Colonel Hiroyoshi Ohura, a senior-ranking officer in the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF), welcomed the RAAF C-17A Globemaster III back from one of its missions over the weekend transporting emergency services personnel, vehicles and equipment from Okinawa to the Japanese mainland for the disaster-relief effort.
Colonel Ohura was representing Chief of Staff of the Japan Air Self Defence Force General Shigeru ‘Rocky’ Iwasaki, who wished to express his personal thanks to the Royal Australian Air Force, Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin and the Minister for Defence, Stephen Smith.
Operation PACIFIC ASSIST linguist, Wing Commander Sonja Halloran translated that the JASDF Chief spoke for all the Japanese people in expressing his country’s thanks for Australia’s assistance following the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.
“We were met on the tarmac by Colonel Ohura who was representing the Chief of the JASDF, General Iwasaki,” Wing Commander Halloran said.
“Colonel Ohura extended his thanks on behalf of the Chief, and wanted to make sure that we understood that they were very thankful for the efforts we had taken over the past few days.
“Following that, General Iwasaki rang personally and, through me, also extended his thanks to the team that had been working with the heavy transport aircraft.
“General Iwasaki also asked for his thanks to be passed on not only to the team that has worked so hard over the last few days but also to our Chief of Air Force, Chief of the Defence Force and the Minister for Defence.”
On Saturday, Minister Smith approved a week’s extension of the ADF operations in support of Operation PACIFIC ASSIST.
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Operation PACIFIC ASSIST – Two additional RAAF C-17s deployed
One of the aircraft landed at the Yokota Air Base this morning. The second will arrive later today.
The C-17s are transporting a remotely operated water cannon system, supplied by the Bechtel Corporation at the request of the United States.
The water cannon system is a series of pumps and trailers that can be remotely manoeuvred into location.
The two C-17s providing this support are in addition to the RAAF C-17 already in Japan. The two C-17s are required due to the size of the water canon system.
One of the C-17s will return equipment used in Japan by Australia's Urban Search and Rescue Team in Japan to Australia.
Last night I spoke to Japanese Defense Minister Kitazawa to underline Australia’s continuing commitment to the humanitarian assistance and disaster relief response in Japan, including through the provision of RAAF C-17s.
Mr Kitazawa expressed Japan’s appreciation for Australia’s friendship.
The Chief of Defence Force and I will continue to review Australia’s Operation PACIFIC ASSIST commitment in close consultation with our Japanese and US partners.
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