Air Force Ospreys and Super Hercs fly together over Tokyo during Samurai Surge drill
THERON GODBOLD/STARS AND STRIPES
By SETH ROBSON | STARS AND STRIPES Published: May 21, 2020
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan — C-130J Super Hercules tactical airlifters and CV-22 Osprey tiltrotors were part of a rapid mass launch of aircraft Thursday from the home of U.S. Forces Japan in western Tokyo.
The Samurai Surge drill, which last took place in 2018, involved nine of the 374th Airlift Wing’s 14 Super Hercules and two of five Ospreys stationed at Yokota as well four UH-1 Huey helicopters and three C-12 transports.
“It’s a demonstration to the Japanese government and the Indo-Pacific Command that we are still ready to do a full contingency or humanitarian response despite COVID-19 and poor weather,†the wing’s vice commander, Col. Jason Mills, said shortly before the aircraft launched under gray skies with light rain falling. COVID-19 is the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus that’s causing a global pandemic.
https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/air-force-ospreys-and-super-hercs-fly-together-over-tokyo-during-samurai-surge-drill-1.630611
