'Berlin Candy Bomber' honoured as UK mourns war dead on Remembrance Sunday
A US pilot known as the "Berlin Candy Bomber", who dropped sweets
from the air to children in West Berlin during a Soviet blockade after
World War Two, has been honoured in London.
The 99-year-old former serviceman received a standing ovation at the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
With him on stage was Vera Mitschirch, one of the youngsters who had received the treats, which were tied to miniature parachutes made from handkerchiefs.
During the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and 1949, the Allies got around the blockade by flying in food and fuel every day for more than two million Germans.
It comes as the prime minister and the royal family led tributes to those who died in conflict as the country paid its respects on Remembrance Sunday.
The leaders of three main political parties took a break from the election campaign trail at the Cenotaph.
Speaking before events began, Boris Johnson said he would be "proud" to lay his first wreath at the war memorial as prime minister, and vowed to continue to "champion those who serve today with such bravery in our military".
Gail Halvorsen is known as the Berlin Candy Bomber
The 99-year-old former serviceman received a standing ovation at the annual Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall.
With him on stage was Vera Mitschirch, one of the youngsters who had received the treats, which were tied to miniature parachutes made from handkerchiefs.
During the Berlin Airlift in 1948 and 1949, the Allies got around the blockade by flying in food and fuel every day for more than two million Germans.
It comes as the prime minister and the royal family led tributes to those who died in conflict as the country paid its respects on Remembrance Sunday.
The leaders of three main political parties took a break from the election campaign trail at the Cenotaph.
Speaking before events began, Boris Johnson said he would be "proud" to lay his first wreath at the war memorial as prime minister, and vowed to continue to "champion those who serve today with such bravery in our military".
The 99-year-old received a standing ovation while on stage with a woman who was one of the children he helped during a blockade.
Gail Halvorsen is known as the Berlin Candy Bomber
https://news.sky.com/story/remembrance-sunday-blind-veteran-104-will-be-oldest-to-march-at-the-cenotaph-this-year-11858587
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