U.S. troops and civilian teams have responded to the Japanese government's request to help distribute humanitarian aid supplies and search for survivors in Japan after last Friday's massive 9.0 earthquake and power tsunami.
Supplies such as food, water and even diapers have come from as far away as the U.S. east coast aboard cargo planes destined for U.S. military bases in Japan.
Supplies have then been transferred by helicopter to some of the hardest hit areas along the northeastern coast of the country.
Teams of U.S. airmen, marines and navy personnel have loaded and unloaded supplies and provided logistical support.
Others have taken part in airborne search and rescue missions, on the lookout for potential survivors.
A pair of civilian search and rescue teams from the U.S. counties of Fairfax, Virginia and Los Angeles, California also taken part.
The overall management of the mission is being conducted by U.S. government agencies including the United States Agency for International Development and the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
Some of the military transport vehicles on display have included various helicopters including the HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter, the MH-60S Sea Hak helicopter, and the CH-46E Sea Knight helicopter.
Planes utilized have included the C-17 cargo carrier, and MC-130H Combat Talon II.
On the water the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Ronald Reagan and guided-missile destroyer USS Preble have provided support to helicopters for deliveries.
Detroit Metropolitan airport police corporal Richard Frederick walks through the airport with 'explosives detection' dog Spence in Romulus, Michigan December 26, 2009.REUTERSResidents unload food and water from an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 in Miyagi Prefecture, in this U.S. Navy handout photo dated March 15, 2011. The squadron is assisting in relief efforts following the magnitude 9.0 earthquake and tsunami.REUTERSNaval Aircrewman 2nd Class Chris Carringer, assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, passes a resident a box of food delivered by an HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter in Miyagi Prefecture, in this U.S. Navy handout photo dated March 15, 2011.REUTERSNaval Air Crewman 2nd Class Zack DelCorte, assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, delivers bottled water to a resident in Miyagi Prefecture, in this U.S. Navy handout photo dated March 15, 2011.REUTERSChief Naval Air Crewman Steven Sinclair, assigned to the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4, hugs a resident after delivering supplies from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, in Wakuya, Miyagi Prefecture in this U.S. Navy handout photo dated March 15, 2011. REUTERSSailors assigned to Naval Air Facility Misawa help a Misawa City employee transport salvageable fishing equipment at the Misawa Fishing Port on March 15, 2011. More than 120 sailors and airmen from the air base joined Misawa City workers and members of the community in the relief effort. IBTimesU.S. Air Force Senior Airman Steven Nizbet, 320th Special Tactics Squadron, looks for trapped survivors at Sendai airport in this U.S. military handout photo dated March 16, 2011. The squadron deployed to the airport to help clear the runway and make it ready for fixed-wing aircraft traffic following the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami.REUTERSMembers of Virginia Task Force 1 from the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department search for survivors in Ofunato in the U.S. Navy handout photo dated March 15, 2011. International rescue teams are assisting in the search for missing residents following the earthquake and tsunami. REUTERSHH-60H Sea Hawk helicopters from the Black Knights of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 4 prepare to lift off after resupplying on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan positioned off the coast of Japan, in this U.S. Navy handout photo dated March 15, 2011. Ships and aircraft from the Ronald Reagan Carrier Strike Group are conducting search and rescue operations and resupply missions following the 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami.REUTERS
