Operation Christmas Drop
operation christmas drop tradition started serf training mission u air force since become longestrunning u department defense mission full operation longestrunning humanitarian airlift world supported local community guam primarily conducted andersen air force base yokota air base target micronesia drop oldest ongoing department defense mission remains full operation longest running humanitarian airlift world pound kg supply delivered operation give troop chance practice humanitarian aid drop may later expected conduct deployment volunteer andersen air force base including th air mobility squadron crew aircraft th airlift squadron yokota air base japan participate operation member guam community also help operation money raised operation sponsored activity golf tournament sponsored run well local business sponsoring individual box box dropped c aircraft weighs nearly pound kg contains item fishing net construction material powdered milk canned good rice cooler clothing shoe toy school supply container dropped water beach order avoid hitting local operation first conducted aircrew wb aircraft assigned th weather reconnaissance squadron formerly assigned andersen air force base guam flying mission south guam micronesian atoll kapingamarangi saw islander waving crew quickly gathered item plane placed container parachute attached dropped cargo circled witness first drop island agrigan said saw thing come back airplane yelling toy coming time island electricity running water island periodically hit typhoon first container failed arrive intended islander swam retrieve others discovered month later mile away operation saw box dropped island operation included dropping twenty five box iv fluid fais island order combat local outbreak dengue fever pacific air force delivered pound supply micronesian island japan air selfdefense force royal australian air force participated operation along united state air force japan australia provided one c hercules join three c provided united state jasdf raaf also participated operation december marked inaugural training event new cj yokota ab well first quadlateral event jasdf raaf philippine air force response covid pandemic micronesian president david panuelo opted th operation christmas drop according master sergeant anthony biecheler drop continue planned republic palau u air force taken extensive measure prevent spread covid delivery republic korea air force participated first time royal canadian air force participated first time operation christmas drop fictionally portrayed netflix film name film debuted platform november star kat graham alexander ludwig federated state micronesia–united state relation international ice patrol norad track santa u japan kick operation christmas drop despite covid tech sgt nick wilson pacific air force public affair published november httpswwwpacafafmilnewsarticledisplayarticleusjapantokickoffoperationchristmasdropdespitecovid official website