Coast Guard Lighthouses and the history of "The Flying Santa"
Story by William h . Thiesen, Ph.D., h istorian, Coast Guard Atlantic Area
Throughout the history of the U.S. Coast Guard's aviation
branch, Service aircraft have come to the aid of the American
public in emergencies and in time of need. However, the Holiday
Season has provided a unique opportunity for private citizens to
return the favor.
Beginning in the Great Depression, aviator William "Bill"
Wincapaw began the tradition of "The Flying Santa." Born in
Friendship, Maine, Captain Wincapaw oversaw flight operations
for the Curtiss Flying Service in Rockland, Maine. He came to
admire Maine's lighthouse keepers and their families for standing
the watch in isolated and often inhospitable locations.
To show his appreciation for their dedication and self-sacrifice,
Wincapaw decided to deliver gift parcels to local lighthouses on
Christmas Day. Early in the morning on December 25th, 1929,
Wincapaw loaded the packages of Christmas gifts into his vintage
Travel Air A-6000-A airplane, featuring a single radial engine and
wicker seats. That first year he airdropped Christmas gifts to a
dozen lighthouses located along the Maine Coast.
Wincapaw continued the
tradition the next year and,
over time, came to be known
as "The Flying Santa" and the
"Santa of the Lighthouses."
He began to dress the part
and enlisted his son, Bill Jr.,
to pilot additional Christmas
Day flights. His gift parcels
included basic items, such
as newspapers, magazines,
coffee, tea, candy, tobacco,
soup, yarn, pens and pencils.
By 1933, the program proved
so popular that Wincapaw
expanded it to include ninety-
one lighthouses from Maine to
Rhode Island and Connecticut.
Portrait photograph of Captain
William Wincapaw, originator of
the Flying Santa program.
(courtesy of Friends of Flying Santa)
A Flying Santa Ford Tri-Motor delivers a parcel to Graves Light off of Boston. (courtesy of Friends of Flying Santa)
Rese R vist Magazine
a Light on Yeste RY ea R
36 RESERVIST � Issue 1 • 2017