Crew conducts refueling in support of Operation Tomodachi

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Christopher Love
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --  An MC-130P Combat Shadow crew from the 17th Special Operations Squadron here successfully refueled four HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters conducting search and rescue operations March 18 off the shores of Northeastern Japan.

The crew left Yokota Air Base for Matsushima Airfield, which reopened March 16, thanks to the 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. "(Our job is) to refuel any helicopter that needs it, so it can continue the search and rescue mission."

During its low altitude refueling, the crew surveyed the remains of houses, trees and other debris strewn for hundreds of miles across the across the Pacific Ocean.

"It's amazing to see whole houses floating in the ocean," remarked Maj. Kerry Redman, the 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 crew's return journey in the afternoon marked the one week anniversary of Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami, March 11.