Clarence the Camel on Tour
Children in Heidelberg - donned in their best Halloween costumes - were eager to pet Clarence the Camel, the mascot of the pilots of the 86th Fighter Group and donate some of their candy to the children of Berlin, so Clarence could ferry the candy to the blockaded city on his own C-47 Operation Vittles flight. The camel was the mascot for Operation Vittles - also known as the Berlin Airlift - as people would deposit gifts and candy for the Berlin children in the camel's saddlebags during football games on the 86th Neubiberg Air Base, as well as other events across West German U.S. bases. (Martin / ©1948, 2024 Stars and Stripes All Rights Reserved -- Used with permission)