News>Combat Shadow crew conducts refueling in support of Operation Tomodachi
Photos
An MC-130P Combat Shadow from Yokota Air Base's 17th Special Operations Squadron refuels a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 33rd Rescue Squadron over the Pacific Ocean March 18. The refueling missions are in support of humanitarian relief operations after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Northeastern Japan March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
PACIFIC OCEAN -- Master Sgt. Michael Milich, a loadmaster at the 17th Special Operations Squadron at Yokota Air Base in Japan, observes an aerial refueling March 18. The refueling missions are in support of humanitarian relief operations after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Northeastern Japan March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
Senior Airman Ramon Mortensen, a loadmaster at Yokota Air Base's 17th Special Operations Squadron, looks at damaged fighter planes after landing at Matsushima Air Base in Japan March 18 to drop off relief supplies. The aircraft were damaged after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Northeastern Japan March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
PACIFIC OCEAN -- An MC-130P Combat Shadow from Yokota Air Base's 17th Special Operations Squadron refuels a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 33rd Rescue Squadron over the Pacific Ocean March 18. The refueling missions are in support of humanitarian relief operations after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Northeastern Japan March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
PACIFIC OCEAN -- An MC-130P Combat Shadow from Yokota Air Base's 17th Special Operations Squadron in Japan refuels two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters from the 33rd Rescue Squadron March 18. The refueling missions are in support of humanitarian relief operations after an 8.9 magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Northeastern Japan March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
An MC-130P Combat Shadow from Yokota Air Base's 17th Special Operations Squadron refuels two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter from the 33rd Rescue Squadron over the Pacific Ocean March 18. The refueling missions are in support of humanitarian relief operations after an 8.9-magnitude earthquake and resulting tsunami rocked Northeastern Japan March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Osakabe Yasuo)
by 2nd Lt. Christopher Love
374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
3/18/2011 - YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- An MC-130P Combat Shadow crew from the 17th Special Operations Squadron successfully refueled four HH-60 helicopters conducting search and rescue operations off the shores of northeastern Japan, March 18.
The Shadow crew left here in the late morning to fly to Matsushima Airfield, which reopened March 16, thanks to the swift work of Japanese forces alongside members of the 353rd Special Operations Group.
On the way, the MC-130P dropped to an altitude of 1,000 feet to refuel the two HH-60s. It then performed the second set of aerial refueling missions on the return journey.
"This is our bread and butter; this is why we're here," said Master Sgt. Michael Milich, a 17th SOS loadmaster, "to refuel any helicopter that needs it, so it can continue the search and rescue mission."
During its low altitude refueling, the Shadow crew surveyed the remains of houses, trees and all kinds of debris, strewn for hundreds of miles across the across the Pacific.
"It's amazing to see whole houses floating in the ocean," remarked Maj. Kerry Redman, co-pilot aboard the Combat Shadow. "There are piles of debris everywhere, no matter where you look. It puts the whole scope of the tsunami in perspective."
The Shadow's return journey in the afternoon marked the one week anniversary of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, March 11.
Just as the relief effort continues full force, so too does the commitment of the team aboard the Shadow.
"I want to be here as long as possible," said Capt. Sam Robino, the Shadow's pilot, "as long as we're making a difference."
