Military Flights Taking Supplies To Earthquake Victims
Airmen and C-130s from the Air Force Special Operations Command
are continuing to provide disaster relief to the people of
Haiti. MC-130H Combat Talons and a C-130E Hercules from the
1st Special Operations Wing at Florida's Hurlburt Field landed in
Port-au-Prince, Haiti, overnight and already have left the area for
additional support taskings. The wing will continue to support
requirements, as additional aircraft such as MC-130P Combat Shadows
are en route carrying people and equipment.
Ohio Air Guard Personnel Load Supplies
In addition, two MC-130W Combat Spears
from the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base,
N.M., are positioned at Hurlburt for additional support
requirements. The aircraft are transporting equipment such as
generators, vehicles, fuel, food and water, and communications
packages, as well as specialty teams including special operations
medical units and special tactics teams.
Meanwhile, the Ohio Air National Guard also has provided two
C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft from the Mansfield-based 179th
Airlift Wing to provide immediate assistance.
The 179th deployed about 45 unit members to Puerto Rico in
support of Operation Coronet Oak - a U.S. Southern Command theater
airlift support mission -Jan. 9. Three days later, the magnitude
7.0 earthquake hit neighboring Haiti. The same evening, three crews
from the 179th were put on alert, and early the next morning the
first crew was activated and was airborne within three hours.
The aircraft flew to Florida to collect search and rescue teams
and communication crews and deliver them to the Haitian capital of
Port-au-Prince. Shortly after, a second crew was alerted and
airborne.
The first crew, led by Air Force Lt. Col. Kenneth Pecoraro,
arrived in Port-au-Prince as the sun was setting Wednesday, and
landed successfully despite challenging terrain and a downed
communication tower. The Ohio C-130 was the first such aircraft to
land in Port-au-Prince.
The second crew, commanded by Air Force Lt. Col. William
Baulkmon, arrived after sunset with three pallets of communication
materials to improve departure and approach communication at the
Port-au-Prince airport.
Three Puerto Rico Air National Guard aircraft have been tasked
to the 179th Airlift Wing for this operation. This morning, 179th
crews arrived in Florida in two of these aircraft to pick up and
deliver additional supplies and personnel. They will arrive in
Haiti by early afternoon, officials said.