Photo Gallery The Candy Bombers
Berlin Airlift: During the Soviet blockade of West Berlin in 1948-49 the Allies kept the city alive by flying in essentials.
Heroic effort: During the 15 month operation a total of 277,569 flights were made. At times a plane would land every three minutes.
The destruction of Germany during World War II had plunged much of the population into desperate poverty. Especially children suffered from the shortage in food and clothes.
Saviours from the sky: The Allied pilots were known as "Candy Bombers", as they dropped sweet to children from their planes. Here US Air Force pilot Gail S. Halvorsen holds a parachute laden with sweets.
Two children examine the content of a CARE package. The brown packages contained food, blankets, medicine, vitamins and other useful items.
Food shortages: After the war, vegetable gardens sprung up all over Berlin.
Those who could, grew their own food, as here near the Brandenburg Gate.
Blockade: The Soviet's aim was to drive the Allied forces out of West Berlin. But they failed, as the Allies did not abandon the city.
Six decades later: The "Candy Bomber" Gail S. Halvorsen was one of the guests of honor at a recent ceremony in Berlin to mark the 60th anniversary of the airlift.
Berlin's mayor Klaus Wowereit carries a Care package and a raisin bread. In German the Allied pilots were called the "Raisin Bombers."
