PITTSBURGH (Newsradio 1020 KDKA) - Since 1955, The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) has been tracking Santa Claus on Christmas Eve until he lands safely in the North Pole on Christmas Day.
Lt. Commander Michael Hatfield joined KDKA Radio on Christmas Eve to talk about the origin of tracking Santa and who children can track him before they go to bed.
The tradition allegedly started after a Sears department store put an ad out in a Colorado Springs newspaper encouraging children to call in to talk to Santa Claus.
The ad misprinted the number and calls started to come into CONAD or Continental Air Defense Command.
Pittsburgher Colonel Harry Shoup took the first photo call and there are conflicting reports on how he reacted.
Initially it was said Shoup was gruff and short with the child but later said that he identified himself as Santa.
Today, kids can go on NORAD’s Santa Tracking website and see where Santa is in real time, in 3D using satellites.
Hatfield tells KDKA Radio it’s a way to have fun while explaining what NORAD does.
“We’re able to have both have fun but also explain what the North American Aerospace Defense Command does, which is to defend all of North America,” said Hatfield.