US Air Force Captain Chris Gullo conducts an inspection of a C-130J Super Hercules at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam before last year's mission to deliver goods to the Pacific Photo: Richard P. Ebensberger/US Air Force
Five countries are joining the US Airforce's 71st Operation Christmas Drop this year.
They are set to make deliveries to 56 remote islands throughout the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau.
The US Airforce operation is a humanitarian assistance programme which kicked off on December 4.
The deliveries include packaged food, supplies, fishing equipment, schoolbooks and clothing.
The operation brings together PACAF's 374th Airlift Wing from Yokota Air Base in Japan, the 36th Wing from Andersen AFB in Guam, the 15th Wing from Joint Base Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, Airmen from Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Republic of Korea Airforce and Indian Air Force.
The effort allows US Air forces to "work with partner countries to plan and execute low-cost, low altitude air-drops, improving critical interoperability and communication for future real-world humanitarian assistance and disaster relief missions," the Airforce said in a statement.
The annual event, delivers packaged food, supplies, fishing equipment, schoolbooks and clothing.
"Operation Christmas Drop continues to be an annual collaboration delivering valuable humanitarian assistance to those in need. We are excited to team with our allies and partners throughout the region as we launch the 71st year of Operation Christmas Drop and execute OCD 2022," said Colonel Andrew Roddan, 374th Airlift Wing commander in the press release.
"OCD 2022 represents a significant opportunity to integrate airlift teams as we work closely with international partners. This operation helps to hone critical skills necessary for successful response to humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, and we look forward to continuing our successful joint efforts in support of humanitarian aid delivery, said Col Roddan.
The tradition began during the Christmas season in 1952 when a B-29 Superfortress aircrew saw islanders waving at them from the island of Kapingamarangi, 3,500 miles south-west of Hawaii.
In the spirit of Christmas the aircrew dropped a bundle of supplies attached to a parachute to the islanders below, giving the operation its name.
