Col. Gail Halvorsen Award
Encyclopedia
The Colonel Gail Halvorsen Award is bestowed each year upon a member of the Air Force
in the air transportation career field. In order to be eligible for this award, the individual must be an Active Duty, Reserve, or Nation Guard Air Transportation member. Further, the "Nominee must be performing Air Transportation duties that directly support airlift
or tanker
flying operations and/or personnel, demonstrate sustained excellence, and have exemplary conduct and character." The call message for award nominees also states that the individual must display an exceptional proficiency in air transportation duties, such as reducing process time of missions, the ability to adjust to extraordinary work duties, have the ability to solve problems in challenging situations, and provide self-improvement efforts.
served in the United States Air Force
During WWII in the Atlantic from 1944 to 1946 as a C-47 and as a C-54 transport pilot. In 1948 Col. Halvorsen volunteered for the mission, Operation Vittles, which many may know as the Berlin Airlift. During this mission he flew the C-54 delivering food, coal, and necessary supplies to the citizens of Berlin
, which was blockaded by the soviets. During this tour, Col. Halvorsen began his own mission, operation Little Vittles, in which he dropped parachutes containing candy to the children of both east
and west Berlin
. Thus, he was nicknamed the "Candy Bomber" and the "Chocolate Pilot." This act of compassion for the children of the blockaded city began the notion of humanitarian airlift.
Air force
An air force, also known in some countries as an air army, is in the broadest sense, the national military organization that primarily conducts aerial warfare. More specifically, it is the branch of a nation's armed services that is responsible for aerial warfare as distinct from an army, navy or...
in the air transportation career field. In order to be eligible for this award, the individual must be an Active Duty, Reserve, or Nation Guard Air Transportation member. Further, the "Nominee must be performing Air Transportation duties that directly support airlift
Airlift
Airlift is the act of transporting people or cargo from point to point using aircraft.Airlift may also refer to:*Airlift , a suction device for moving sand and silt underwater-See also:...
or tanker
Tanker
- Transportation :* Tanker , a ship designed to carry bulk liquids** Chemical tanker, a type of tanker designed to transport chemicals in bulk** Oil tanker, also known as a petroleum tanker...
flying operations and/or personnel, demonstrate sustained excellence, and have exemplary conduct and character." The call message for award nominees also states that the individual must display an exceptional proficiency in air transportation duties, such as reducing process time of missions, the ability to adjust to extraordinary work duties, have the ability to solve problems in challenging situations, and provide self-improvement efforts.
Background of Col. Halvorsen
Col. HalvorsenGail Halvorsen
Colonel Gail Halvorsen is a retired career officer and command pilot in the United States Air Force known as the original Candy Bomber or the "Rosinenbomber" in Germany. He was born in Salt Lake City, Utah...
served in the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
During WWII in the Atlantic from 1944 to 1946 as a C-47 and as a C-54 transport pilot. In 1948 Col. Halvorsen volunteered for the mission, Operation Vittles, which many may know as the Berlin Airlift. During this mission he flew the C-54 delivering food, coal, and necessary supplies to the citizens of Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, which was blockaded by the soviets. During this tour, Col. Halvorsen began his own mission, operation Little Vittles, in which he dropped parachutes containing candy to the children of both east
East Berlin
East Berlin was the name given to the eastern part of Berlin between 1949 and 1990. It consisted of the Soviet sector of Berlin that was established in 1945. The American, British and French sectors became West Berlin, a part strongly associated with West Germany but a free city...
and west Berlin
West Berlin
West Berlin was a political exclave that existed between 1949 and 1990. It comprised the western regions of Berlin, which were bordered by East Berlin and parts of East Germany. West Berlin consisted of the American, British, and French occupation sectors, which had been established in 1945...
. Thus, he was nicknamed the "Candy Bomber" and the "Chocolate Pilot." This act of compassion for the children of the blockaded city began the notion of humanitarian airlift.
Col. Gail Halvorsen Award Winners
- 2004 award winner- Master Sergeant Brian T. McDaniel
- 2005 award winner- Master Sergeant Carl Lane Jr.
- 2006 award winner- Master Sergeant Curtis L. Palmer
- 2007 award winner- Technical Sergeant Terry A. Fisher
- 2008 award winner- Technical Sergeant Kody Dale Pruitt
- 2009 award winner- Technical Sergeant Kevin Lee Brown
- 2010 award winner- Master Sergeant Todd M. Butler