Internet
US Air Force has Santa Claus on its radar
Like every year, American anti-aircraft defense is once again on the trail of Santa Claus. photo
© NORAD/AP/dpa
The North American Air Defense Command Norad normally knocks enemy jets out of the sky. At Christmas, people pretend to be child-friendly and instead chase a flying sleigh.
Like every year, the American anti-aircraft defense is once again the same this time Santa Claus on the trail. Children and adults can follow Santa Claus’ journey. The North American Air Defense Command Norad normally looks out for enemy aircraft. But in the tried and tested joking tradition, Norad simulates Santa Claus’ flight route every year with colorful computer animations and sets his sights on Santa Claus’ flying sleigh.
It started as planned from the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Santa Claus’ current position can be observed on the website www.noradsanta.org, which is even available in German. There you can follow a simulated red sleigh as it travels around the world. Air Defense also keeps people updated about Santa’s travel route on social media.
The air defense’s Operation Santa Claus began in 1955 by mistake. According to Norad, a child tried to reach Santa Claus by phone and dialed the number in a corresponding advertisement. The child then ended up on the extension to Norad’s predecessor organization Conad in the US state of Colorado. At least according to legend, the commander on duty posed as Santa Claus. The story probably didn’t happen quite like that, but it was the beginning of the annual Santa Claus campaign.