Raisin bombers

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Raisin Bombers (German Rosinenbomber) was the name Berliners gave to the transport aircraft of the Western Allies, which brought in supplies to the western half of the city of Berlin during the Berlin Blockade in 1949.

The name was spawned from the fact that some pilots started voluntarily to do something extra - they saw children before landing who were gleaning in the sky and so they started to throw some sweets and candy (and likely also raisins) on little parachutes out of the window for them. These actions were first attributed to American pilot Gail Halvorsen.

When this gesture became well known, it enjoyed considerable support with the US public. This support came in the form of large donations of candy from confectionary industry while civilian volunteers made the parachutes for the delivery.