- Raisin bombers
Raisin Bombers (German "Rosinenbomber") was the name Berliners gave to the transport aircraft of the Western Allies, which brought in supplies to the western half of the city of
Berlin during theBerlin Blockade in 1949.The name came from the fact that some pilots started voluntarily to throw some sweets and candy (and likely also raisins) on little parachutes out of the window to Berlin children lined up on the edges of the airfields watching the planes. These actions were first attributed to American pilot
Gail Halvorsen and ordered expanded by Lt. GeneralWilliam H. Tunner into Operation Little Vittles.When this gesture became well known, it enjoyed considerable support with the US public. This support came in the form of large donations of candy from the
confectionery industry while civilian volunteers made the parachutes for the delivery.ee also
*
Gail Halvorsen
* Berlin Blockade
* Marshall PlanExternal links
* [http://www.hdg.de/Final/eng/page302.htm "Haus der Geschichte"] museum, Bonn
* http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Cold-war/Berlin-Airlift.htm
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