‘Uncle Wiggly Wings’ speaks at USU

As a young farm boy from Garland, Utah, Gail Halvorsen fell in love with planes and flying. He would often watch the planes fly over the fields and hoped that one day, his time would come when he would get to fly his own plane.

Several years later in 1942, as an Aggie at Utah State University, the spirits were up and many young men were getting their calls to serve in the military during World War II. Meanwhile Halvorsen studied civil engineering, waiting for his time to join the war efforts in Germany.

Col. Gail Halvorsen spoke to USU students as well as community members Thursday about his time as an airline pilot in World War II, where he was nicknamed the “Candy Bomber.” Halvorsen’s visit to USU commemorates the third anniversary of the College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences Spring seminar, in conjunction with USU’s annual aviation career conference.

At the event, children in the audience were invited to join Halvorsen on stage where they were given sticks of gum to tear in half – to reenact what the children in Germany did when Halvorsen dropped the candy during World War II.

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The Candy Bomber, (Gail Halvorsen) and the Logan community watching video clip before he speaks at Utah State University Logan, UT. (April 12, 2018)

Halvorsen recounts his time at Utah State as a happy time. He spent much of that time fishing on the Logan River, as well as at Blacksmith Fork Canyon, and doing his studies.

Eventually his call to serve in the military came. He took pilot lessons and knew there weren’t enough pilots for the war. He competed for a scholarship within the state of Utah, and became only one of ten to receive the scholarship.

Halvorsen’s love of flying came from his study of aeronautical engineering.

“I love being able to get out into the sky and forget all my earthly troubles,” Halvorsen said.

In the time period of World War II, many young children saw the devastation of the Hitler regime that had torn apart the world, but looked towards American ideals for a sense of peace.  

For many of the children who were stuck on the British side of Berlin, Halvorsen was the hopeful face they were able to communicate with even when things were dark and super dreary.

These children deeply touched Halvorsen, and fueled his desire to do something about it.

“Many of these young kids had lost their parents and were struggling to make sense of a world gone amuck,” Halvorsen said. “They impressed me very much.”  

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The Candy Bomber,’s (Gail Halvorsen) book that was released in 2017. Utah State University Logan, UT. (April 12, 2018)

One day, as Halvorsen was turning to leave the perimeter fence with all the children, he felt something tell him to turn back. He reached into his pocket and found two sticks of chewing gum. He broke the two sticks of gum into halves, and before he knew it, all thirty of the children had a piece of gum, or had tasted some of the wrapper.

The events of that day left Halvorsen even more determined to help the children find hope and joy, when little to none was present in their situation at the time.

From there, Operation Little Vittles came to be.

Halvorsen invited the other pilots to give up their rations of chocolate and other substances to the children. Halvorsen claims his small actions were a gesture of friendship for many children who hadn’t had chocolate for months.

“To have candy bars falling from the sky with parachutes was a pleasant shock for those children,” Halvorsen said.

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A display of the candy bombers parachutes at Utah State University Logan, UT. April 12, 2018

He was nicknamed “Uncle Wiggly Wings” for the way he turned the plane wings to signal the German children that he was coming, and to prepare themselves for that candy that would soon appear.

But the impact hasn’t stopped. Operation Little Vittles continues today, as a commemoration of the Colonel’s efforts to make the world just a little bit better. Halvorsen encouraged USU students to do the same.

“Attitude determines so much of how people are going to progress or not progress,” he said. “The personal quality of attitude is one of the most important qualities a person can develop. It determines how you’re going to turn out in life.”

Halvorsen also expressed the importance of gratitude in everyday life.

“Being grateful for something opens up a world of opportunities and broadens your horizons to things you might not have thought about doing before,” Halvorsen said.

Many USU students were excited for the opportunity to take pictures with and have personal copies of his book signed following the event.

Joseph Hawkes, a graduate student at Utah State, believes Halvorsen’s legacy is one of selflessness and serving. Hawkes said he was drawn to the remarkable impact Halvorsen’s story has had on his life.

“I liked being able to hear him retell his story, and how ingenious he was making the parachute for the candy,” Hawkes said.

Aleigh Allred, a senior studying political science, said she enjoyed being able to meet Col. Halvorsen in person and learn from his experiences.

“I really enjoy World War II history and aviation history, and it’s a really big honor that we get to have Col. Halvorsen here to give a speech and talk to us,” Allred said.

Natalie Scott, a sophomore at Utah State, has been enthralled with the story of the Candy Bomber since she was in the fourth grade.

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Candy Bomber, (Gail Halvorsen) smiling with USU students for a picture before the event starts. Logan, UT. (April 12, 2018)

“I wrote a poem about him, I loved being able to see him. He was such an inspiration to me, “Scott said. “He was willing to take the risk and be kind to people.”

Scott said that even in the stress of life, we can learn to be like Halvorsen, and just be a little kinder.

Michaella Whiteley is a history major from Alpine, Utah, who knew she couldn’t pass up an opportunity to meet Halvorsen, after she got a glimpse of who he was in the “Meet the Mormons” movie.

“I like that he stood up for what he knew what was right, and was observant in wanting to go a little further to make the world better,” Whiteley said. “I think it’s important to try to lift someone’s burdens and to be a good example, which is what I took away from Col. Halvorsen.”

Halvorsen spoke on the great world we live in, and reminded students and community members in attendance to never take that for granted.

“The journey through life, the smallest footsteps are what put you on the path to where you end up,” Halvorsen said. “There are no little decisions in your life. Always be on the search for happiness. It’s a real good world out there, and there’s a lot of good work to be done.”

— kortni.marie.wells@aggiemail.usu.edu
@kortniwells