News & Events

19 01, 2020

Colonel Gail S “Hal” Halvorsen

Inducted in 2019

70th Anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift

1920-

Colonel Gail Seymour “Hal” Halvorsen, best known as the “Berlin Candy Bomber” or “Uncle Wiggly Wings”, gained fame for dropping candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift from 1948 to 1949. Colonel Halvorsen joined the United States Army Air Corp in 1942 after Pearl Harbor and trained on fighters with the Royal Air Force in Oklahoma, earning both his RAF and Army Air Corp wings. After the war, he was stationed in Mobile, AL when word came in that the Soviet Union had blockaded West Berlin. Arriving in Germany in July, 1948, Lieutenant Halvorsen’s role in the 15-month Berlin Airlift, labeled “Operation Vittles” was to fly three trips a day, mostly in C-54’s, from Rhein Main airbase to the blockaded city of Berlin.

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20 12, 2019

Welcome Our New Officers and Board Members!

The First Flight Society would like to announce our new Executive Committee:

President-Mike Fonseca

1st Vice President-Dr Charles Davidson

2nd Vice President-Lisa Ellstrom

Treasurer-H Taylor Sugg

Secretary-Katie Morgan

Also, welcome our new board members:

Paul Carr

Katie Morgan

Blake Sauls

Congratulations!

11 12, 2019

December 17th Celebration Itinerary

WELCOME TO THE

116^TH ANNIVERSARY OF POWERED FLIGHT

Celebrating

The Legacy of Orville and Wilbur Wright

Honoring

The 70^th Anniversary of the World War II Berlin Airlift

June 1948 – September 1949

December 17, 2019

Wright Brothers National Memorial Park

Kitty Hawk, North Carolina

TODAY’S PROGRAM

9:00 a.m. Park Gates Open to Visitors

PRELUDE BAND CONCERT

First Flight High School Band, Bob Ebert, Director

9:30 a.m. ANNIVERSARY PROGRAM

WELCOME & GUEST RECOGNITION Arthur Lamothe, President, First Flight Society, Inc.

PRESENTATION OF COLORS Camden High School ROTC

NATIONAL ANTHEM Walter Swan, Director – ECSU Choir

FLYOVER TRIBUTE TO U.S. Navy C-40, U.S. Air Force […]

11 11, 2019

The 116th Wright Brothers Anniversary of Powered Flight and More.

ON DECEMBER 17, 2019 THE FIRST FLIGHT SOCIETY HONORS A 99-YEAR-OLD WWII VETERAN, THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BERLIN AIRLIFT AND THE 116TH ANNIVERSARY OF POWERED FLIGHT.

JOIN US AT WRIGHT BROTHERS NATIONAL MONUMENT IN KILL DEVIL HILLS, NC.

The First Flight Society annually honors those individuals and groups that have achieved significant “firsts” in aviation and includes them in our Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine exhibit at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. This year’s honorees are 99-year-old Colonel Gail Halvorsen, USAF (Ret) “the Candy Bomber” and the Berlin Airlift (June 27, 1948 to May 12, 1949) commemorating the 70th Anniversary of that historic event.

On the morning of December 17, 2019 we will honor the Berlin Airlift 70^th Anniversary with ceremonies on the Wright Brothers National Memorial grounds at Kitty Hawk, NC. The 116th Anniversary Celebration of the […]

5 11, 2019

116th Anniversary Sponsorship Opportunities

Organizations from the aviation community and area businesses sponsor and underwrite many First Flight Society activities and programs throughout the year, especially the December 17^th anniversary celebration at the Wright Brothers National Memorial. Members, sponsors and volunteers work to joyfully commemorate the legacy of Orville and Wilbur Wright. This year we will honor Col. Gail Halvorsen, USAF (Ret), the “Candy Bomber”, as representative of the crews that participated in the Berlin Airlift on this 70th Anniversary of the completion of that great humanitarian effort. We cannot help others experience this important story without you. Your support keeps the inspiration, adventure and exploring spirit alive for the next generation of aviation pioneers. Thank you!

LEGACY SPONSOR – $10,000

Framed Certificate of First Flight Society Sponsorship
Sponsor listing in official Commemorative Program
Framed 8×10 photo of “The First Flight”
Subscription to THE FLYER, with full page ad in each issue […]
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8 10, 2019
Canceled-The Wright Brothers Musical Returns!
FFS and ECSU will host the return of Fresh Brewed Productions’ original musical, “Those Daring Young Men and Their Flying Machine” . Performed last year in Kitty Hawk, NC, the troupe will perform at the GR Little Theater on the ECSU campus on November 2nd and 3rd 2019. Tickets are available for purchase at EventBrite.com or by contacting the First Flight Society at admin@firstflight.org or 252.441.1903.
Buy Tickets!

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8 10, 2019
October Membership Special!
Members have always been an essential part of the First Flight Society. By joining FFS you become part of a community of people who care deeply about the legacy of the Wright Brothers, the Wright Brothers National Memorial and the future of aviation. Member by member, dollar by dollar, we are ensuring that future generations may enjoy this legacy and the Wright Brothers National Memorial.
As part of your membership you receive:
* Membership card
* Society pin
* 8 x 10 photo of the First Flight
* Annual subscription to The Flyer
* Discounts on FFS store items
Join Now!

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10 09, 2019

Message from the President…
Where have 3 years gone? At this year’s annual meeting a new president of this great organization will be elected. As i look back over the last 3 years, I remember some great events put on by the Society on December 17, August 19 N.A.D. and April 16, and putting our Wright Brothers re-enactors in our local schools.
When a new situation comes up I believe in the saying, “Adapt and overcome” to solve new problems. Our commitment to financially support the NPS through the Friends Agreement will be terminated this coming December. This frees the Society from a host of restrictions on fundraising and where the funds had to go while still working with the NPS.
We entered into an alliance with Elizabeth City State University with a Memorandum of Understanding which is beneficial to both parties. The MOA allowed […]
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8 09, 2019
FFS Partners with ECSU!

FIRST FLIGHT SOCIETY FORMS NEW ALLIANCE WITH
ELIZABETH CITY STATE UNIVERSITY’S
DEPARTMENT OF AVIATION EDUCATION
The Tuskegee Airmen, the Apollo 11 astronauts, Amelia Earhart: these are just a sampling of the historic portraits hanging along the wall of the second floor of Elizabeth City State University’s STEM Complex, celebrating the pioneers of aviation.
They are part of a collection of 75 portraits that are on loan from the First Flight Society. The loan of the portraits are thanks to a Memorandum of Agreement between the organization and ECSU.
The First Flight Society, […]
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8 09, 2019
FFS Announces 2020 Paul E. Garber Shrine Inductee!
CANDY BOMBER HONORED BY FIRST FLIGHT SOCIETY
On December 17, 2019 the First Flight Society will honor Colonel Gail S. “Hal” Halvorsen, USAF (Ret) as the latest aviation pioneer inducted into the Paul E. Garber First Flight Shrine as part of the 116^th Anniversary Celebration of the first powered flight and the legacy of Orville and Wilbur Wright.. The First Flight Society selected Col. Halversen to honor all the flight and support crews who participated in the Berlin Airlift, and to celebrate the 70^th Anniversary of the end of the Berlin Airlift, lasting 15 months in 1948 – 1949 as part of a joint operation including members of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, British Royal Air Force and U.S. Army Transport Command.
Colonel Halvorsen, officer and command pilot, has received numerous awards for his role in “Little Vittles”. Halvorsen has also […]
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Contact Info
PO Box 1903 Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
Phone: (252) 441-1903
Email: dec17@firstflight.org
Web: www.firstflight.org
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