Posted on 03/17/2011 5:07:13 PM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
US charter flights begin to leave Japan
Washington offers American military families flights out amid nuclear crisis
The first U.S.-chartered aircraft left Japan Thursday with about 100 people aboard headed for Taiwan and another flight is anticipated on Friday, the U.S. State Department said.
Under Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy said the passengers included family members of U. S. government employees and a small number o f private U.S. citizens who have chosen to depart Japan due to the ongoing nuclear crisis.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
Excerpt:
In the broadcast, Colonel Rothstein informed the base that the U.S. Department of State and the Defense Department has authorized voluntary departure of government and military family members from Japan. Exact details of the voluntary departure process from Misawa AB are being ironed out at this time.
Colonel Rothstein also reassured the base community concerning fears about the power plant near Fukushima, Japan. Wing agencies are diligently working to sample air qualities and have assured him that there has been no significant change and that there probably will not be one, he stated.
"I want to make this clear -- Misawa is in no immediate danger," Colonel Rothstein said. "The reactors in Fukushima, even if the worst scenario was to happen, will not put Misawa in danger and we will continue with our humanitarian relief efforts in the area."
The colonel also stressed that our Airmen and sister-services further south, near Tokyo, are at no great risk either.
I heard that US military will evacuate dependents out of Japan via military transport planes.
Wouldn’t surprise me.
Zengakuran chased us out in the mid 50s.
Shouldn’t be any great problem. Yokota, Misawa, Atsugi, Yokohama, Yokuska and others have excellent facilities. I don’t know of any great need for military airlift anywhere else in the world right now. Airlift can bring relief supplies in, and carry families out.
Disclaimer: I spent two years at Yokota in the mid-’80’s, when I was in the USAF, and I’ve spent time at Misawa as a civilian.
Riding a jump seat on a KC-135 is no fun, but at least you have more leg room than you can use. You also get lots of exercise from climbing over the cargo pallets on the way to the head.
I think its a good idea to get dependents and non-essential people out. Importing food and other supplies for them into Japan right now could be a challenge.
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