JTF 505 MV-22B Ospreys depart Nepal

Photo By Cpl. Thor Larson | An MV-22B Osprey takes off from the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, as Operation Sahayogi Haat draws to a close May 21. The Osprey is bringing U.S. Marines back to Okinawa, Japan. The U.S. military came together as Joint Task Force 505 in response to a 7.8 magnitude earthquake April 25. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Cpl. Thor J. Larson/Released)  

KATHMANDU, NEPAL

05.21.2015

Courtesy Story

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

KATHMANDU, Nepal - Joint Task Force 505 MV-22B Ospreys deployed in support of Operation Sahayogi Haat departed Nepal, May 21. The Osprey’s are no longer required as the government of Nepal and the international aid community have increased their capacity to continue the necessary delivery of aid to those in need.

Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 262, based out of Okinawa, Japan, arrived in Nepal to support JTF 505 May 4 in response to the tragic 7.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Nepal April 25.

The MV-22B Ospreys, in coordination with the government of Nepal and the U.S. Agency for International Development, were chosen because of their unique capabilities, which include the ability to deploy directly to Nepal and immediately begin to deliver aid, take off and land without a runway and carry large amounts of cargo farther distances than traditional rotary wing aircraft.

During its service in Operation Sahayogi Haat the MV-22B Osprey flew approximately 115 hours over the course of 75 missions, distributed 134,000 pounds of relief supplies, and transported 300 personnel and conducted 40 casualty evacuations.

“We are really grateful to you for standing with us at a difficult hour,” wrote Amrit Sharma, a Nepalese native, in an open letter to the U.S. Marines in Nepal. “Thank you for what you do, and sacrificing so much for your own country and for us with Operation Sahayogi Haat in Nepal.”

In addition to the MV-22B Osprey, at its peak the fleet of capabilities deployed to Nepal in support of JTF 505’s Operation Sahayogi Haat included: the U.S. Air Force’s 36th Contingency Response Group, U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, U.S. Marine UH-1Y Huey helicopters and KC-130J Hercules aircraft, various ground and aviation command and control assets, as well as more than 900 personnel supporting from bases located in Nepal, Thailand and Japan.

• Date Taken: 05.21.2015
• Date Posted: 05.21.2015 01:55
• Story ID: 164020
• Location: KATHMANDU, NP