Airmen continue relief aid flights into Haiti

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Stephen J. Collier
  • 302nd Airlift Wing Public Affairs
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AFNS) --  The Air Force Reserve's 302nd Airlift Wing delivered another bundle of relief supplies Jan. 30 to Haiti.

The Colorado-based aircrew from the 302nd AW and their C-130 Hercules delivered dozens of cases of bottled water, printing supplies and equipment and additional parts for awaiting aircraft to Port-au-Prince.

The supplies were expected to be passed along to aid distribution points throughout the city and beyond with printing equipment being used by military relief officials at the airport.

The aircrew flew from their deployed location of Muniz Air Base, Puerto Rico, to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., where many of the relief airlift missions into Haiti for the Air Force have been based. The supplies were loaded onto the C-130 for the three hour flight to Port-au-Prince.

"Being one of the few to actually help on the ground was a rewarding mark on his Air Force career so far," said Staff Sgt. Daniel Osorio, an active duty C-130 crew chief assigned to the 52nd Airlift Squadron at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo.

"It does feel pretty good to be able to, on a small level, fly into Haiti and support the contributions to help these people out," Sergeant Osorio said. "You enlist to fight a war, but sometimes you get a chance to help out with a humanitarian mission. That makes just as much difference in the world."

Tech. Sgt. Barry Burkitt, an Air Force Reserve C-130 loadmaster with the 302nd AW, said he felt the people of Haiti still needed help after seeing the aftermath of post-earthquake Port-au-Prince.

"They still need our help as well as more supplies," Sergeant Burkitt said. "It's nice to do a mission where you can see a real difference instead of flying and doing practice loads. This Haiti relief really shows that our job truly is meaningful."

Before departing Haiti, Sergeant Osorio recalled the sights of Port-au-Prince after flying overhead.

"You see a very small percentage of what happened in Haiti and you can clearly see they really need help on every level; from the individual person to their government."

To date, the Puerto Rico-based 35th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron, while supporting Coronet Oak, has flown more than 233 hours, completed 41 missions, moved more than 365 tons of cargo and airlifted 141 evacuees to safety.