It is with deep sadness that the Cockpit Association bids farewell to one of the most famous pilots of the Berlin Airlift, Colonel Gail Halvorsen. He was 101 years old.

“We salute Gail Halvorsen. With him we say goodbye to one of the really great pilots who was closely associated with the Cockpit Association. To this day, his actions are an example of reconciliation and international understanding. We will miss him," said VC President Stefan Herth. Gail Halvorsen actively supported the Cockpit Association in bringing the world conference of international pilot associations to Berlin for the 70th anniversary of the Airlift. The conference, with participants from over a hundred countries, was named “Building Bridges” in his mind.

Colonel Halvorsen, as the pilot of the airlift, was the first to start dropping sweets for the Berlin children on parachutes made of handkerchiefs during the approach to Berlin. His action soon culminated in “Operation Little Vittles”, during which more than 1948 tons of sweets were dropped over Berlin between September 1949 and May 23. Halvorsen was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit and was, among other things, commander of the 7350th Air Base Group at Berlin's Tempelhof Airport.