JB McChord aircrew delivers aid to Turkish earthquake victims

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Leah Young
  • 62nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AFNS) --  An aircrew from here delivered humanitarian relief supplies to eastern Turkey Nov. 1 to aid victims of a recent 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

The five-member C-17 Globemaster III crew, assigned to the 10th Airlift Squadron, delivered a 75,000-pound load of tents to Erzurum Airport, Turkey.

"The men and women of (Joint Base) McChord are always ready to provide airlift at a moment's notice," said Maj. Corey Simmons, the 10th AS director of operations. "It is an honor for the 10th Airlift Squadron pathfinders to provide relief to our great partner Turkey in their time of need."

According to officials at the 618th Tanker Airlift Control Center at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., the tents will provide earthquake survivors with shelter as recovery efforts continue. The tents are six-sided, pyramidal-shaped shelters that can comfortably house up to 10 people plus their clothing and equipment. The tent's wind-, mildew- and fire-resistant materials ensure the warmth and dryness of the occupants even in frigid temperatures.

"Our Airmen are focused on providing support at home and around the world at any time," Simmons said. "Rapid global mobility is a key to providing assistance at times like these."

The earthquake killed more than 500 people and injured an estimated 2,300.