NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan (March 30, 2011) - Four twin engine cargo aircraft (C-2) sit quietly along the flightline of Naval Air Facility (NAF) Atsugi, waiting for their next missions. Two of the C-2 aircraft have their wings spread out, ready to begin training missions. The third is being...

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (March 30, 2011) - Seventh Fleet forces continue support of Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) in Operation Tomodachi. With Sendai airport now open for military flights – and soon to be opened for commercial flights as well -- 7th Fleet’s focus has shifted to harbor clearance,...

PACIFIC OCEAN (NNS) - The USS George Washington (CVN 73) Aviation Fuels Division, with help from Puget Sound Naval Shipyard workers, accomplished an unprecedented undertaking at sea by moving a massive fuel purifier seven decks below, March 29. The 4,000-pound jet propellant five (JP-5) fuel...

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP COURTNEY, OKINAWA, Japan - Joint Task Force 505 completed its 25th and final scheduled flight March 28 for Operation Pacific Passage, relocating on a volunteer basis Defense Department families stationed in designated areas of Japan affected by the tragic March 11 earthquake...

NAVAL AIR FACILTY MISAWA, Japan (March 29, 2011) - Patrol Squadron (VP) 4 is preparing to depart Naval Air Facility Misawa, Japan in the next few days after completing their mission in support of Operation Tomodachi. VP-4 will return to Kadena Air Base, Japan, where they are currently on a...

YOKOSUKA, Japan (NNS) - Sailors from Commander Fleet Activities Yokosuka's (CFAY) Naval Oceanography and Anti-Submarine Warfare Center (NOAC) are supporting Operation Tomodachi by keeping a watchful eye on weather conditions to help ensure safety of those responding. The Sailors assigned to NOAC...

HACHINOHE, Japan (NNS) - Seabees from the Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Far East continued cleanup and recovery efforts at Naval Air Facility Misawa's (NAFM) Fuel Pumping Station 2, March 28. The Misawa-based Seabees have been working around the clock to dewater the...

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (March 29, 2011) - Seventh Fleet forces continued support of Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) via Operation Tomodachi. With Sendai airport reopened for military flights, and with all known groups of isolated persons now being serviced from JSDF and local authorities ashore,...

PACIFIC OCEAN - Elements of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and the Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) combined efforts to restore power to Oshima Island, Japan, March 27. Marines assigned to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), accompanied by JMSDF Capt. Masanori Ide, liaison officer...

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 26, 2011) - Sailors aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald (DDG 62) banded together to donate humanitarian aid supplies while at sea east of the Miyagi Prefecture of Japan. Fitzgerald conducted a replenishment at sea operation with USNS Carl...

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (March 28, 2011) - Seventh Fleet forces continued support of the Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) in Operation Tomodachi as Japan was hit by another 6.5-magnitude aftershock today. Residents of Oshima, off the coast of Kessennuma, enjoyed their first full day of having...

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 25, 2011) - Sailors and civilians are working side-by-side whileaboard the aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) continuing the ship’s routine maintenance period, but this time, there is nothing routine about how they are conducting business. The crew and contractors...

PACIFIC OCEAN (March 26, 2011) - The aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) successfully conducted her first vertical replenishment (VERTREP) at sea after receiving supplies from the fast combat support ship USNS Bridge (T-AOE 10), March 26. George Washington is currently deployed in the...

NAVAL AIR FACILITY MISAWA, Japan - Sailors attached to Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron Light 51 (HSL-51) performed routine maintenance on the squadron’s SH-60B/F helicopters, March 27, 2011 at the squadron’s temporary home, here. The Sailors, who normally operate from Naval Air Facility Atsugi,...

SHICHINOHE, Japan - More than 25 Sailors, Airmen and, family members from Naval Air Facility Misawa (NAFM) and Misawa Air Base (MAB) visited the Biko-en Children’s Care House, here, During their visit, volunteers delivered food, clothing, and toys as well as preparing a home cooked meal for the...

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (March 27, 2011) - Seventh Fleet forces continued support of the Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) in Operation Tomodachi. USS Essex (LHD 2) Amphibious Readiness Group (ARG) conducted an amphibious resupply of Oshima Island, off the coast of Kessennuma. The earthquake and...

PACIFIC OCEAN - The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit continues relief efforts off the northeast coast of Honshu in support of Operation Tomodachi, March 25. The MEU has delivered more than 50,000 pounds of supplies via helicopter to affected areas including; Myako, Hamanaki, Yamada and Oshima...

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (March 26, 2011) - Seventh Fleet forces continued support of Japanese Self Defense Force’s (JSDF) sustainment of life efforts via Operation Tomodachi. Currently, 19 ships, 140 aircraft and 18,282 personnel of the Fleet are operating in support of the Operation to assist...

USS BLUE RIDGE, At Sea (March 25, 2011) - Seventh Fleet forces continued support of Japanese Self Defense Force's (JSDF) sustainment of life efforts via Operation Tomodachi. Currently, 19 ships, 140 aircraft and 18,282 personnel of the Fleet are operating in support of the Operation to assist...

HACHINOHE, Japan (NNS) - USNS Safeguard (T-ARS-50), along with personnel and assets from Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit 5, and Underwater Construction Team (UCT) 2, arrived at Hachinohe, Japan, March 25, to assist the Japanese Coast Guard as recovery efforts continue in the city...