• Recovering hope: Airmen help Japanese rebuild Sendai Airport

    In the aftermath of the devastating March 11 earthquake and tsunami, Sendai Airport was a disaster -- cars littered the runway, debris had piled up inside the terminal, there was no power. Sendai Airport was written off by many as gone forever. That is, until Airmen stationed in Japan arrived there

  • Message from Ambassador Roos: Helping Our Friend and Ally

    John V. Roos, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, released a video March 25 saluting the efforts of the U.S. military in helping Japan recover from the unprecedented disasters in the wake of the March 11 earthquake.Click here or the link on the right to view the video.Here is the transcript of the

  • Working in the Shadows

    Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron work around the clock to ensure MC-130s deployed here from the 353rd Special Operations Group stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, are ready to fly missions supporting Operations Tomodachi.So far, their hard work has paid off. Aircrews

  • Rebuilding Sendai Airport: a photographic journey

    A dedicated team of U.S. and Japanese forces, catalyzed by the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, worked to clear rubble, rebuild and ultimately reopen Sendai Airport.Click here to view the slideshow.

  • Photo essay: Kadena's rescue team on a mission

    Members of the 33rd Rescue Squadron and the 320th Special Tactics Squadron from Kadena Air Base here conduct search operations March 25 in support of Operation Tomodachi.View the slideshow.

  • SOG flies more aid to Sendai

    A crew from the 17th Special Operations Squadron flew multiple flights with over 60,000 pounds of equipment and fuel aboard an MC-130P Combat Shadow to Sendai Airport March 28.About 145 Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group are deployed here supporting Operation Tomodachi. To date, crews

  • Special Tactics Airmen ready to fly anytime, anywhere

    Airmen from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron from Kadena Air Base, Japan, are deployed here supporting humanitarian relief operations after an earthquake measuring 8.9 in magnitude that hit the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Northeastern Japan March 11.The 320th STS is comprised of pararescuemen,

  • Air Force Special Operations support extends to USMC units

    Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Group are providing support for relief operations in Japan in a variety of ways. For one communications specialist from the group, that means being one of only three Airman forward deployed with a team of U.S. Marines. Senior Airman Adam Colby, a special

  • Combat Talon II crew supports Operation Tomodachi

    An MC-130H Combat Talon II from the 1st Special Operations Squadron was training in Korea when it was retasked to support humanitarian relief efforts here March 20.The crew quickly flew here to receive its new mission -- to transport three fuel bladders to Sendai Air Port and a pallet of food