CRANSTON, R.I., - Maj. Gen. Robert T. Bray, the adjutant general of the Rhode Island National Guard, announced today that the 143d Airlift Wing deployed two C-130J aircraft late yesterday, with a total of 10 personnel in support of the U.S. military's Haitian relief effort, Operation Unified Response.
The 143rd team, consisting of aircrew and maintenance personnel, departed to Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla. to await further instructions and mission assignments. Homestead Air Reserve Base is one of the military staging areas for operations in Haiti.
The duration of this deployment will be based on mission requirements.
The Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules is the world's most advanced tactical airlifter. Designed and developed with mission flexibility in mind - combat air delivery, air-to-air refueling, special operations, disaster relief and humanitarian missions - the C-130J has a unique mix of agility and performance to consistently operate at very high operations tempo efficiently and reliably.
"This is what we are trained to do," said Col. Robert Germani, 143d Airlift Wing vice commander. "The 143rd Airlift Wing has provided airlift and airdrops around the globe and we are proud and honored to assist the people of Haiti in this operation."