Pumpkin Pie, Propellers & a Pinch of Gratitude
Dear {{contact.first_name}},
Hello from Florida. This month’s update is full of good things: a favorite quote from one of my recent interviews for Voices of the Airlift, a peek into the annual Candy Drop in Manteo (still going strong after 25 years!), and a few other airlift-related news bits ... Tim Chopp from the Spirit of Freedom is sharing and update, Cold War aircraft heading to auction, a Zoom talk from the Burtonwood Association, and scholarship news from BAVA (Berlin Airlift Veterans Association) ... Oh — and I stumbled upon a little museum in Berlin that deserves a spotlight.
On wings of inspiration,
Bibi LeBlanc
🔔 VOICES OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT 🔔
Update
Angel Clouds
This quote is one of my absolute favorites from the recent Voices of the Airlift interviews, part of my ongoing project to collect and share personal memories from those who lived through the Berlin Airlift.
This quote captures the wonder and innocence of a child’s imagination during a time of severe hardship—and how even powdered milk became a magical gift from the skies.
These firsthand stories bring history to life in the most touching ways!
More Info:
https://wings-of-freedom.com/voices-airlift-en
🌎 News from Around the Globe 🌎
United States
📢Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation📢
A Season of Progress and Hope
by Tim Chopp
"I'm most happy and delighted to report that the 2025 event season for our Douglas C-54D evolved into a much better season than expected and included some demanding and long-distance missions. As a result, the unplanned additional missions placed heavy demands on our replacement C-54D, which boosted our confidence in its reliability, especially its predictability.
The 2025 event season included missions to McGuire, AFB, Andrews, AFB, and the big event at Oshkosh, Wisconsin, all thanks to the good folks of the Candy Bomber Foundation in Utah and the Airlift Tanker Association.
While there remain a few areas that need to be addressed on our C-54D, the performance displayed in the 2025 event season is definite proof that we are recovering from the devastation that began in 2020.
From all indications, 2026 could very well be a banner year for the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, with many good events as well as continued improvements to the on-board Berlin Airlift Museum/exhibit.
We want to thank all those patriots who supported the BAHF mission not only in 2025, but also during the past 30 years."
Tim Chopp
Founder and President of BAHF
More Info
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org/
🍬 CHRISTMAS CANDY DROP 🍬
Manteo, NC
Mark your calendars: December 13 & 14
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For the past 25 years, Airlift child Karin Edmont has organized the annual Candy Drop in Manteo, North Carolina—a heartfelt tribute to the Berlin Airlift.
In partnership with the Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation, this special event features the Spirit of Freedom, an original C-54 Skymaster that flew during the Airlift and now serves as a flying museum. Visitors can step aboard to explore its exhibits, then look to the skies as candy parachutes drift down in a moving reenactment of Gail Halvorsen’s legendary drops over Berlin.
It's a powerful reminder of the kindness that crossed borders and the history that still inspires today.
BERLIN AIRLIFT VETERANS ASSOCIATION &
EMBRY-RIDDLE AERONAUTICAL UNIVERSITY
Berlin Airlift Veterans Endowed Memorial Scholarship
Dear Orrel and Peggy,
As Embry-Riddle celebrates 100 years of innovation and excellence, the Berlin Airlift Veterans Endowed Memorial Scholarship embodies the vision of our founders, John Paul Riddle and T. Higbee Embry, by preparing the next generation of aviation and aerospace leaders. We are proud to announce the Fall 2025-Spring 2026 recipient of your scholarship:
Scholar: Enrique Pereyra
Program: Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Science
Campus: Prescott Campus
The Berlin Airlift Veterans Endowed Memorial Scholarship ensures that tomorrow's leaders in aviation, aerospace, engineering, and beyond are equipped to reach for the stars.
We are deeply grateful for the kindness you have shown our students and for choosing to make your impact through Embry-Riddle.
United we soar,
Mary Gail Dufresne
Senior Director of Donor Relations
More information about the University
https://erau.edu/
✈️ BIG HORN COUNTY AIRPORT ✈️
Wyoming
Echoes of the Airlift in a Wyoming Airfield
Big Horn County Airport in Wyoming is putting several vintage military transports up for auction — including a C-119 Flying Boxcar and a KC-97 Stratofreighter, both cousins of the aircraft that powered the Berlin Airlift. Though these airframes are no longer airworthy, they still carry the shape and spirit of the great air-bridge era: large cargo bays, long wingspans, and the unmistakable design of aircraft built to sustain life from the sky.
For those of us working to keep the story of the Airlift alive, these airplanes represent more than metal. They are reminders of the crews who flew day and night, and of the children in Berlin who listened for the engines overhead. As we continue to collect eyewitness accounts for the Voices of the Berlin Airlift book project, it’s moving to see how even retired aircraft continue to spark memories, curiosity, and connection.
History doesn’t just live in books and museums — sometimes, it’s resting on a rural airfield, waiting for the next steward to carry its story forward.
Read article:
https://cowboystatedaily.com/2025/09/27/big-horn-countys-selling-real-vintage-aircraft-for-25-starting-bids/
UNITED KINGDOM
RAF BURTONWOOD ASSOCIATION
Free Zoom Talk
This Zoom Talk is not directly related to the Berlin Airlift, but I thought some of you might be interested in Aldon Ferguson's
RAF Burtonwood Association Free Zoom Talk
Monday, 24 November 2025
7 pm London time
(2 pm ET, 11 am PT)
The United States Air Force at RAF Burtonwood in World War II
A detailed look at their arrival in 1942, massive expansion, their work and play, the maintenance, repair, and modification of all types of US-manufactured aircraft operating in the European Theatre, and all their components, engines, and ancillary parts. Mind boggling facts and figures as it earned the nickname 'Lancashire's Detroit'.
One hour full of photos, facts, and figures.
To register, please email Aldon Ferguson: [email protected].
All registrations will be acknowledged, and the Zoom link will be sent out over the weekend before.
More information about the Association:
http://www.rafburtonwood.com/
GERMANY
BERLIN AIRLIFT 1949-1949 ASSOCIATION
Remembering Celeste Warner-Heymann
A Tireless Advocate for the Airlift Memorial
"Our dear Celeste was our honorary president. She played a vital role in making it possible for the Airlift Memorial at Frankfurt Airport to be built. With tireless patience and dedication, she raised donations and gave her time and energy to this cause.
Now, sadly, she has left us. The funeral and memorial service for our dear Celeste were very beautiful. Many grateful people attended, and we shared a dignified ceremony together with her family. Speeches were given, photos, certificates, and a film were shown, and we spent a long time reminiscing and sharing memories.
Thank you 💗
RIP Celeste 💗"
Susanne Kornegay
🏛️ MUSEUM TIP 🏛️
Hidden Gem in Berlin
Western Allies in Berlin
Tucked away in Berlin, I stumbled upon a true hidden gem: the West Alliierte in Berlin Museum. This small but mighty private museum is dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Western Allies and their civilian teams who served in Berlin from 1945 to 1994—and it does so with heart and detail. One entire room is devoted to the Berlin Airlift, filled with carefully curated artifacts and stories. If you're ever in Berlin and want to step into a space where history feels personal and powerful, this place is well worth the visit.
More Info:
https://www.west-alliierte-in-berlin.de/
TEMPELHOF PROJEKT GmbH
Erzählcafé – Share Your Story
Tempelhof Erzählcafé – Share Your Story
Tempelhof Airport holds countless personal memories — and now there's a place to share them. Once a month, the THF Tower in Berlin invites locals and visitors alike to a cozy storytelling café. In a relaxed atmosphere, guests are encouraged to tell, listen, and reflect on what Tempelhof has meant in their lives.
Each gathering begins with a special guest, followed by an open round of stories and conversation — complete with cookies and coffee. Free entry, registration encouraged.
THF Tower, Flughafen Tempelhof
Upcoming dates: Dec. 11, Jan. 22, Feb. 19, Mar. 5
AIRLIFT MUSEUM FASSBERG
Halloween at the Museum
Around 120 guests at Halloween in the Fassberg Airlift Museum
The general interest in Halloween has been growing in Faßberg for years, and more and more households in the community are joining in this custom from the USA. They lovingly and elaborately decorate their houses and gardens and express a spooky “Happy Halloween” when children call out “trick or treat.” This year, the Fassberg Airlift Museum took part for the second time. Many helping hands had previously transformed the exhibition grounds into a mystical obstacle course. Using a virtual map, Fassberg's Halloween enthusiasts were able to wander from location to location to collect their sweet “booty.” The gates of the Airlift Museum ...continue reading
More Info:
https://www.luftbrueckenmuseum.de/
AIRLIFT MUSEUM FASSBERG
Advent Calendar Event
Air Lift Museum invites visitors to its Advent calendar event on December 1
The Airlift Museum in Faßberg will ring in this year's Advent season on Monday, December 1, 2025, from 3 to 6 p.m. with the Advent calendar of the Förderkreis-NaturHeimat-Müden/Örtze e.V.
Santa Claus will once again be handing out small gifts to children of all ages in the historic raisin bomber, the Fassberg Flyer. Children and parents in the Faßberg community are cordially invited to spend a pre-Christmas afternoon enjoying bread on a stick and hot cocoa.
The story of Santa Claus in the Rosinenbomber dates back to an initiative by US pilots who flew gifts and small presents from Faßberg to the blockaded city of Berlin during the Berlin Airlift in 1948/49 for almost 10,000 children.
“As in previous years, we would like to commemorate the ‘Operation Santa Claus’ of that time with our Advent campaign this year and keep this Christmas experience alive for our children,” said Paul Hicks, spokesperson for the Airlift Museum.
More Info:
https://www.luftbrueckenmuseum.de/startseite/aktuelles/
That's a wrap for today, dear reader. I am wishing you a joyful and meaningful Thanksgiving — may it be filled with good stories, good people, and moments that make you smile.
With gratitude from my desk to yours & Happy Thanksgiving!
