YAMAGATA AIRPORT, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Nicholas Wisnoski, a 17th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, turns off a defueling pump on a MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 17. Airmen with the 17th SOS and a 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron Forward Area Refueling Point Team defueled the MC-130P and fueled four fuel bladders with 36,000 pounds of JP-8 fuel. FARPs allow aircraft to operate at further distances by providing fuel to aircraft where typically no fuel is available. The FARP team is capable of providing fuel to remote and austere locations.The fuel here will be used for search and recovery teams supporting Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

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YAMAGATA AIRPORT, Japan -- Staff Sgt. Nicholas Wisnoski, a 17th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, and Tech. Sgt. Timothy Rodgers, a 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron Forward Area Refueling Point specialist, set up equipment to defuel an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 17. The 17th SOS aircrew and FARP team defueled the MC-130P and fueled four fuel bladders for a total of 36,000 pounds of JP-8 fuel. FARPs allow aircraft to operate at further distances by allowing the aircraft to stop and refuel where typically no fuel exists. The FARP team is capable of providing fuel to remote and austere locations. The fuel here will be used for search and recovery teams supporting Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

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YAMAGATA AIRPORT, Japan -- Tech. Sgt. Paul Hammer, a 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron Forward Area Refueling Point specialist, runs a fuel line to a MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 17. The 17th Special Operations Squadron aircrew and FARP team defueled the MC-130P and fueled four fuel bladders for a total of 36,000 pounds of JP-8 fuel. FARPs allow aircraft to operate at further distances by allowing the aircraft to stop and refuel where typically no fuel exists. The FARP team is capable of providing fuel to remote and austere locations. The fuel here will be used for search and recovery teams supporting Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

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YAMAGATA AIRPORT, Japan--Tech. Sgt. Paul Hammer, a 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron Forward Area Refueling Point specialist, returns a fuel line to MC-130P Combat Shadow after defueling March 17. The 17th Special Operations Squadron aircrew and FARP team defueled the MC-130P and fueled four fuel bladders for a total of 36,000 pounds of JP-8 fuel. FARPs allow aircraft to operate at further distances by providing fuel to aircraft where typically no fuel is available. The FARP team is capable of providing fuel to remote and austere locations. The fuel here will be used for search and recovery teams supporting Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

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YAMAGATA AIRPORT, Japan--Airman 1st Class JT Mills, a 17th Special Operations Squadron loadmaster, keeps in communication with the pilots and forward area refueling point members while defueling a MC-130P Combat Shadow at here March 17. The 17th SOS aircrew and 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron FARP team defueled the MC-130P and fueled four fuel bladders for a total of 36,000 pounds of JP-8 fuel. FARPs allow aircraft to operate at further distances by providing fuel to aircraft where typically no fuel is available. The FARP team is capable of providing fuel to remote and austere locations. The fuel here will be used for search and recovery teams supporting Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. (U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

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YAMAGATA AIRPORT, Japan -- Tech. Sgt. Dave Harwood, a 17th Special Operations Squadron flight engineer, calculates the take-off distance to Yamagata Airport to establish a forward area refueling point March 17. The 17th SOS aircrew and 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron FARP team defueled the MC-130P and fueled four fuel bladders for a total of 36,000 pounds of JP-8 fuel. FARPs allow aircraft to operate at further distances by allowing the aircraft to stop and refuel where typically no fuel exists. The FARP team is capable of providing fuel to remote and austere locations. The fuel here will be used for search and recovery teams supporting Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief.(U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Jonathan Steffen)

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SOG Airmen 'fuel' relief efforts at Japanese airport

Published March 17, 2011

YAMAGATA AIRPORT, Japan -- Airmen with the 17th Special Operations Squadron and a 353rd Special Operations Group Forward Area Refueling Point, or FARP, Team delivered and offloaded 36,000 pounds of fuel from an MC-130P Combat Shadow here March 17. A FARP site provides the capability to offload fuel to storage devices or other aircraft, which increases an aircraft's range by creating a refueling point where typically no fuel exists. The fuel here will be used for search and recovery teams supporting Japan's earthquake and tsunami relief. When not performing FARP duties, the 353 SOG FARP Airmen are assigned to the 18th Logistics Readiness Squadron from Kadena Air Base.