X-Nico

3 unusual facts about 144th Airlift Squadron


144th Airlift Squadron

One of the more notable missions flown by the 144th ATS was "Operation Santa Claus", which began in December 1957 when the squadron was called on to make an emergency airdrop of supplies to the community of St. Mary's Mission on the Yukon River in southwestern Alaska.

An ice-jam on the Nenana and Tanana Rivers caused flooding in the city and only five hours after receiving a call for assistance, the squadron began a series of many C-123 flights to evacuate survivors and move supplies into the stricken area.

The aircraft were also used as part of the 1957–1958 International Geophysical Year experiments, which were conducted in Alaska and the Canadian Yukon Territory.



see also