In a first-of-its-kind operation, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) conducted a humanitarian airlift relief effort to Honduras, which suffered nationwide destruction and loss of life due to Hurricane Mitch in November 1998. The U.S. Air Force provided the JASDF with facilities at an air base in Texas from which they staged their relief operations.

A Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) C-130 unloads humanitarian relief supplies for the Honduran people at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras.

The 105 JASDF members arrived at Kelly Air Force Base (AFB), near San Antonio, Texas, 15 November on six C-130 transports after a marathon four-stop trip across the Pacific Ocean that took more than 30 hours of flight time.

The Japanese operated out of Kelly AFB for three weeks, according to JASDF Col. Toshio Fujikawa, mission commander. The team's mission was to carry disaster relief supplies to areas in Honduras hard-hit by the hurricane, as well as to support 75 Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) medical and support personnel operating on the ground in Honduras. "Our main mission was to transport disaster relief supplies to Japanese disaster teams in Honduras," he said. "This was our first mission of this type to include the army [JGSDF]," he added.

Lt. Masakatsu Nakamura, copilot of a JASDF C-130, checks his en route chart for Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras where Japanese relief supplies will be unloaded.

Lt. Col. Hiroyuki Konno, public affairs officer for the Japanese effort, underscored the pioneering nature of the mission. "This is a very important mission; it is our first mission overseas for international disaster relief operations with the JGSDF. We usually take one or two airplanes, but this time we have six aircraft and 105 people," he explained. "We are very honored, proud and happy to join the Honduras relief operations with air forces and armies from the U.S. and other countries," Lt. Col. Konno added. "It is a great honor for our squadron."

An official of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency discusses offloading procedures with an officer of the Honduran Air Force, after landing in Honduras.

The Japanese aircrews hauled about 31 tons (28.2 metric tons) of relief supplies on nine flights to Honduran bases during their stay in Texas, according to Lt. Col. Konno. The challenging nature of the flights into Honduras airports, which include difficult approaches and short runways, appealed to the Japanese pilots, said Maj. Norio Isshiki, a C-130 aircraft commander. "The mission is very hard, but we enjoy this kind of mission," he said. "It is very exciting because we help other people and get to fly into many airports that are new to us."

A JASDF loadmaster discusses the relief supplies with Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) officers on the flight line in Honduras. The JGSDF had 75 medical and support personnel operating in Japan Disaster Relief Teams in Honduras.

The mission the JASDF flights supported was a substantial Japanese military medical operation in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. There, a 205-man team composed of support personnel, JGSDF medical personnel, and civilian officials from Japan's Foreign Ministry and International Cooperation Agency set up a temporary hospital. From the hospital, they carried out operations to prevent the spread of diseases made possible by flooding and the general unsanitary conditions prevailing after Hurricane Mitch. Among their actions was the fumigation of streets in Tegucigalpa to prevent outbreaks of disease. In the hospital, military medical personnel treated as many as 300 Hondurans per day who were affected by the hurricane and its aftereffects.

JASDF Tech. Sgt. Takayuki Sugaya assists in unloading Japanese relief supplies destined for thousands of Hondurans stricken by Hurricane Mitch. JASDF aircrews airlifted 28.2 metric tons of relief goods to Honduras in nine flights from Texas.

The First Lady of Honduras, Mary de Flores, formally inaugurated the mobile Japanese hospital, which consisted of seven doctors, four internists, one pediatrician, one podiatrist and a surgeon. She expressed the appreciation of the people of Honduras and said the Japanese military medical assistance was an historic act. The Minister of Health, Marcos Antonio Rosa, also expressed appreciation for all the support the Japanese brought to the Honduran people.

U.S. Air Force personnel supporting relief operations at Soto Cano Air Base in Honduras assist in unloading the Japanese relief supplies. The JASDF staged their Honduran operations out of Kelly, a U.S. Air Force Base in Texas.

On the ground at Soto Cano, local officials, aid workers and U.S. Air Force ground crews alike praised the Japanese effort. "They have been a great help," said one Honduran official. "I think their airplanes are beautiful," he added with a smile.

A Ground Self-Defense Force medical team in Honduras provides medical care for victims of Hurricane Mitch.

"They're great to work with, very professional," said Staff Sgt. Jase Stumpf, a member of the U.S. Air Force's Tactical Airlift Control Element responsible for unloading and transferring supplies at Soto Cano. "The Japanese crews are always really sharp."

During a flight to Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, on 25 November, Maj. Kimio Tanoue, aircraft commander, and co-pilot 2nd Lt. Masakatsu Nakamura talked of the satisfaction the JASDF crews received from flying the relief missions. "I like these flights very much," Maj. Tanoue said. "It is very good to help these people." 2d. Lt. Nakamura agreed. "We are very proud of these missions," he said.

JGSDF medical personnel were able to treat children in Honduras as a result of the JASDF relief airlift.

Japanese officers praised the cooperation they received from Kelly AFB. "We appreciate the superior cooperation and support of the 76th Air Base Wing during this significant operation very much," Col. Fujikawa said. "We are very, very happy and thankful for the support and cooperation from Kelly AFB," Lt. Col. Konno added. "Their support was a big reason we could complete this difficult mission. The Kelly staff took very good care of us."
Lt. Col. Konno concluded, "This mission was very meaningful for U.S.-Japanese relations. It was a great step to improve the excellent relationship between our countries even more."