The Hull Lifesaving Museum opened its doors in the spring of 1982. Its mission was to preserve the maritime heritage of Boston Harbor and its vicinity. Judeth Van Hamm and the other founding members of the museum believed that the Flying Santa tradition was an important part of this heritage. Through their efforts, and others that came along over the years, the program would continue on as a favored New England tradition. In the first few years, the role of Santa would be played by a number of museum members. Ed McCabe, Ben Blake and George Morgan were a few of the hardy souls to suit up for the Santa flights.

Ed was most remembered for his dark beard, reminiscent of the famous lifesaver Joshua James. The small children that greeted him at the lights often asked him why this Santa did not have a white beard. His response was simple - Santa's beard did not turn white until Christmas Eve. That seemed to be enough of an explanation for even the most inquisitive minds. On a number of the Maine trips Ed was joined by Mrs. Ona Jones, a museum volunteer, as Santa's dutiful helper. Over the years, Ona became one of the programs many diehard supporters. Whether helping to knit a fundraising quilt or wrapping some of the hundreds of individual gifts, Ona, and volunteers like her, helped ensure the success of each year's flights.

In 1982, George Morgan had seen an article in the local Hull paper looking for volunteers to assist the lifesaving museum with their new endeavors and decided to offer his assistance. Besides his experience and organizational skills he brought with him an important feature - his own white hair and beard. Proving to be a natural for the role, he began sharing the Santa duties with Ed McCabe. George would fly the southern route as well as parts of Maine while Ed would continue with the northern leg.

As the years went on, George's involvement in the program would continue to grow. He would eventually become the director of the museum's Flying Santa program. His wife Jean and their children would donate much of their time and talents to making each year's flights a success. Their tireless efforts were put into fundraising events, gift wrapping, securing product donations and so many of the elements necessary in preparing for the holiday flights.

A key supporter of the flights during the 1980's was pilot Russ Johnson of East Coast Helicopters. On many of the trips he would donate his time while the museum paid the fuel costs. On a number of occasions he made arrangements with his employers to wave the fuels costs as well. Mr. Johnson's good nature and generosity made the flights all the more pleasant for everyone involved, in the air and on the ground.

By 1987, the automation of many of the Maine lighthouses resulted in the discontinuation of the Flying Santa visits up north. Ed McCabe moved on to spend more time with the museum's successful rowing program while George continued the trips in southern New England. There were only 15 lighthouses visited that year. It was expected that within a few years, Boston Light would be the last manned light in the country. The future of the Flying Santa program looked as though it would only entail a ceremonious drop to that last lonely outpost.

The flights continued at this reduced schedule. Although the era of lighthouse keepers was coming to an end, the boat stations remained and many of the lights continued to be used for Coast Guard housing. There were also the beginnings of new policies that would transfer guardianship of some of the structures over to civilian organizations and caretakers. The need and interest in the Santa flights were still apparent. The basic elements of the Coast Guard's mission warranted the continuation of the Christmas visits. So as long as there were personnel connected to the lights, the Flying Santa would make the Yuletide visits. In the late 1980's, the museum was fortunate to have WCVB-TV 5 step in as the provider of helicopter services for the Boston area flights. This was welcome transportation and at the same time increased the program's public exposure with the evening broadcasts of the lighthouse visits.

The traditional gift boxes continued to be enjoyed by the lighthouse families. Many of the original items such as La Touraine coffee and Gillette razors were still included along with items from new sponsors. Products from the Cape Cod Potato Chip Company were especially enjoyed. The inclusion of the traditional Bell's Seasoning was an item whose aroma readily announced its presence amongst the other contents. Other items ranged from dog biscuits to toothbrushes, as well as toys from McDonalds and gift certificates from Bickfords restaurant. One delightful addition to the packages was the annual bundle of letters from the children of the Lillian Jacobs School in Hull addressed to the families at each lighthouse. These letters were much anticipated by the lighthouse residents and replies were promptly sent.

I joined the flights for the first time as a photographer in 1991. For a number of years, I had specialized in photographing lighthouses and the New England coast. I was thrilled with the opportunity to view so many of these lighthouses from the air. I was also honored to be able to participate in this gesture of appreciation to the Coast Guard families. I had spent a great deal of time working with various Coast Guard units throughout New England and had seen firsthand their dedication and professionalism. Whether maintaining aids to navigation, patrolling inshore and offshore waters or tackling less glamorous administration responsibilities, they well deserve this recognition for their efforts. My participation in these flights has grown over the past two decades and I am sure I will never grow tired of the experience. I have seen firsthand how these Coast Guard families genuinely enjoy coming out for the annual visits. I hope that for many years to come their children will continue to grow up with fond memories of the Flying Santa and his helicopter.

The flights to the lighthouses are a whirlwind experience. Beside the spectacular scenery that is viewed along the way, there is the unforgettable experience of seeing the celebrations, large and small, that occur at each landing. An apt description would be to compare the experience to that of crashing ten Christmas parties in a single day. By arriving with the guest of honor, a warm reception is always guaranteed. The stops are brief. Depending on the number of children, they average 15 to 20 minutes. At many of the stops, a smorgasbord of cakes, candies, cookies and hot beverages are laid out for the event. We sometimes wonder if we take off with as much weight in food as we have left behind in gifts. Dale Hardy of Wiggins Airways, who flew us for over a decade, became somewhat of a holiday dessert aficionado. A close inspection of his helicopter controls at the end of the day would most surely reveal traces of powdered sugar and cinnamon.

At every light, Santa calls out the name of each child in attendance and presents them with a small gift. The smiles on the children's faces are only equaled by the smiles of their parents. For some, this is their first opportunity to photograph their child with Santa. Their isolated locations can make a trip to the mall Santa a bit out of reach. The children ask Santa the usual questions - "Where are your reindeer?" - "How fast is your helicopter?". If time allows, and it usually does, Santa tells the story of the original Flying Santa, Capt. Wincapaw and his successor Edward Rowe Snow. After a brief tour of the helicopter, the families shout their holiday greetings and wave goodbye as Santa takes off for his next stop. It is a wonderful experience and helps set the mood for the Christmas season. I only wish that all those involved in making this annual event possible could have the opportunity to experience it firsthand as I have.

In 1994, Chief David Waldrip of the Coast Guard's Boston Aids to Navigation Team, filled in when an injury forced George onto the sidelines. Dave's Coast Guard responsibilities involved maintaining the operation of the coastal buoys and lighthouses from New Hampshire to Cape Cod. Notwithstanding his son Greg's crack about his father not needing any pillows to fill out the Santa suit, Dave's family was in full support of his new lighthouse duties. His personable nature and familiarity with many of the lighthouse residents lent a unique personal touch to the flights that year. Hidden behind an impermeable white beard, he had quite a few of his fellow Coasties perplexed at how this red-suited fellow knew so much about them and their stations. Dave well earned his place as the program's auxiliary Santa and would return to the role in 1995 to fly to the Boston area lights. His departure in 1996 for duty in Kodiak, Alaska was made with assurances that his spot on the Flying Santa sleigh would be open upon his return.

1995 also marked the return of the Santa flights to New Hampshire and Maine. There were now enough families connected to these northern lights to once again warrant a full day of flights. Tom Clegg and Paul Ellis piloted an Augusta 109 to the 9 lighthouses. The lights on this trip have some of the most difficult landing situations of all the flights and it was due to the skills of these two pilots that we were able to make all our stops. This has been the case with the succession of our New Hampshire and Maine pilots over the years. Thanks to the efforts of Tom and Paul, as well as pilots Tony Liss, George Louzek, Art Godjikian, LaRay Todd, Leo Boucher and Greg Harville Flying Santa has been safely delivered to these remote locations. The generosity of this company and the good-natured spirits of its employees have ensured the success of these annual visits along the coasts of New Hampshire and Maine.

The Santa flights continued to expand. Many times it was thought that the schedule had reached the maximum number of lights that could be visited in a single day. Somehow it was always possible to squeeze a few more minutes out of the schedule and another stop would be added. The practice of bringing along an elf on some of the flights was initiated to assist Santa with the growing number of children at each stop.

THE FRIENDS OF FLYING SANTA

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By 1997, the Flying Santa program had outgrown its position within the museum. A small group of volunteers banded together to form the Friends of Flying Santa, Inc., a non-profit educational entity. This was done to help ensure a long term financial future for the program. Founding board members Inga Hanks and Richard Boonisar were invaluable in helping to deal with the legal and financial concerns of the newly formed organization. Staffed entirely of volunteers, the Friends set forth with a renewed energy in continuing the expanded lighthouse visits. The funds necessary for the program's operation were raised through a variety of fundraisers. During the museum years, numerous boat cruises, bus tours and other activities were conducted for fundraising. These successes were carried over to the newly formed Friends. Always looking for new and exciting ways to raise funds, the Friends also began sponsoring a number of raffles that included helicopter tours, boat cruises and overnight stays at lighthouses. The Friends began publication of the Flying Santa News as well as a website to assist in informing the program's supporters of these fundraising events, narratives of the holiday flights and other activities. The Friends also developed the first official logo of the Flying Santa program, incorporating some of the main elements of the Santa flights. This logo was soon attached to hats, mugs, magnets and sweatshirts to assist with fundraising efforts.

In 1997, CWO Tom Guthlein stepped into the Santa role on the flights to Massachusetts' North and South Shore lighthouses. As executive petty officer at Coast Guard Station Gloucester, Tom had been residing at the Annisquam Lighthouse and was well acquainted with this holiday spectacle. His oldest son Joshua had his first visit from the Flying Santa six years earlier when Tom and his wife Vicki were stationed at Chatham. For the past few years, the family, with the addition of little Patrick, had been enjoying Flying Santa's Christmas visits to Gloucester. Tom did an excellent job and was welcomed back to repeat the role in 1998.

1999 saw the return of CWO David Waldrip and his family from Kodiak, Alaska and the departure of the Guthleins to Virginia. Dave eagerly jumped back into the role of Flying Santa to once again assist the Friends with the Boston area flight. While away, Dave had kept in practice for the role by performing as Santa for the children of the small villages on Kodiak.

In 2002 and 2003, the Friends were most fortunate to receive the generous donation of helicopter services from two Massachusetts pilots. Evan Wile flew the Massachusetts route and Glenn Hanson, along with his co-pilot Lou Belloisy, flew the RI-CT-NY route. This was done at absolutely no cost to the Friends. In 2004, Evan Wile began providing his services for all our southern New England stops. His piloting skills and sense of humor have been a wonderful addition to the Flying Santa experience. These gentlemen combined with all the other dedicated volunteers and sponsors are what make the continuation of the Flying Santa tradition possible.

In 2003, Seamond Ponsart Roberts joined us for our Massachusetts flight. 57 years after Edward Rowe Snow visited her by helicopter, Seamond was able to experience her own flight with Flying Santa. She returned to her childhood home at West Chop Light, accompanying Santa Tom Guthlein as he brought new memories to the Coast Guard children living at the light.

To help mark the 75th anniversary of the first Flying Santa flight, William Wincapaw III, the grandson of Capt. Wincapaw, joined Santa Dave Waldrip for part of our 2004 NH/Maine flight. Bill came all the way from Florida with his wife Denise and two children, Madison and Billy. After his flight, Bill was able to meet up with his family at Owl's Head Light where together they enjoyed their first Flying Santa visit alongside the Coast Guard families of the Rockland area.

In October 2006, Friends of Flying Santa dedicated a memorial plaque in honor of Capt. William Wincapaw in the exhibit hall of the new Maine Lighthouse Museum in Rockland, ME. In a corner of the museum overlooking the original location of Capt. Wincapaw's seaplane base, a brass plaque depicts Capt. Wincapaw's plane flying over the Owl's Head Light. A long overdue tribute to this remarkable gentleman and his role as the first Flying Santa to the lighthouses.

In 2007, Edward Rowe Snow's daughter Dolly, flew along on the Massachusetts flight assisting Flying Santa just as she had done with her father. Evan Wile's helicopter provided a much smoother "flying carpet" ride than the turbulent airplane flights she recalled on her earlier trips. It was an honor to have a member of the Snow family back in Santa's sleigh.

2007 also marked the year that JBI Helicopters came on board to sponsor our NH/Maine flight. With Leo Boucher as our pilot, we were able to reach all our northernmost stops.

In 2008, Granite Sate Aviation came onboard as the new owners of the Agusta 109e we had previously used on on our NH/Maine flight. Pilots Greg Harville and George Louzek did an outastanding job of guiding Santa around some early season snow squalls.

In August 2009, the 80th anniversary year of the first Flying Santa flight, pilot Evan Wile and Cannon Aviation helped deliver Santa to the annual Edward Rowe Snow Day on George's Island in Boston Harbor. Santa joined Dolly Snow and her family in celebrating Mr. Snow's birthday at the Edward Rowe Snow memorial pavilion.

Friends of Flying Santa still stops at many of the same lights and stations visited by Capt. Wincapaw over 87 years ago. The aerial Santas, as well as the modes of transport, have changed over the years, but the end results remain the same. The people involved with Flying Santa are honored to be a part of this tradition of appreciation for the Coast Guard personnel and their families. In return, these deserving recipients continue to show their heartfelt gratitude for the annual visits of the "Santa of the lighthouses".

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(This report on the history of the Flying Santa would not have been possible without the assistance of the following individuals: William Wincapaw III, Dolly Snow Bicknell and Jeremy D'Entremont.)

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