OREGON AIR NATIONAL GUARD WILL AGAIN WATCH FOR SANTA'S ARRIVAL ON CHRISTMAS

Published Dec. 21, 2011
By Oregon Military Department

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. -- The Oregon Air National Guard will be extra vigilant again this
Christmas Eve as they work closely with the U.S. Air Force to scan the skies
for the arrival of Santa Claus.

Both Oregon Air Guard flying units, the 142nd Fighter Wing in Portland and
the 173rd Fighter Wing in Klamath Falls, will again partner the Air Force
and the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD) to track the annual
flight of the "Jolly Old Elf."

"Every Christmas Eve, we begin receiving reports from the Western Air
Defense Sector at McChord Air Force Base (Wash.) concerning erratic blips on
their radar screens," said Major Melinda Lepore, an Oregon Air National
Guard spokesperson. "Because our F-15 aircrews are on continuous alert,
they may be ordered airborne to investigate anything that we can't readily
identify on radar."

For more than 65 years the Air Guard's mission in Portland has been to
provide air defense for the Pacific Northwest--24 hours a day, seven days a
week. In Klamath Falls the unit's mission is train pilots to fly the F-15.
All Oregon Air Guard members are also prepared to respond to other state and
local emergency contingencies.

More than 2,100 Oregon Air Guard members voluntarily serve full-time and
part-time in support of these missions.