Santa prefers a Blackhawk helicopter

Santa Claus is exploring Alaska through an unconventional means of transportation this holiday season -- a modern Alaska Air National Guard C-130-H Hercules.

Santa and his elves are traveling around Alaska -- last week they were in Gambell and Fort Greeley, and today they are going to be in Venetie -- as part of Operation Santa Claus, now entering its 48th year in Alaska.

Operation Santa Claus brings essentials to villages around Alaska each holiday season -- from toys, clothing and school supplies to things villages need, like bottled water.

"It is always such a joy to share in the spirit of the season with our fellow Alaskans," said Maj. Gen. Craig E. Campbell, adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard. "We're very fortunate to have this privilege and so many kind partners to help us in this effort."

This year's Operation Santa Claus route is a virtual geography lesson. Santa Claus and his elves plan on traveling to Manokotak, Kwethluk, Shaktoolik, Elim, Goodnews Bay, Selawik, Little Diomede, Yakutat and about half a dozen other communities, representing villages from around Alaska -- from Southeast to Northwest.

Santa will travel on the C-130H as well as a UH-60L Blackhawk helicopter and a C-23B+ Sherpa fixed-wing aircraft this holiday season -- a big departure from the traditional sled and reindeer fleet Santa is accustomed to. Alaska is a huge state, and sometimes, even the best reindeer can't keep up with Santa's busy holiday schedule.

"We want folks to know that just because the Alaska Air National Guard use their mighty C1-20 Hercules aircraft and the Alaska Army National Guard use their rugged UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and the C-23B+ Sherpa fixed-wing aircraft, doesn't mean the reindeer get a free ride in any of this," elves told the National Guard for a press release. "Dasher, Dancer, Donner and Blitzen are older, but they've not lost a step of quickness to get airborne at the right time when it's their turn."

Santa and his elves at the Alaska National Guard have been gearing up for Operation Santa Claus for several months -- everyone knows there is no "off season" for the jolly old man.

They have been busy planning the logistics of the trips, as well as rounding up corporate partners to help bring the holiday spirit to the remotest of Alaska villages.

"Our volunteer elves work yearround to bring all of this together," Campbell said. "We simply could not do any of it without their generosity and selfless determination to see this succeed."

If past results are any indication, Bush children are in for a happy holiday. More than 3,000 kids are visited annually as part of Operation Santa Claus, usually representing about a dozen villages a year.

The program began in 1956, when spring floods denied a fishing season that year. A drought followed, eliminating hunting season altogether, which left Bush communities in a tailspin. Every bit of money left over was used to pay for food to be shipped to the villages, and the Sisters at St. Mary. They wrote a letter explaining their extraordinary need, which found its way to the members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 144th Airlift Squadron in Anchorage.

The letter explained that the basics of Christmas were covered -- they had food, but that was it. The Air National Guard went to work, and two Anchorage newspapers and several television stations spread the word. Soon, toys started pouring in.

Within a few days, the guard members fixed any worn parts and repainted all the toys, before they were handed over to Santa Claus, who was traveling on an aptly-named C-123J Provider.

For 20 years, the operation traveled to St. Mary's, but more and more villages invited the operation to town, and in the last couple of decades, it has grown every year. Since the program's inception, more than 10,000 kids have been reached. And it isn't just the National Guard that gets involved -- Santa has been joined by Alaska artist Barbara Lavalle, cartoonist Chad Carpenter and many others.

In the last nine years, Operation Santa Claus has grown to include books, clothing and even fresh fruit, which is prized in the villages.