Operation Starlift helps troops, inspires film

It started as a morale program to boost the spirits of troops heading to Korea and the wounded coming back from that war. Within a year, it turned Travis Air Force Base into a movie set for the motion picture “Starlift,” with the likes of Doris Day and Gordon McCrea headlining it.

Actress Ruth Roman was the first star to arrive in September 1950 to visit the wounded at the base’s hospital and perform at the Passenger Terminal Building for departing soldiers, sailors a nd Marines.

The list of those who followed soon included Hollywood heavyweights of the 1950s, such as

1950: Radio and screen personalities Jack Benny and Constance Moore are shown in a MATS C-97 aircraft wishing a Merry Christmas to home-bound wounded servicemen at Travis Air Force Base.

(Strategic Air Command Archives)

Elizabeth Taylor, Alan Ladd, Andy Williams, Donna Reed, Danny Kaye, Walter Pigeon, Jack Benny, Kennan Wynn, Vic Damone, Bob Hope and Donald O’Conner, as well a sports figures such as Joe Lewis.

Travis commander Brig. Gen. Joe Kelly named the project not long after Roman’s arrival, with an offhand comment to his Public Affairs Office asking, “Who is coming here from Hollywood this week on our Operation Starlift?” according to a May 1952 a rticle in the Global Ranger Supplement.

The name stuck for the flights that collected actors, entertainers and sports figures from Burbank to fly them to Travis every Saturday and return them the next day.

The stars would put on two- to three-hour shows at the passenger terminal, only interrupted by loudspeakers telling the troops their