Flying Santa
Encyclopedia
The Flying Santa is the name given to a tradition that dates to Christmas Day of 1929, when packages of gifts were dropped from a plane to lighthouse keeper
s and their families along the New England
coast.
The organization was the brainchild of pilot
William Wincapaw, who wished to give something to the keepers whose work he admired. So well received was his work that he expanded the program to cover more light stations and Coast Guard
stations in future years. Wincapaw did not initially consider himself a Santa Claus
; the title was bestowed upon him by residents of the stations that he visited. Soon he would be joined on the route by his son, Bill Jr., and by noted author Edward Rowe Snow
. Snow participated in the program for over forty years before his retirement.
Wiggins Airways
eventually began providing chartered aircraft
for the Flying Santas, whose flights have continued uninterrupted, apart from the years of World War II
, since 1929; helicopter
s are now used instead of planes. Chief Warrant Officer
David Waldrip, USCG, and Chief Warrant Officer
Tom Guthlein, USCG, are the current Santas. Today, the nonprofit Friends of Flying Santa continues the flights primarily as a way of expressing gratitude for the work performed by the Coast Guard.
Lighthouse keeper
A lighthouse keeper is the person responsible for tending and caring for a lighthouse, particularly the light and lens in the days when oil lamps and clockwork mechanisms were used. Keepers were needed to trim the wicks, replenish fuel, wind clockworks and perform maintenance tasks such as cleaning...
s and their families along the New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
coast.
The organization was the brainchild of pilot
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
William Wincapaw, who wished to give something to the keepers whose work he admired. So well received was his work that he expanded the program to cover more light stations and Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
stations in future years. Wincapaw did not initially consider himself a Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
; the title was bestowed upon him by residents of the stations that he visited. Soon he would be joined on the route by his son, Bill Jr., and by noted author Edward Rowe Snow
Edward Rowe Snow
Edward Rowe Snow was an American author and historian.-Life:He was the son of Edward Sumpter and Alice Snow...
. Snow participated in the program for over forty years before his retirement.
Wiggins Airways
Wiggins Airways
Wiggins Airways is an American fixed base operator, cargo airline, and charter airline based at Manchester, New Hampshire and operating from Manchester-Boston Regional Airport.-History:...
eventually began providing chartered aircraft
Aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air, or, in general, the atmosphere of a planet. An aircraft counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines.Although...
for the Flying Santas, whose flights have continued uninterrupted, apart from the years of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, since 1929; helicopter
Helicopter
A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...
s are now used instead of planes. Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer
Chief warrant officer is a military rank used by the Canadian Forces and the Israel Defence Forces.-Canada:In the Canadian Forces, a chief warrant officer or CWO is the most senior non-commissioned member rank in the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
David Waldrip, USCG, and Chief Warrant Officer
Chief Warrant Officer
Chief warrant officer is a military rank used by the Canadian Forces and the Israel Defence Forces.-Canada:In the Canadian Forces, a chief warrant officer or CWO is the most senior non-commissioned member rank in the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force...
Tom Guthlein, USCG, are the current Santas. Today, the nonprofit Friends of Flying Santa continues the flights primarily as a way of expressing gratitude for the work performed by the Coast Guard.
See also
- Santa ClausSanta ClausSanta Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
- Christmas events and celebrations (category)
- Christmas traditions (category)
- United States Lighthouse ServiceUnited States Lighthouse ServiceThe United States Lighthouse Service, also known as the Bureau of Lighthouses, was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States from the time of its creation in 1910 until 1939...
- United States Lighthouse BoardUnited States Lighthouse BoardThe United States Lighthouse Board was the agency of the US Federal Government that was responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all lighthouses in the United States...
- Lighthouses in the United StatesLighthouses in the United StatesThis is a list of lighthouses in the United States. The United States has had approximately a thousand lights as well as light towers, range lights, and pier head lights...