CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS) - She is 79 years old and goes by "The Spirit of Freedom."
At nearly 28 feet tall with a wingspan of over 117 feet, she weighs 66,670 pounds at her heaviest. But the tonnage includes more than just cargo. If airplanes have a soul, this one embodies a heart of gold.
"She's an amazing piece of history," declared 14th District North Carolina Sen. Ted Alexander, admiring the plane at the Lincoln County Regional Airport.
A workhorse powered by compassion and four radial engines, the Spirit of Freedom has blessed countless lives around the world. This vintage cargo transport plane, the Douglas C-54 Skymaster, is one of only two left flying in the United States, now retrofitted as a traveling flying museum on a special mission.
"I fell in love with the C-54 when I was 6 years old," Tim Chopp said, the pilot commander of the old bird.
Image of The Spirit of Freedom in flight courtesy of Jay SelmanChopp founded the Berlin Airlift Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to preserving the memory and legacy of the greatest humanitarian and aviation event in history.
"As I got older and realized what the Berlin airlift was all about, I thought it would be a good idea to create maybe an onboard museum exhibit inside of a C-54. This is the result. A lifelong love for me."
If airplanes could talk, the Spirit of Freedom would have quite a story to tell. She's dropped survival supplies and candy during the 1948 and 1949 Berlin Airlift and now all these years later, is carrying toys to the children of western North Carolina that were afflicted by Helene. Her goodwill missions go on and on.
A LOOK BACK
It was 1948 when the Soviet Union blocked all land and water access to West Berlin, cutting off over two million Berliners from survival supplies.
The only way in was by air.
Rather than allow the people to starve, President Harry Truman sent American planes alongside the British Royal Air Force to deliver two and a half million tons of food over 15 months. 200,000 planes were involved, landing every 35 seconds, 700 flights a day.
And this particular C-54, yes, this very plane, was one of them. And today she continues her relief efforts under different circumstances.
IV supply improving following Helene, but slowlyThis C-54 is flying donated gifts from North Carolina's Lincolnton School District to Toys For Tots organizers in Asheville. Alexander helped organize the operation known as "Air Gift".
"Just to see and know this plane has helped so many people back in the Berlin airlift is really gratifying, and to see the parallel between what was done there and now here for Hurricane Helene victims, really makes my day."
An airplane lover who dropped by the airport bearing gifts noted, "I think this is really neat, to show off to the public a historic piece of engineering that is still flying today."
Gift-giver and spectator Ellen Citarelsa said, "I grew up in Berlin. I was familiar with the candy bomber since I was a little girl. We saw that they were taking toys to the kids in Asheville who have lost everything, and we absolutely had to be here today."
THE MISSION
The plane was loaded up to depart Lincoln County, with final preflight checks completed.
As we take off for Asheville Regional Airport, Toys for Tots organizer Chet Allen is waiting there with other volunteers to receive the gifts, knowing they are sorely needed.
"This plane load of toys has really meant a whole lot to us.
"I drove through one of Hurricane Helene's hardest-hit parts in Asheville, trailer parks completely gone, people living in tents. These kids living in tents deserve toys. I struggle with the feelings of the kids of the families that don't have anything, that have been wiped out, but I feel joy because we are able to bring some joy to the kids and hopefully the kids can bring joy to the parents."
The toys would be sorted for distribution to devasted counties in Western North Carolina, leading up to the last leg of Operation Air Gift, the handing out of the gifts to the parents and caregivers of children in need.
Longtime Western North Carolina Toys For Tots volunteer coordinator Ruth Holbert said, "We are doing something different this year. We are giving out the toys in a drive-thru setting, so parents just drive up to have their gifts loaded in their cars. We are here to help any and every family affected by the storm."
At the pick-up site, one father expressed deep gratitude, admitting these are tough times. "Bad things happened with the storm. These gifts mean the world to me and my family. My kids can have a Christmas. I appreciate it."
Other parents expressed relief, citing the donated gifts as a "Godsend." Holbert explained, "We normally serve about 4,500 children. This year, due to the devastation of the storm, we're looking at 20,000 kids needing toys.
"It's a feat; I wasn't sure I'd be able to pull it off. We had to make sure no child goes without something. Every child deserves a gift under the Christmas tree. Many of them don't even have a tree this year. We are grateful for all the folks that donated and especially the historic plane that flew in with gifts; our volunteers loved it."
From the Berlin Airlift in the 1940s to Operation Air Gift in 2024, the Spirit of Freedom's mission remains the same.
Chopp says, "It's a message of kindness and hope that people do care and that was probably a highlight of this, showing people that we still care."
MOVING FORWARD
Want to help? The Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation is a non-profit that exists to educate the public. It is made possible by the kindness of contributors, including the Berlin Airlift Veterans Association, the Berlin Airlift Remembrance Alliance, the Candy Bomber Foundation of Utah, the Airlift Tanker Association of Airlift Veterans, and the Berlin Airlift Veterans themselves. To help support, see www.SpiritofFreedom.org and to donate to Toys for Tots, see wnctft-nc.toysfortots.org.
Want to see the Spirit of Freedom up close and personal? She will be flying as the Candy Bomber, dropping treats over the Outer Banks town of Manteo on Dec. 15, 2024.
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