Wings of Freedom, Inc.
Preserving the Story of the Berlin Airlift for Future Generations
Wings of Freedom, Inc. is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of the Berlin Airlift as a lasting symbol of freedom, democracy, courage, and international cooperation.
Its purpose is to bring this history to life through storytelling, education, and public engagement so that the lessons of the Airlift continue to inspire future generations. The organization is already actively developing several core initiatives, including:
Public Speaking Engagements
Through public speaking engagements and other core initiatives, the organisation connects audiences with the real experiences of those who lived it, keeping their legacy alive and meaningful today.
Voices of the Berlin Airlift Project
To collect and preserve personal accounts and memories connected to the Berlin Airlift
Curriculum and Educational Resources
By making these lessons accessible in classrooms, the organisation ensures the courage, sacrifice, and impact of the Airlift continue to inspire future generations.
These efforts are designed to make this history accessible, relevant, and meaningful for audiences of different ages and backgrounds.
Looking ahead, Wings of Freedom, Inc. envisions expanding into additional formats and platforms, including:
Podcasts
Mini-series Development
Digital Storytelling
Exhibitions
and other creative educational projects that carry the message of the Berlin Airlift even further.
At its heart, the organization exists to ensure that the Berlin Airlift is not only remembered as a historic event that shapes the world we live in to this day, but understood as a powerful example of what is possible when people stand for freedom and democracy.
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors supports and guides the mission of Wings of Freedom:
To preserve and share the story of the Berlin Airlift by collecting personal accounts and creating educational resources, bringing it to life in ways that move people, spark curiosity, and carry its message of freedom and democracy forward.
Bibi LeBlanc
President, Founder
Bibi LeBlanc is the founder of Wings of Freedom. Having grown up in West Berlin during the Cold War, she carries a personal connection to the story of the Berlin Airlift and to the values it represents.
What started with one book became something much bigger: a mission to preserve and share the legacy of the Airlift as a powerful example of freedom, democracy, courage, generosity, and international cooperation.
Through storytelling, education, and public engagement, Bibi is creating Wings of Freedom as a way to keep this history alive and meaningful for future generations.
Nancy Benet
Director, Treasurer
Nancy Benet is a CPA, business advisor, and entrepreneur with nearly three decades of experience leading a successful accounting firm and mentoring business owners.
As a public speaker and teacher, she shares stories of perseverance, leadership, and courage in uncertain times.
The story of the Berlin Airlift exemplifies those characteristics and reflects how determination, service, and coordinated effort can change lives under extraordinary circumstances.
Richard Weaver
Director, Secretary
Richard Weaver holds a B.A. in History and an M.A. in Education from Stanford University. During a forty-three-year career in public education, he taught Advanced Placement U.S. History, U.S. History, and European History, sharing his love of history with generations of students.
He also developed curriculum, served as department head, chaired his school’s governing Site Council, and worked as a Mentor Teacher supporting fellow educators. In addition, he was a featured presenter at regional and statewide Advanced Placement conferences.
As Secretary and Director for Wings of Freedom, he brings deep historical knowledge, educational experience, and a strong belief in the importance of preserving meaningful history for future generations.
Denise Williams
Director, Legacy and Storytelling
Denise H. Williams is the daughter of Gail Halvorsen, best known as the Candy Bomber, and Alta Halvorsen. She spent part of her youth in Berlin while her father served there. She has also lived in Germany three times and formed lasting friendships with those who experienced the Berlin Airlift firsthand.
She studied German at the Goethe Institut and music at the Hochschule für Musik in Berlin and earned degrees in music and humanities from Brigham Young University.
In recent years, she has devoted herself to preserving her father’s legacy through work with his collection at BYU’s Harold B. Lee Library, by co-authoring The Candy Bomber: Untold Stories of the Berlin Airlift’s Uncle Wiggly Wings, and through her involvement with the Candy Bomber Foundation.
As Director, Legacy and Storytelling for Wings of Freedom, she brings a deeply personal connection to the Airlift and a strong commitment to preserving and sharing its history and meaning.
Amelia Lyons
Director, Education and Academic Partnerships
Amelia Lyons is Associate Professor of History at the University of Central Florida. She is the author of numerous scholarly articles and the book The Civilizing Mission in the Metropole: Algerian Families and the French Welfare State during Decolonization (Stanford University Press, 2013).
She leads student-centered, public-facing research projects, including UCF’s Veterans Legacy Program and Florida France Soldier Stories. Her teaching and research focus on modern European history, war, empire, and public history.
As Director, Education and Academic Partnerships for Wings of Freedom, she brings valuable expertise in curriculum development, historical research, and connecting students to meaningful public history work.
Voices of the Berlin Airlift
Voices of the Berlin Airlift is a historical preservation initiative that brings together a forthcoming book, a growing archive of oral histories, and educational materials dedicated to the legacy of the Berlin Airlift.
From eyewitnesses and children who lived through it in Berlin, to veterans, aircrew, families, and historians preserving these accounts today, each voice adds an essential layer to the story.
If you or someone you know has a story to share, we warmly invite you to contribute—so these memories can be preserved and passed on to future generations.
Check out these stories!
