INSIDE THE HEARTWARMING MISSION OF OPERATION CHRISTMAS DROP
Every Christmas, people exchange gifts as a way to share love—whether through thoughtful items or meaningful gestures. But what if there were an actual “Santa Claus” in uniform? You might not believe it, but before the holiday parties start on most bases, a kind gesture begins happening at the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam.
In 1952, an aircrew flying a B-29 Superfortress spotted islanders waving from Kapingamarangi, a remote atoll in the Pacific. In the spirit of Christmas, the crew gathered what they had on hand, packed it into a bundle, attached a parachute, and dropped it for the islanders below. That simple act of kindness brought joy to people who rarely received outside supplies—giving birth to what is now known as Operation Christmas Drop.
A Small Act of Kindness Goes a Long Way
Operation Christmas Drop was never expected, but it is now considered the Department of Defense’s longest-running goodwill airlift operation.
It began when a U.S. Air Force crew flying a B-29 Superfortress saw people in 1952 during the Christmas season. These people were waving at them from the island of Kapingamarangi, 3,500 miles southwest of Hawaii. The crew performed a small act of kindness and gathered what they had on hand. With all of the supplies available, they dropped a bundle of resources for the people. And that started Operation Christmas Drop.
To be clear, this wasn’t something anyone had considered before. It was mainly a kind gesture from the aircrew who saw that these people could use a little help. And since it was the Christmas season, why not?
In the years that followed, the military prepared more thoughtfully for the operation, and today the drop has become a tradition and a fully organized humanitarian mission providing for more than 50 islands throughout the Pacific.
Holiday Drops Every Year
Operation Christmas Drop is a Pacific Air Forces event. It is a partnership between the 374th Airlift Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan; the 36th Wing, Andersen Air Force Base, Guam; the 734th Air Mobility Squadron, Andersen AFB of the 515th Air Mobility Operations Wing, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii; and the University of Guam.
More than 70 years later, Operation Christmas Drop still runs every December. It led private organizations to raise funds and donations for the operation, with the Andersen Air Force Base in Guam serving as a base camp for airlifting supplies to people throughout Micronesia.
The preparation begins weeks in advance, where volunteers from military families, local Guam residents, Japanese and Australian partners, civic groups, and schools gather, donate, and sort supplies such as:
- Tools and fishing gear
- Rice, canned goods, and basic staples
- First-aid materials
- Clothing
- Toys, books, and sports equipment
The air crew provides these services to more than 50 islands with a combined population of about 20,000. Some of the islands don’t have docks or steady supply routes, which makes the drop even more meaningful.
Simple Goodwill with Training on the Side
With Operation Christmas Drop happening every year, the participants treat it like real training. It is used as a proving ground for the techniques used in preparation for response to natural disasters, which are all too common across Micronesia. They use a Low-Cost, Low-Altitude (LCLA) airdrop method and fly the same routes used in humanitarian emergencies worldwide.
Some of these islands see only a few boats each year that provide them with resources, so the December drop is a really meaningful event. They gather on the beach, with kids sprinting across the sand to greet the drop.
There are partnerships across the Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, and the United States through the Compact of Free Association. Plus, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the Royal Australian Air Force join the mission.
Each military across the world participating in this operation comes together to train. While Operation Christmas Drop has strategic significance, the heart of the mission is always the simple human connection and the gift of giving to those in need.
A Memorable Operation Sharing Christmas Spirit
With all the military operations, this is by far the most memorable operation still ongoing. Almost similar to the A-1H Skyraider’s famous Vietnam-era “toilet bomb” drop, where aircrews dropped a porcelain toilet as a joke. But this time, the drops are actually useful.
The U.S. Air Force is now making final preparations for Operation Christmas Drop 2025, along with the other participating nations. This Christmas season, the operation will bring joy and supplies to island communities in Micronesia, from December 7 to December 14 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam.
This is a military operation fueled by kindness and community effort. It began as a simple drop-off of available supplies in 1952, and now thousands of people support this operation every December, giving those in need the gift of love during the Christmas season.
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Sources:
BY ALLISON KIRSCHBAUM
Veteran, Military History & Culture Writer at VeteranLife
Navy Veteran
Allison Kirschbaum is a Navy Veteran and an experienced historian. She has seven years of experience creating compelling digital content across diverse industries, including Military, Defense, History, SaaS, MarTech, FinTech, financial services, insurance, and manufacturing. She brings this expertis...
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Expertise
Allison Kirschbaum is a Navy Veteran and an experienced historian. She has seven years of experience creating compelling digital content across diverse industries, including Military, Defense, History, SaaS, MarTech, FinTech, financial services, insurance, and manufacturing. She brings this expertis...
