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Candy Bomber Pilot Gail S. Halvorsen at Tempelhof Airport on February 9, 2008

"In America, we have a monument of Liberty, ist is called 'Statue of Liberty'. I believe Tempelhof is the 'Statue of Liberty' for Germany"

Gail S. Halvorsen, legendary pilot of the Berlin Airlift, was the the first pilot who dropped candy parachutes from his airplane in 1948. He attended the Tempelhof rescue party as a guest of honour

In his speech he remembered, that the freedom of Germany was born in 1948 and 49 with the Airlift and later in 1989 the reunification of both German zones was achived.

"But the Airlift in 1948 was the beginning of freedom for Germany".

Tempelhof Airport should remain open. A Capital like Berlin should have at least two airports, one for the smaller airplanes, the business jets and one for the main traffic in Schoenefeld [the new aiport BBI]

Er erinnerte in seiner Ansprache daran, daß die Freiheit für Deutschland 1948 und 49 mit der Luftbrücke geboren wurde, und darauf im Jahr 1989 das Zusammengehen der beiden deutschen Teile zu einem Deutschland kam.

An Excerpt from his speech can be watched here (ca. 60 MB)