U.S. sending Ospreys, Hueys and other aircraft to Nepal

The U.S. is sending more aircraft to Nepal to fly relief supplies from Kathmandu to refugees in need, defense officials said on Saturday.

The Marine Corps is sending four MV-22 Ospreys and two KC-130 cargo aircraft to Nepal, said Maj. Christopher Logan, a spokesman for Marine Forces, Pacific. Three UH-1Y Huey helicopters are being flown to Nepal in Air Force C-17s, he said.

The Ospreys are from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262 based out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Okinawa, Japan, according to Marine Forces, Pacific. The UH-1Ys are from Marine Light Attack Helicopter Squadron 469. They are now at Futenma but their home station is Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California. The two KC-130s are with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 based out of Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.


U.S. Pacific Command is working with the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and other U.S. agencies to respond quickly to requests for help from Nepal's government, he said.