Candy Bomber

Author: Michael O. Tunnell

Title: Candy Bomber

Illustrator: Michael O. Tunnell

Genre: Chapter Book

Subgenre: Historical Non-Fiction about World War II

Primary and secondary characters: Primary-Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen

Award(s) date of publication: Orbis Pictus Award, 2010

Publishing Company: Charlesbridge

Brief Summary and how I would use this book with students: This book takes place post-World War II. It foc

This book describes a little-known post-World War II story. What started as a single pilot's car tour of bombed-out Berlin turned into an international campaign to help lighten the suffering of the children of West Berlin. In 1948, the Soviet Union had closed all land access to the isolated Free World sectors of West Berlin in an attempt to starve the people into accepting Communist rule. Consequently, a C-54 cargo pilot, Lt. Gail S. Halvorsen, shared the only two sticks of gum he had with a group of about 30 children. What started as a somewhat under-cover candy-dropping operation by Halvorsen and his buddies eventually became a air force sanctioned operation. As the airlift of food and fuel continued for almost two years, tons of candy were dropped (using tiny parachutes) for the children who waited in the flight path below. Lt. Halvorsen was know at the Chocolate Bomber. This book could be used in the classroom when talking about World War II. It could also be used to discuss the impact that one person can have on an entire situation and its outcome.

Theme: The story of someone who saw a need and did something about it. One person can make a difference.