12 examples of Air Force holiday cheer

Published Dec. 18, 2014
By Sarah Swan
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force

DAYTON, Ohio -- Staff at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force searched the archives and found some examples of holiday celebrations and greetings from Airmen through the decades. As Christmas approaches, we hope you enjoy looking through these artifacts. Please keep our military members, especially those who are away from their loved ones, in your thoughts this holiday season and throughout the year.

Note: Click on each image to enlarge.

1) 1918 Christmas Carols booklet sent by the YMCA to members of the American Expeditionary Forces in France during World War I

2) 1927 Christmas dinner menu of the 7th Observation Squadron and the France Field Band, Canal Zone, Panama

3) 1937 Christmas card signed by Gen. Frank M. Andrews, the commander of General Headquarters (GHQ) Air Force

4) 1944 Christmas message to all personnel of the Army Air Forces from Gen. Henry "Hap" Arnold, Commanding General of the Army Air Forces

5) Christmas card signed by Lt. Col. James J. Brown, commander of American forces at RAF Gatow during the Berlin Airlift

6) Menu for the 1956 Christmas dinner of the 36th Fighter (Day) Wing, Bitburg, Germany

7) Air Force Museum Atlas missile decorated as Santa Claus, December 1965

8) Christmas card from President and Mrs. Carter to Chief Master Sgt. Stanley Goodwin, a radio operator aboard Air Force One

9) 1988 Christmas card from the maintenance crew of Air Force One

10) Christmas card made and sent by an elementary school student to Col. John Ford during his service as a Combat Camera Commander in Saudi Arabia during Operation Desert Storm

Christmas Card from Elementary School Student

11) Christmas card from the crew of Air Force One, 2000

12) Christmas card from Lt. Col. John Marang to his coworkers at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force during his 2013 deployment to Bagram, Afghanistan

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