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    Media Advisory: Santa Claus visits Southern Maryland Dec. 10 (Courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

    Media Advisory: Santa Claus visits Southern Maryland Dec. 10 (Courtesy of the U.S. Navy)

    Photo By Brittany Dickerson | Good boys and girls of all ages across Southern Maryland should keep their eyes on the...... read more read more

    PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND, UNITED STATES

    11.26.2024

    Story by Brittany Dickerson 

    Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division

    NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER AIRCRAFT DIVISION, Patuxent River, Md. – Good boys and girls of all ages across Southern Maryland should keep their eyes on the skies as Adm. Saint Nicholas conducts pre-deployment mission planning over parts of Southern Maryland on Dec. 10 from 11:00 to 1:00 p.m. ET.

    Regional residents looking up might spot Nicholas, known by his festive call sign "Claus," as he soars through the skies aboard a U.S. Navy MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter with his trusty elves and holiday helpers from NAWCAD’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (HX) 21.

    “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.”

    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
    Naval Air Station Patuxent River Child Development Center

    Children are advised to be on their best behavior as Claus finalizes his naughty list ahead of upcoming operations on Christmas Eve.

    As Rudolph rests up with the reindeer crew ahead of the holiday, inclement weather may delay Santa’s mission to Dec. 11 or Dec. 12, at the same time. Stay up-to-date on Santa Over Southern Maryland on the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division’s Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MyNAWCAD/

    HX-21 is a component of Naval Test Wing Atlantic, the test wing for Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division. Nicknamed the “Blackjacks,” the squadron provides developmental flight test and evaluation for all U.S. Navy and Marine Corps rotary-wing and tilt-rotor aircraft. The Blackjacks are personal favorites of Claus, who tries to visit his HX-21 friends every year. Naval Air Station Patuxent River has been home to HX-21 since 1949.

    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 11.26.2024
    Date Posted: 11.26.2024 12:40
    Story ID: 486186
    Location: PATUXENT RIVER, MARYLAND, US

    Web Views: 583
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN