News>Air Force delivers 200,000 lbs of relief to China
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Earthquake relief supplies from the United States are unloaded May 18 at the Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, China. Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft delivered food, water containers, blankets, generators, lanterns and various hand tools, which were taken immediately to earthquake areas. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State, authorized U.S. Pacific Command to support earthquake relief efforts in the People's Republic of China. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Earthquake relief supplies from the United States are unloaded May 18 at the Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, China. Two Air Force C-17 Globemaster III aircraft delivered food, water containers, blankets, generators, lanterns and various hand tools, which were taken immediately to earthquake areas. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State, authorized U.S. Pacific Command to support earthquake relief efforts in the People's Republic of China. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Senior Captain GUAN Youfei, deputy director of the foreign affairs office of the Chinese Ministry of National Defense, greets the first of two U.S. aircrews delivering earthquake relief supplies May 18 at the Shuangliu International Airport in Chengdu, China. The two C-17 U.S. Globemaster III aircraft carried food, water containers, blankets, generators, lanterns and various hand tools. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State, authorized U.S. Pacific Command to support earthquake relief efforts in the People's Republic of China. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Staff Sgt. Scott Oshiro, a C-17 loadmaster with the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron, prepares to depart Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China May 18 after delivering nearly 100,000 pounds of relief supplies, while Senior Airman Anthony Nickel and Senior Airman Ronald Peoples with the 15th Security Forces Squadron, post security for the aircraft. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Master Sgt. Kurt Uchimura, a C-17 loadmaster assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron, ensures the runway is clear for takeoff after unloading nearly 100,000 pounds of cargo may 18 at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China. Sergeant Uchimura was on the first of the two jets to arrive in China; the second is taxiing in behind him. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Maj. Anthony Davis, a C-17 pilot assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron, presents Senior Captain GUAN Youfei, deputy director of the Chinese Ministry of Defense's foreign affairs office, with gifts of traditional Hawaiian chocolates and an American Flag patch at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China on May 17. Major Davis was the aircraft commander of one of the C-17s, which carried nearly 100,000 pounds of relief supplies. Also pictured is Brig. Gen. Charles W. Hooper, U.S. Defense Attache. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Airport employees move relief supplies off a C-17 Globemaster III at the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China on May 17. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Army Brig. Gen. Charles W. Hopper, U.S. Defense Attache, and Senior Captain GUAN Youfei, deputy director for the Chinese Ministry of Defense's foreign affairs office, watch Airmen unload relief supplies from a C-17 Globemaster III from Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Master Sgt. Kurt Uchimura, a C-17 loadmaster assigned to the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron, discusses the offload plan with an airport official May 17 at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport in China. The C-17 is carrying nearly 100,000 pounds of food, blankets, tools and shelter materials. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Members of the Chinese media gather around a C-17 Globemaster III from the 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Maj. Anthony Davis, a C-17 pilot with the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, exchanges salutes with Senior Captain GUAN Youfei, deputy director of the Chinese Ministry of Defense's foreign affairs office, at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport. Also pictured are Maj. WU Qian, staff officer at the Chinese Ministry of Defense's American and Oceanic Affairs Bureau, and Army Brig. Gen. Charles W. Hooper, U.S. Defense Attache. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
Maj. Troy Cullen and Maj. Anthony Davis, C-17 pilots with the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron out of Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, prepare to land a C-17 Globemaster III at Chengdu Shuangliu International airport in China. The United States Pacific Command support of earthquake relief efforts was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, in support of the U.S. Department of State. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Chris Vadnais)
5/18/2008 - CHENGDU SHUANGLIU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, People's Republic of China -- Two U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster IIIs landed here today carrying nearly 200,000 pounds of relief supplies in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck the region on May 12.
Both C-17s were assigned to the 15th Airlift Wing at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii. Before 2005, C-17s were stationed exclusively in the continental U.S. C-17 squadrons are now operational at Hickam and at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska's 3rd Wing.
The first of the two jets to land in China was flown by a crew from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 204th Airlift Squadron, and carried nearly 100,000 lbs. of food, tents, blankets and tools.
The mission's planning and coordination was handled by the 13th Air Force, a component numbered air force, at Hickam AFB. Thirteenth Air Force serves as the operational air and space arm of Pacific Air Forces and the U.S. Pacific Command , as well as the standing Joint Forces Air Component Command unit. Having resources like two C-17 squadrons in the Pacific theater is part of what makes 13th Air Force so effective.
"We have a full range of tools to be able to assist and to support the missions of Pacific Command," said Maj. Gen. Richard E. Perraut, Jr., 13th Air Force vice commander. "This is just one of the many, many missions and capabilities we bring to the table - the Joint table - to be able to support the United States Pacific Command, the United States government, the Department of Defense -- to accomplish whatever missions or desires our government has," said General Perraut.
James Thomas Montgomery, Hickam's deployment manager, said this operation was different than most he's seen because it was a collaborative effort of government organizations. Notably, supplies for the Hickam C-17 mission were purchased from the Federal Emergency Management Agency
"They postured us with all the supplies," said Mr. Montgomery. "We shuttled those supplies from their FEMA warehouse down to our facility here at Hickam. We built the pallets up, got the supplies air-worthy and put them on planes to get them to the crisis area," he said.
This is the second time this year the U.S. has provided humanitarian assistance to the People's Republic of China. In February, a U.S. PACOM mission sent a C-17 from Hickam to deliver winter relief supplies when 19 Chinese provinces experienced the most severe winter storms in 50 years.
"The United States stands ready to help in any way it can," said U.S. Ambassador to China, Mr. Clark T. Rand, Jr. "To the people of China, our thoughts and prayers are with you at this extremely difficult time," he said.
U.S. PACOM officials say the focus of this humanitarian assistance mission is to immediately provide assistance to help reduce further loss of life and mitigate human suffering resulting from the disaster. U.S. PACOM was authorized by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates to support the relief efforts. The assistance is in support of the U.S. Department of State.
"The members of the U.S. Pacific Command offer our sincere condolences to the citizens of the People's Republic of China who have been affected by the recent earthquake," said Adm. Timothy Keating, U.S. PACOM commander.
