to Berlin's children during the airlift," said Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson, SDASM director. "This practice, began by then Lieutenant Halvorsen, was dubbed Operation Little Vittles. Other aviators began to participate as huge parcels of candy were donated by children and candy companies from the U.S." "By the end of the airlift 23 tons of chocolate, chewing gum and other candies over various places in Berlin had been released by America's Airmen," he said. For further information, please contact Sergeant Wilson at (605) 385-5188.