Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Jack Kindell, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron crew chief, prepares an MC-130P Combat Shadow to be moved across the flight line here March 31, 2011. There are currently four MC-130Ps deployed to Yokota to assist with Operation Tomodachi. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrea Salazar)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Daniel Wolfbauer, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron aerospace propulsions craftsman, observes the flight line from inside an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 31, 2011. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrea Salazar)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Jack Kindell, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron crew chief, reviews an electronic technical order prior to moving an MC-130P Combat Shadow across the flight line here March 31, 2011. The Cheboygan, Mich., native is stationed in Japan and is currently supporting Operation Tomodachi, which kicked off at the request of the Government of Japan to support humanitarian relief efforts for those affected by the earthquake tsunami disaster March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Andrea Salazar)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Senior Airman John Pura, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, works all through the night performing maintenance on an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Daniel Wolfbauer, Senior Airman John Pura and Tech Sgt. Dennis Henderson, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, discuss maintenance procedures for an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Jack Kindell, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron aerospace maintenance crew chief, sits in the cockpit of an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Owen Connolly, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron aerospace maintenance crew chief, speaks to the crew chief in the cockpit of an MC-130P Combat Shadow prior to taxiing down the flight line here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Owen Connolly and Tech. Sgt. Joseph Jenkins, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, prepare an MC-130P Combat Shadow to taxi down the flight line here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- An MC-130P Combat Shadow is towed down the flight line while undergoing routine maintenance here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron, discuss maintenance procedures for an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airman 1st Class Cesar Cantu, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron instrument flight controls specialist, performs routine maintenance on an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffereing. U.S. military assests include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the "Shadows"

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Daniel Wolfbauer, 353rd Special Operations Maintenance Squadron propulsions specialist, fills out paperwork after performing routine maintenance on an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 31. As part of Operation Tomodachi, the U.S. military has humanitarian assistance capabilities positioned in the affected region that are supporting emergency relief efforts and trying to minimize human suffering. U.S. military assets include a wide range of equipment and air, sea and ground capabilities and expertise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Chad C. Strohmeyer)

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Working in the Shadows

Published March 31, 2011

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan -- 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 have flown about 150 flights on the MC-130s delivering 439 people and 834,000 pounds of cargo. They have also offloaded 185,000 pounds of fuel from the aircraft through aerial refueling and forward area refueling points.

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"

Working in the "Shadows"