PHM Nov 12 Lecture by Jeremy D'Entremont, Vice-President of Friends of Flying Santa

Reported by Jack Reynolds

Bill Wincapaw at the controls of an early seaplane. (Photos courtesy of Friends of Flying Santa)

Jeremy D'Entremont, vice-president of Friends of Flying Santa brought some early Christmas spirit to the audience at Portland Harbor Museum's final 2006 lecture. Jeremy related the story of seven decades of Christmas parcel drops to New England lighthouse keepers and their families. The Christmas story begins with an inspiration of Bill Wincapaw, who started a commercial flying career in 1911 that spanned a half-century.

Bill Wincapaw, one of Maine's pioneer aviators, felt he owed a lot to lighthouse keepers along Penobscot Bay. On mercy missions during murky weather to ferry sick islanders to the mainland hospital their beacons guided him to safe landings at the Rockport airport. Over time, the keepers, themselves began to keep an eye out for Bill and his passengers. When he was sighted overhead they called the Rockport airport let everyone know that all was well. A mutual friendship developed; on calm days Bill's seaplane sometimes splashed to a stop at an isolated light house for a chat with the keeper and his family

In 1929 Bill hit on an idea to repay them for their help with his aerial navigation. Christmas drops of small gifts for adults in the keeper's family along with toys for the kids would surely brighten up Christmas day at windswept offshore lighthouse keeper's home. That year's project involved a few packages locally distributed. By 1936 families

Flying Santa Christmas air drop in progress

at 91 lighthouses got a call from The Flying Santa, by now dressed in a red Santa outfit with tasseled cap. The white beard, however, was missing. Bill said that the plane's slipstream had an appetite for pasted on beards. He, nevertheless, cited 91% drop accuracy as proof of his bombardier skills with packages tossed out of the plane window.

In 1936 New England maritime historian, Edward Rowe Snow joined the Flying Santa team. The route had, by now expanded to include lights along the southern New England coast. Mr., Snow and Bill Winkapaw Jr., youngest licensed pilot in Massachusetts, took over drops on the southern route while Bill handled the Maine and New Hampshire end. By 1940 both Winkapaws moved on to piloting jobs in South America and Mr. Snow, aided by his wife, Anna-Myrle, inherited the title and duties of Flying Santa.

Following an interruption of flights during World War II Mr. Snow resumed deliveries not, however, without a big disappointment for Seamond Ponsart, 5 year-old daughter of the Cuttyhunk Island Light keeper.. As related by Jeremy, the drop containing Seamond's doll landed on a sharp rock. Despite Dad's best effort to glue it back together, little Seamond went to bed in tears. The following year Mr. Snow decided to

Edward Rowe Snow ready for take off with parcels for lighthouse keepers and their families.

make it right. Santa's sleigh, now a helicopter, landed and Mr. Snow hand delivered the doll to Seamond. In 2003 Semond revived memories of that day 58 years ago while flying a Flying Santa flight over West Chop Lighthouse where 58 years earlier her doll came to a sad end on a sharp rock.

By the opening of 21st century, all of the Coast Guard's lighthouses had been automated. A few of them serve as homes for Coast Guard personell. Friends of Flying Santa have shifted their deliveries to the occupied lights and to Coast Guard bases housing servicemen and their families. Present day Flying Santa flights cover 1600 miles of east coast from Maryland to Maine.

In the new century Friends of Flying Santa are working hard to keep Santa in the air delivering Christmas parcels to lighthouses and bases along the rock bound New England coast.

Jeremy D'Entremont has been researching and photographing the lighthouses of New England for more than two decades. He is the owner of the website "New England Lighthouses: A Virtual Guide," at www.lighthouse.cc. He is founder and president of the Friends of Portsmouth Harbor Lighthouse (a chapter of the American Lighthouse Foundation), the historian for the American Lighthouse Foundation, a contributing writer for Lighthouse Digest magazine, and author of several books including his latest, The Lighthouses of Rhode Island. Jeremy is also vice president of the Friends of Flying Santa.