Colonel Gail Seymour "Hal" Halvorsen is best known as the "Berlin Candy Bomber" or "Uncle Wiggly Wings" for dropping candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949.
Halvorsen's operation dropped over 23 tons of candy to the residents of Berlin.
Halvorsen's operation dropped over 23 tons of candy to the residents of Berlin.
According to Halvorsen, one child asked "How will we know it is your plane?" to which Halvorsen responded that he would wiggle his wings, something he had done for his parents when he first got his pilot's license in 1941.
He founded "Operation Little Vittles", which he began with no authorization from his superiors. Over the next year, he became a national hero with support from all over the United States.
"Halvorsen retired on August 31, 1974, having accumulated over 8,000 flying hours and 31 years of military service."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Halvorsen
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Halvorsen