Operation Christmas Drop

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Loadmaster prepares to give the drop signal.

WC-130 of the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron out of Guam, circles around for the next drop. Dec '86

Operation Christmas Drop is a tradition that serves as a training mission for the United States Air Force which started in 1952. Then, the aircrew of a WB-29 aircraft assigned to the 54th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, formerly assigned to Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, was flying a mission to the south of Guam over the Micronesian atoll of Kapingamarangi. When they saw the islanders waving to them, the crew quickly gathered some items they had on the plane, placed them in a container with a parachute attached and dropped the cargo as they circled again.

Today the tradition is continued with the donations from the residents and businesses of Guam. Each box dropped from a C-130 aircraft weighs nearly 400 pounds and contains items such as fishing nets, construction materials, powdered milk, canned goods, rice, coolers, clothing, shoes, toys and school supplies.

Operation Christmas Drop is a team effort, bringing together volunteers from across Andersen AFB, including the 734th Air Mobility Squadron, crews and aircraft from the 36th Airlift Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan, and members of the Guam community.