LITTLE ROCK — Airmen from Little Rock Air Force Base have delivered more than 111,000 pounds of relief supplies to Haiti since Jan. 13, officials announced today.
Aircrews and C-130s from the 41st, 50th, 53rd, and 61st Airlift Squadrons have flown 14 missions to Haiti to provide supplies in the wake of the devastating Jan. 12 earthquake.
Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Brinkley, 19th Airlift Wing command chief, praised the efforts in a news release issued this morning.
"They feel that they can't get in there enough," he said. "They are chomping at the bit to do what it takes to take care of people and save lives ... The aerial delivery they have provided is the difference between life and death. Besides tangible food and water, we are providing hope."
An aircrew with the 41st Airlift Squadron was one of the first to arrive with relief supplies when it landed in Port-au-Prince the morning of Jan. 14.
"This is what we train to do," 41st Airlift Squadron Director of Operations Maj. Lewis Messick said in the release. "Anytime we can be of assistance in cases like this, we're ready to do our job."
The Little Rock crews are part of an overall Air Force mission that has delivered 2,250 tons of supplies to the region.