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
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