Major World powers do toy drops to Pacific atolls

Australian, Japanese and US air force planes are dropping food and toys on remote atolls in the Pacific as part of the American military's longest-running humanitarian relief mission.

The packages will support 20,000 people across 56 islands in Micronesia, the Mariana Islands and Palau.

The US Air Force began the annual Operation Christmas Drop in 1952 when a Guam-based air crew noticed residents on the island of Kapingamarangi waving at them as they flew overhead.

The crew gathered items they had on the plane, attached a parachute and dropped them to the islanders.

It's a feel-good mission that also helps the US achieve political aims, namely deepening three-way co-operation with close allies Australia and Japan, who are first-time participants.

Analysts say the US has been boosting the trilateral relationship in recent years as it keeps an eye on China's growing military.

The boxes include books, canned food and items like fishing nets that will help islanders maintain their largely subsistence lifestyle.

This year, each package will also include a soccer ball.The planes fly low, look for a safe spot to drop the bundles then release them from the back of the C-130s.

University of Guam distance education staff use ham radios to talk to the islanders throughout the year and relay their needs. .Japan and Australia each sent one C-130 to join three from the US.

US Air Force Brigadier General Gregory Guillot, who is the director of strategic plans at Pacific Air Forces, said the Christmas Drop offers a good trilateral training opportunity, particularly in a time of budget constraints and busy units.

Guillot said the three air forces have been increasing their co-operation, noting they also come together for the annual Cope North exercise on Guam and Red Flag drill in Alaska.

 Inviting Australia and Japan to Christmas Drop was a logical extension of other work the countries have been doing, Guillot said.

Source: AP