Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group manage the communications room at Sendai Airport March 20. The 320th Special Tactics Squadron set up the communications room to maintain contact with other Operation Tomodachi units via conventional computer, radio and defense switched network methods. The 320th STS is supporting U.S. military efforts to provide assistance to Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group shovel mud off the flightline at Sendai Airport March 20. In addition to managing flightline operations, the Airmen from the 353rd SOG have been clearing additional space to accommodate more and larger aircraft in the future. The 320th STS and 353rd SOG are supporting U.S. military efforts to provide assistance to Japan following the March 11 earthquake and tsunamis. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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Tech. Sgt. Eugine Scott from Misawa Air Base, Japan, acting as a Japanese translator, coordinates cargo movement with members of the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force at Sendai Airport, Japan, March 20. Sendai Airport has become a main hub for bringing humanitarian aid to those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis from March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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Airmen, Marines and Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers load cargo onto a JGSDF truck at Sendai Airport, Japan, March 20. Since the reopening of Sendai Airport March 16, humanitarian aid supporting Operation Tomodachi has been able to be airlifted in more quickly and directly. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group drive forklifts carrying pallets of freshwater to be loaded onto Japan Ground Self-Defense Force trucks at Sendai Airport, Japan, March 20. The 320th Special Tactics Squadron manages the airfield with the help of the 353rd SOG, Marines, JGSDF and other Japanese agencies. Sendai Airport has become a main hub for bringing humanitarian aid to those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis from March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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A combat controller from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron, waits for a C-17 Globemaster III to taxi back after landing at Sendai Airport March 20. The combat controller used his all-terrain vehichle as a "follow me" car to guide the C-17 to its cargo offload point. Sendai Airport has become a main hub for bringing humanitarian aid to those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis from March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt Samuel Morse)

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The 320th Special Tactics Squadron airfield commander monitors the offloading of a C-17 Globemaster III at Sendai Airport, Japan, March 20. This was the first C-17 to land at Sendai Airport following the devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunamis that occurred March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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SENDAI AIRPORT, Japan -- A C-17 Globemaster II lands here March 20. Members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron from, reopened the runway to fixed-wing aircraft March 16 and cleared the rest of the runway to accommodate larger aircraft such as the C-17, enabling larger shipments of humanitarian aid to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunami of March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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SENDAI AIRPORT, Japan -- Members of the 353rd Special Operations Group unload the first pallet of humanitarian aid from the first C-17 Globemaster II here March 20. Members of the 320th Special Tactics Squadron reopened the runway to fixed-wing aircraft March 16 and cleared the rest of the runway to accommodate larger aircraft such as the C-17, enabling larger shipments of humanitarian aid to help those affected by the earthquake and tsunamis of March 11. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Samuel Morse)

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353rd SOG manages airfield, supplies Operation Tomodachi

Published March 22, 2011