Operation New Year Drop

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Operation New Year Drop
US Airmen deliver supplies to Republic of Palau 151211-F-PM645-171.jpg
Daoan and Kajeran airmen wave to islanders at the Kayatman Archipelago
TypeTradition & bilateral annual tactical airlift training exercise.
Location
Planned by Daobac Self-Defense Forces
Kajera Kajeran Armed Forces
ObjectiveDistribute gifts & supplies.
Part of loadmaster certification training for Daoan & Kajeran airmen.
Date1 January 1977 (1977-01-01) - Present
Executed by Daoan Air Force
Kajera Kajeran Air Force

Operation New Year Drop is a military tradition and annual bilateral training exercise conducted by the Daoan and Kajeran Air Forces that began in 1978. The operation is among the longest running military airlift operation for Daobac and Kajera, and arguably in the world. The purpose of the operation is two fold: to distribute gifts & various equipment to communities throughout the Kayatman Archipelago, and as part of the loadmaster certification training program of both Daobac's and Kajera's air forces. Transport aircraft of Daoan origin take of from XXX Air Force Base (AFB) and rendezvous with Kajeran transport aircraft from Kem Tilaan AFB. After the rendezvous both transport squadrons will travel along a flightpath that will take them around the Kayatman Archipelago, distributing gifts & equipment to roughly XX communities throughout XX islands of the archipleago.

Background

The operation was originally a humanitarian airlift operation initiated by both Daobac and Kajera in the aftermath of a severe thunderstorm from 25 December and 31 December of 1977 that encompassed the entire Kayatman Archipelago which was accompanied with heavy rain and strong winds which prevented the deployment of emergency response teams to affected communities. By the 1st of January 1978 the thunderstorm have largely abated, allowing Daobac and Kajera to fly sorties throughout the archipelago to assess the damage.

Aircraft Involved

Timeline