The Republic of Korea Air Force will participate in the "Christmas Drop Operation" hosted by the United States Pacific Air Forces.
On December 2, the Air Force announced that it would take part in the Christmas Drop Operation from December 7 to 14. The Christmas Drop Operation is the oldest humanitarian airlift mission of the U.S. Air Force, which began in 1952 when essential supplies were airdropped for island residents in the Micronesia region south of Guam, where there were no airfields.
The Republic of Korea Air Force first joined the operation in 2021 at the invitation of the U.S. Air Force and has continued to participate, enhancing its humanitarian support capabilities and expanding cooperation among participating countries. This year, a total of four countries-Korea, the United States, Canada, and Japan-will take part in the operation.
The Republic of Korea Air Force will dispatch one C-130 transport aircraft from the 5th Air Mobility Wing, along with about 30 personnel including pilots, maintenance staff, and support crew. They will depart from Gimhae Air Base on Tuesday, December 2, and arrive at Andersen Air Force Base, which will serve as the main hub for the operation.
The mission personnel plan to airdrop relief supplies such as medicine, clothing, and daily necessities to more than 10 islands in the Micronesia region over a total of five sorties. The supplies will be delivered by attaching them to parachutes and dropping them from a low altitude, approximately 60 meters above the ground.
Meanwhile, mission personnel from the participating and observing countries (including 13 observer nations such as the United Kingdom, France, and Germany) will share their respective flight expertise and knowledge, building mutual trust and further improving their combined operational capabilities.
Han Yunhee, Operations Team Leader of the 251st Airborne Squadron (Major), stated, "It is meaningful to represent Korea in this humanitarian mission, delivering essential supplies directly to residents of remote islands during the year-end season. In addition, this is a valuable opportunity to verify low-altitude airdrop procedures in various terrain and weather conditions, and I am confident that it will enhance our Air Force's combined operational capabilities."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
