Misson Possible: Miracle over Berlin

A documentary film

Proudly Sponsored By

WILLIAM J. GROHS AVIATION INSURANCE, INC.
THE DOUGLAS G. MATTHEWS FOUNDATION
THE LISA AND PETER ERDMANN FAMILY

Brad Halvorsen
Marilyn and Ace Sorenson
Denise Williams
Lt. Col. Don Emigholz
Jon Helminiak

The Tunison Foundation and producer Christian Peschken of Germany, in cooperation with Soleil Entertainment Group LLC, and Pax Media Foundation, Netherlands, are currently in Post Production of their documentary film entitled: Mission Possible: Miracle over Berlin.

The documentary will feature Col. Gail Halvorsen’s participation as an honorary crew member aboard Placid Lassie during the 70th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift in June 2019. It will incorporate never-before-seen historical footage of both Halvorsen and the airlift in 1947-48.

In May, 2019, Foundation Executive Director Jon Helminiak travelled to Halvorsen’s home Utah and personally invited him to join the crew of Placid Lassie as an honorary crew member. Halvorsen, age 99, was the hero of the Berlin Airlift (1948-1949) and is globally recognized for his humanitarian contributions by initiating candy drops to Berlin’s beleaguered children from arriving supply aircraft. To this day, the Airlift is still considered to be the greatest humanitarian relief effort every undertaken.

Initiated by the Americans and the British, the airlift was a response to the Soviet road and rail blockade of West Berlin, cutting off all food and supplies into the city. To keep the 2 million residents fed, the allies airlifted nearly 4700 tons of food, 3,475 tons of coal/gasoline every day and night for 9 months, in all weather conditions.

According to Helminiak, who is co-producing the film, “the documentary will be the only film that combines the Berlin Airlift’s history with rare historical footage and eyewitness interviews. It will also reveal the personal side of Col. Halvorsen and highlight the Foundation’s leadership in the 70th Anniversary commemorative flying.” The documentary will have both English and German language versions, and will have 20 and 55 minute versions. The long form documentary will be distributed worldwide, in all media, via a professional (soon to be announced) international distribution company.

For more information about the Tunison Foundation’s leadership during the 70th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift, please click HERE.

To donate to the Col. Halvorsen video production, please click HERE

Click on the video below to see a short version of the Doucumentary

Col. Halvorsen is pictured next to Placid Lassie during the commemorative candy drop above Wiesbaden, Germany. He holds a mini parachute attached to Jelly Belly candies, of which Jelly Belly donated thousands for the event.

Col. Gail Halvorsen, the Berlin “Candy Bomber” in 1948.

Director of Photography / Filmaker Christian Peschken (behind camera) and co-producer Jon Helminiak on location at the U.S. Army Airbase in Wiesbaden, Germany.

Col. Halvorsen and Tunison Foundation board president Eric Zipkin
in the cockpit of Placid Lassie after Halvorsen landed the aircraft

Col. Gail Halvorsen and Mercedes Wild, who as a child remembers candy dropping from Halvorsen’s aircraft as it approached Berlin’s Tempelhof Airport. Wild is interviewed in our documentary film Mission Possible: Miracle over Berlin.

More than 60,000 people greeted Col. Gail Halvorsen’s arrival in Placid Lassie at the U.S. Army Airbase in Wiesbaden, Germany

Col. Gail Halvorsen flying Placid Lassie

Col. Gail Halvorsen signs the cargo door of Placid Lassie after participating in a commemorative candy drop over Wiesebaden Germany.

Traute Grier was a young girl who received candy dropped by Col. Halvorsen
from his aircraft. She is extensively interviewed in the documentary film.

With Special Thanks To

Production and distribution companies