Award-Winning News, Flying Museum & Freedom Stories
Dear Friends,
Spring is in the air, and there’s so much to celebrate!
Wings of Freedom is a finalist for an international book award, good news from the Airlift Monument in Frankfurt, I’m launching a new project, special visitors from Germany, and I’ve been on the road, speaking at the DAR & Rotary to keep this history alive.
Next up? I'm planning to go back home to Berlin in May for the anniversary of the end of the blockade.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your support means the world, and I can’t wait to share more!
With gratitude,
Bibi LeBlanc
Award-winning Author
Founder & CEO
Culture to Color®
I’m beyond thrilled to share that Wings of Freedom – The Story of the Berlin Airlift has been awarded First Place in the 2024 Military and Front Line Book Awards in the Narrative Non-Fiction category!
Presented by the Chanticleer International Book Awards (CIBAs), this honor recognizes books that spotlight the lives of those who serve their country and others—a mission at the heart of Wings of Freedom. This book tells the powerful story of the Berlin Airlift and the extraordinary people who turned a crisis into a humanitarian triumph.
Even more exciting—this is now the fifth award Wings of Freedom has received, making it our most award-winning book to date at Culture to Color®!
To have this story of courage, resilience, and unity stand out among so many incredible works is deeply meaningful.
Thank you for being part of this journey—and for helping us carry the story forward.
🎤"As a retired Air Force officer with a degree in military history, ... I was pleasantly surprised to discover that this book contained more things I didn't know [about the airlift] than those I knew!"
Help Preserve History in
"Voices of the Airlift" (Working Title)
I’m launching a project to collect personal stories connected to the Berlin Airlift—whether from those who lived it, their children, or anyone with a story to share. Maybe you were a child watching the planes overhead, a pilot or ground crew member, or you grew up hearing firsthand accounts from a parent or loved one. Every perspective helps keep this history alive!
I’m looking for participants willing to share their experiences, either in writing or through an interview. If you or someone you know has a story to tell, please email me at [email protected].
Let’s make sure these stories are never forgotten!
I'D LOVE TO PARTICIPATE!
For Norbert, it all began with a pair of baby shoes ...
We’ve officially gotten started—and the first story came from Norbert Kandzorra, who received baby shoes in a CARE package during the Berlin Airlift. He was just a baby at the time, but that small gesture left a lasting impact on his life and his family.
Stories like Norbert’s are exactly why this project matters—personal, powerful, and deeply human.
Do you have a story connected to the Berlin Airlift—your own or a loved one’s? I’d be honored to include it in Voices of the Airlift.
1. News from the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation
🛫 Catch the Spirit of Freedom
at an Airshow Near You! 🛫
Want to see the legacy of the Berlin Airlift up close? The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation’s C-54, Spirit of Freedom, is back on tour! This flying museum brings the story of the Airlift to life with onboard exhibits, artifacts, and photos. If you get the chance—go see it!
Check out the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation’s Display Schedule to find out where the Spirit of Freedom aircraft will be landing next. It’s a powerful, moving exhibit that brings history to life—don’t miss your chance to experience it in person!
CHECK THE SCHEDULE FOR UPDATES
2. Airlift Frankfurt - Berlin Association 1948-1949
The Memorial Reopens🎉
The Airlift Frankfurt - Berlin 1948-1949 Association has shared some great news: the Airlift Memorial, which had been closed for a year and a half, is now open to visitors again!
While the planes are fenced off, you can now access the grounds and speak with members of the association who are passionate about preserving this history.
Monthly Meetings
The Airlift Frankfurt-Berlin Association meets every first Thursday of the month at the Intercity Hotel in Frankfurt. It's a wonderful opportunity for members and friends to stay connected, share stories, and keep the spirit of the Berlin Airlift alive. Guests are always welcome!
Address: Intercity Hotel Frankfurt-Airport, Am Luftbrückendenkmal 1, 60549 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
Contact Airlift Frankfurt - Berlin 1948-1949 Association
3. News from Berlin
Tempelhof 76th Anniversary Celebration
On May 12, I’ll be in Berlin to join the 76th anniversary celebration at Tempelhof Airport, commemorating the end of the Berlin Blockade. Tempelhof was the heart of the Berlin Airlift, a powerful symbol of freedom, resilience, and international cooperation. It's an honor to stand where history was made and to remember the courage that shaped the future of Berlin and the world.to your email.
Berlin Between War and Peace Lecture - Berlin zwischen Krieg und Frieden
On May 12, Tempelhof Airport will host the event "Berlin zwischen Krieg und Frieden" ("Berlin Between War and Peace"), a lecture reflecting on Berlin’s transition from the destruction of World War II to the hope of the postwar period. A fitting addition to the commemorations marking the end of the Berlin Blockade.
"They didn't let us starve!"
.— that’s the powerful headline of a recent article published in a local German newspaper, capturing a moving visit by Airlift eyewitnesses to a high school classroom. Teacher Friederike Honerkamp invited Gila Gordon and Georg Theuerkauf to share their personal memories of the Berlin Airlift with students. Their emotional stories brought history to life—stories of survival, gratitude, and the hope carried in every parachuted package. A living lesson the students won’t soon forget.
Recently, I had the opportunity to give my Remembering Berlin During the Cold War presentation at the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and local Rotary International club meetings.
I love seeing how this history resonates with people—there’s always someone who comes up to me afterward to share a personal connection, whether it’s a family story about the Berlin Airlift or a Cold War memory of their own.
It’s a powerful reminder that this history still touches lives today, and I’m honored to keep these stories alive.
Together We Carry the Story Forward
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. Whether you were a child in Berlin watching the planes overhead, a veteran who flew or supported the missions, someone who keeps the memory alive through museums and flying tributes like the Spirit of Freedom, or a family member passing down stories—I’m so grateful you’re here.
Together, let’s keep the legacy of the Berlin Airlift alive—not just as history, but as a story of courage, compassion, and cooperation that still inspires today.
I’d love to hear from you—your stories, your thoughts, or even just a quick hello.
As I get ready to take off for Berlin for the May 12th celebration of the end of the blockade, I’m looking forward to reconnecting with many Airlift friends and continuing to share these powerful stories with the next generation.
Until next time—stay inspired, stay connected, and keep the spirit of freedom flying.
Sunny greetings from Florida,
Bibi LeBlanc
Award-winning author of Wings of Freedom: A Tribute to The Berlin Airlift
P.S. Don’t forget to check out my Elevate Daytona talk - the Berlin Airlift explained in 5 minutes.
Let’s keep the stories alive! 🎨✈️
A year ago in Berlin, May 2024,
honoring Air Commodore Reginald "Rex" Waite
