Subscribe
OKINAWA, Japan – Three KC-130J aircraft from Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, Marine Aircraft Group 36, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and operating out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni landed at Sendai Airport March 20 carrying water and goodwill supplies as part of ongoing relief efforts led by the government of Japan.
The flights were the first to land at Sendai since the airport re-opened March 20 after suffering extensive damage from a tsunami that struck after a 9.0-magnitude earthquake March 11.
Additionally, Marines of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265, MAG 36, 1st MAW, III MEF transported 18 pallets of clothing and two pallets of food in four CH-46E Sea Knight helicopters from Naval Air Facility Atsugi to Yamada Radar Site, north of Sendai, Japan, March 20. The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force received the pallets to distribute to displaced citizens throughout areas affected by the earthquake and tsunami.
Currently, there are approximately 676 Marines, sailors, and civilians from III MEF and Marine Corps Bases Japan deployed in support of Operation Tomodachi. Marine aircraft have flown 236 sorties to date for continued support to the foreign humanitarian assistance mission.
The name Tomodachi means “friends” in Japanese, and was chosen by Japan.
For more stories, photos, videos and information about the ongoing humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations being conducted by III MEF, please follow us on:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/iiimef.mcbj
Flickr: www.flickr.com/3mefpao
Marines.mil: www.marines.mil/unit/mcbjapan
| Date Taken: | 03.20.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.20.2011 05:36 |
| Story ID: | 67389 |
| Location: | OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 518 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, III Marine Expeditionary Force flies aid to reopened Sendai Airport, by LTC Lucas Burke, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
