Operation Santa Claus

The 144th Airlift Squadron’s favorite passenger, Santa Claus, gazes out the window of a 176th Wing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft on his way to deliver tidings of good cheer to the children of Scammon Bay, Alaska, during Operation Santa Claus Nov. 16, 2022. Operation Santa Claus is the AKNG’s yearly community relations and support program that provides gifts to children in remote communities across the state. After landing in Bethel, Santa, Mrs. Claus, and dozens of helper elves transferred to two Alaska Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters and delivered 1,780 pounds of gifts, backpacks, hygiene supplies, and books to 325 children in Scammon Bay. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)
Santa and Mrs. Claus share holiday cheer with children at the local school during Operation Santa Claus in Scammon Bay, Nov. 16, 2022. Operation Santa Claus is the Alaska National Guard’s yearly community relations and support program that provides gifts to children in remote communities across the state. In partnership with the Salvation Army and with more than a dozen volunteers, the program delivered 1,780 pounds of gifts, backpacks, hygiene supplies, and books to 325 children in Scammon Bay. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)
A young boy sits on Santa’s lap during Operation Santa Claus in Scammon Bay, Nov. 16, 2022. Operation Santa Claus is the Alaska National Guard’s yearly community relations and support program that provides gifts to children in remote communities across the state. In partnership with the Salvation Army and with more than a dozen volunteers, the program delivered 1,780 pounds of gifts, backpacks, hygiene supplies, and books to 325 children in Scammon Bay. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)
Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Cade Cross, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, helps transfer boxes filled with gifts, backpacks, hygiene supplies, and books for children in Scammon Bay during Operation Santa Claus Nov. 16, 2022. Operation Santa Claus is the Alaska National Guard’s yearly community relations and support program that provides gifts to children in remote communities across the state. Santa, Mrs. Claus, and more than a dozen helper elves flew to Bethel from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson via a 176th Wing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and transferred to two Alaska Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to deliver tidings of good cheer to children in Scammon Bay. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)
Volunteers with the Alaska National Guard, Salvation Army and local community partners, unload gifts bound for Scammon Bay from a 176th Wing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft as part of Operation Santa Claus at the Bethel-Davis Regional Airport flight line in Bethel, Nov. 16, 2022. Santa and his elves traveled 146 miles northwest via a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to celebrate with the community. Operation Santa Claus is the AKNG’s yearly community relations and support program that provides gifts to children in remote communities across the state. (Alaska National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Balinda O’Neal)