First C-17 touches down in Sendai

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Michael J. Veloz
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  Members of the 517th Airlift Squadron of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, took part in a milestone relief support mission during Operation Tomodachi here March 20.

Today marks the first C-17 Globemaster III to land in Sendai. The 517th AS delivered an all-terrain forklift to download supplies including four pallets of water and six pallets of blankets and food from Samaritan's Purse in partnership with the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, Japan Mission Center in Osaka and other church partners in Japan. Military aircraft began to touch down in Sendai, Japan providing supplies to those effected by the earthquake that occurred March 11.

"Being first isn't as important as getting there," said Capt. Charles Morris, 517th AS pilot. "Opening Sendai to C-17's is a must for Japan and to demonstrate our resolve and commitment to the Japanese people."

Flight crews were quick to highlight that the mission would not have been successful without the help of a team of combat controllers from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron out of Kadena Air Base, Japan as well as Japanese emergency management organizations.

Members of the 320th STS spent time clearing a section of the runway and re-established the control tower to direct flights in and out of the airfield.

"The crews on the ground have worked hard to clear a runway large enough for a big airlift," added Captain Morris. "We need more C-17's in there [Sendai] now."

Shortly after the first arrival, a second C-17 made its way towards Sendai carrying 18 pallets of humanitarian aid supplies.

Over the coming weeks, the ability to rapidly deliver more than 90,000 pounds of equipment and supplies into some of the hardest hit disaster areas will prove useful to humanitarian airlift operations centralized at Yokota AB.