Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) personnel with 8 Wing/CFB Trenton have officially deployed to help with the longest running humanitarian airlift in the world – “Operation Christmas Drop.”
8 Wing confirmed the deployment – alongside an exchange pilot from the United States Marine Corps – to Guam as of Friday, Nov. 28, 2025.
“It is an honour and privilege for the Royal Canadian Air Force to once again participate in Operation Christmas Drop where we will be able to strengthen interoperability with allied partner nations while delivering aid and supplies to the Indo-Pacific region and bringing some Christmas Joy during the holidays,” said Maj. Trevor Ludtke, RCAF detachment commander for Operation Christmas Drop.
Operation Christmas Drop is described as the longest running humanitarian airlift in the world, with it now operating under Operation HORIZON. 8 Wing’s efforts are part of Canada’s commitment to a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific, said officials.
The operation sees crates filled with items such as fishing nets, construction materials, canned goods, clothing, school supplies and toys that are loaded onto C-130 aircraft and airdropped over islands in Micronesia, explained 8 Wing, adding that over a two-week period, more than 77,000 pounds of supplies roughly are airdropped to more than 42,000 islanders living on 58 remote islands.
This marks the third straight year that the RCAF is participating, working alongside pilots and aircrews from the U.S., Japan and South Korea (the active nations airdropping supplies) – and there are also nine other observer nations involved.
In addition to delivering vital supplies, officials added that Operation Christmas Drop also provides RCAF crews the chance to practise in a live environment, honing skills needed for humanitarian air drops and natural disaster response.
Operation HORIZON also involves the deployment of Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Army, Canadian Armed Forces Cyber Command, and Canadian Special Operations Forces personnel and assets to the Indo-Pacific for international training and exercises to enhance security and build defence partnerships in the region, noted the Department of National Defence.
This year marks the 74th edition of Operation Christmas Drop.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
