Santa is coming to Southern MD

Twas the Day before Santa over Southern Maryland

Southern Maryland Teammates,

Adm. Saint Nicholas (call sign “Claus”) spreads holiday cheer through the skies of Southern Maryland on a pre-deployment mission planning flight over the region from 11 to 1 p.m. ET Dec. 12.  Originally planned to arrive on December 10th but was delayed due to weather conditions.  All pilots including Santa know not to fly in the fog.

During the flight, Clause will finalize his Naughty-or-Nice List with elves and other holiday helpers from NAWCAD’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21 aboard an MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter in preparation for Christmas Eve operations.

“Delivering toys to children around the world takes careful planning and strategic intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance,” said Claus during a pre-flight brief with HX-21 rotary pilots and aircrew. “The aviation pros at NAWCAD make prepping for the big night a little easier.”

This year, Pax River employees can catch sight of Saint Nick from Naval Air Station Patuxent River’s Beach House as he launches on his journey. While Claus’s exact flight plans are top secret, he and the HX-21 crew are expected to fly over several regional locations included below.

Stay up-to-date on Santa Over Southern Maryland at https://www.facebook.com/MyNAWCAD.

Keep your eyes on the skies and listen for the sound of chopper blades, that’s how you’ll know when Santa Claus is coming to town!

Warm Wishes and Happy Holidays,

NAWCAD Public Affairs

#

Claus and the HX-21 crew will spread holiday cheer over the following regional locations:

11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Naval Air Station Patuxent River Beach House

Driftwood Beach

Patuxent Appeal Elementary School

Dowell Elementary School

Solomons Island Pier

11:30 – 12:00 p.m.

Hollywood Elementary School

Saint John’s Catholic School

Captain Walter Francis Duke Elementary School

Leonardtown Elementary School

Leonardtown Wharf

12:00 – 12:30 p.m.

Leonardtown Middle School

Evergreen Elementary School

Town Creek Elementary School

Esperanza Middle School

Green Holly Elementary School

Greenview Knolls Elementary School

Lexington Park Elementary School

12:30 – 1:00 p.m.

George Washington Carver Elementary School

Chesapeake Charter Public School

Little Flower School

Bay Montessori School

Park Hall Elementary School

Spring Ridge Middle School

St. Michael’s School

Ridge Elementary School

Naval Air Station Patuxent River Child Development Center