Netflix’s latest holiday offering, Operation Christmas Drop, is more than just a charming festive rom-com. The film, which debuted on November 5, shines a light on a longstanding Christmas tradition carried out by the U.S. Air Force.
While some aspects of the movie are pure fiction – like the congressional aide tasked with shutting down underperforming Air Force bases – the heart of the story is very much grounded in reality.
The humanitarian mission, which shares its name with the Netflix flick, kicked off in 1952 and holds the record for being the longest-running U. S.
Department of Defense mission still in operation, as well as the world’s longest-running humanitarian airlift. It all started quite serendipitously when an aircrew spotted islanders on Kapingamarangi waving at them in 1952, reports Surrey Live.
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Netflix)
In response, they dropped a box of supplies attached to a parachute, and thus a tradition was born. The film gives viewers a glimpse into the process: Service personnel at Andersen Air Force Base and Yokota Air Base package donations from local businesses and residents in Guam, ranging from bags of rice to toys.
After attaching parachutes to containers filled with up to 400 pounds of supplies, they fly over more than 50 remote islands in Micronesia, delivering a variety of supplies to approximately 20,000 inhabitants.
The locals depend on these supplies to survive the year: The rice bags can feed up to 500 people and the parachutes can be repurposed as sails for their boats, as reported by Military.com.
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Netflix)
In preparation for the annual Christmas drop, the U. S. Air Force relies on support from local businesses – some people contribute monetary donations, others leave donations at designated drop-off boxes, and hundreds of locals sort and package donations on the base. Some years see more targeted efforts, like in 2011 when they dropped 25 boxes of IV fluids on Fais Island to combat a dengue fever outbreak.
Each year, the mission grows, especially between 2015 and 2017 when they partnered with the Air Self-Defense Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.
However, unlike the film, Operation Christmas Drop is not in danger. The base is currently gearing up for their 2020 drop and are seeking donations of items such as hand tools, fishing equipment, school supplies, water purifiers, non-perishable food, educational toys, hygiene items, first aid kits, clothing, household items, and financial contributions.
You can watch Operation Christmas Drop on Netflix
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