RAF personnel joined a very special guest, Santa Claus, to make some special visits to children across the UK.
Although it is almost Christmas, our people continue to work hard on operations, at home and abroad, sacrificing their time with loved ones.
RAF Benson
RAF Benson Pumas flew over 43 different schools in the local area before concluding their flight at the Oxford Children’s Hospital, on the John Radcliffe Hospital site. Christmas presents were kindly provided by the schools and the RAF Benson community.
We were asked to support this special mission and it’s a trip that all the aircrew want to do! It is a pleasure to have Santa in the back of a Puma, though we do fly a bit slower than the sleigh does… I’d also like to give a big thank you to the RAF Benson community for donating presents to aid this year’s Santa Drop, this wouldn’t have been possible without them.
Flight Lieutenant Knight
Pilot
We are extremely grateful to RAF Benson for bringing Santa to us and for their continued support and donations. We are also very thankful to everyone who makes Christmas as special a time as possible for all our patients in hospital.
Jo Pinney
Health Play Specialist Team Manager at Oxford University Hospitals
The Christmas gifts were very kindly donated by the local community from RAF Benson and the following schools; St Laurence C of E Primary School, Benson C of E Primary School, St John's Primary, Sires Hill Primary Academy, Chilton Primary School (New), Cholsey Primary, Blewbury Endowed C of E Primary, Woodcote Primary, St Andrew's C of E Primary School and Tetsworth Primary School.
RAF Benson in South Oxfordshire is a support helicopter main operating base working within the Joint Aviation Command. RAF Benson is home to two front-line Puma HC2 helicopter squadrons and one Operational Conversion Unit, flying a mix of Puma HC2 and Chinook HC4 helicopters. It is also home to the Operational Evaluation Unit of the Joint Helicopter Command.
Being able to bring joy and Christmas cheer to children across Oxfordshire, and particularly to those in the hospital, is an absolute privilege.
Flight Lieutenant Northcote
Project Officer for Santa Drop, RAF Benson
RAF Shawbury
No. 1 Flying Training School, based at RAF Shawbury, joined Santa on board Juno helicopters. They flew over the top of 15 Shropshire Primary Schools, waving at the children gathered in the playgrounds below, before dropping into the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.
Santa was greeted by excited children, parents and staff before taking the opportunity to visit the Shropshire Children’s Centre to hand out presents to all, including a special large present for the Centre’s play area.
We were delighted to be able to help Santa fulfil his mission across Shropshire with No 1 Flying Training School. We wish all the children and families the very best for their treatments and recoveries over the Christmas period. We would also like to thank all of the staff of the Shropshire Children’s Centre for their fabulous work throughout the year.
Wing Commander Alan Jones
The Station Commander
RAF Valley
202 Squadron based at RAF Valley provides specialist training for helicopter aircrew to operate over land and sea environments. This Christmas, their Jupiter helicopters delivered a very special passenger into Anglesey’s Ysgol Y Tywyn and Treffos Schools.
Not only did the children have a great time seeing their surprise visitor, the crew on board also maximised the training benefit that came with the important job of delivering Santa safely. The crew used the opportunity to carry out some low-level navigation across Anglesey and practise their confined area landings and sloping ground techniques in the school fields.
RAF Odiham
Santa joined personnel from RAF Odiham to visit several schools, to the delight of the school children.
Dropping presents and spreading Christmas cheer, they visited Long Sutton Primary School, Church Crookham Primary, Tweseldown Infants, Garland School (Burghfield), and Buryfields/Mayhill.
