Former Grinnellian Appears in Film Of Berlin Blockade

HEISEL, FLEENER

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 1/5/2009 at 08:57:35

Grinnell (IA) Herald-Register; Aug. 03, 1950

FORMER GRINNELLIAN APPEARS IN FILM OF BERLIN BLOCKADE

An ex-Grinnellian appears in the briefing scene of the film "The Big Lift." He is Lt. J.L. Heisel, Jr., who lived here with his grandmother, Mrs. L. May Fleener for a number of years.

Lt. Heisel is called on for a time check in the briefing scene in the film. His film role is one that he often played during the actual air-lift operations to beleaguered Berlin.

He went overseas in 1949 and was assigned to the navigation and briefing section of the air-lift wing at Rhein-Main base. During the air-lift, he made three trips per day between Frankfurt and Berlin with only 20 minutes on the ground between journeys.

The lieutenant served with the United Air Lines before entering the service eight years ago. He was navigator on a B-29 during the war, serving in Africa, England, France and Germany. He has three clusters on his Air Medal and has been awarded the DFC.
(Article researched by Marilyn Holmes.)