8 Wing deploying for Operation Christmas Drop

Royal Canadian Air Force personnel from 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, alongside an exchange pilot from the United States Marine Corps, are deploying to Guam, as part of the 74th edition of Operation Christmas Drop.

“Operation Christmas Drop is the longest running humanitarian airlift in the world, operating since 1952, with it now operating under Operation HORIZON, Canada’s commitment to a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific,” said Captain Aaron Niles
8 Wing Public Affairs. The operation will have four active nations airdropping supplies (United States, Japan, South Korea, and Canada), as well as nine observer nations.

The operation sees crates filled with items such as fishing nets, construction materials, canned goods, clothing, school supplies and toys, which are loaded onto C-130 aircraft and airdropped over islands in Micronesia.

In a two-week period, more than 77,000 pounds of supplies are airdropped to over 42,000 islanders living on 58 remote islands. This is the third straight year the Royal Canadian Air Force will be participating in Operation Christmas Drop, where they will be working alongside pilots and aircrew from Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

“On top of delivering much needed and vital supplies to the region, Operation Christmas Drop provides Royal Canadian Air Force personnel the opportunity to practice in a live environment, honing the skills necessary during humanitarian aid drops and natural disaster response,” added Niles.

“It is an honour and privilege for the Royal Canadian Air Force to once again participate in Operation Christmas Drop, where we will be able to strengthen interoperability with allied partner nations, while delivering aid and supplies to the Indo-Pacific region and bringing some Christmas Joy during the holidays” stated Major Trevor Ludtke, Royal Canadian Air Force Detachment Commander, Operation Christmas Drop.

The operation involves the deployment of Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Royal Canadian Air Force, Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command and Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel, and assets, to the Indo-Pacific to participate in international training, exercises, and engagements that enhance security and build defence partnerships in the region.

Operation Christmas Drop was first conducted in 1951, when United States Air Force aircrew on a Boeing B-29 Superfortress were flying over the Micronesian atoll of Kapingamarangi, saw some islanders waving to them, and 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.