Globemaster III: Extending the humanitarian reach
October, 2009 -- Providing relief to American Samoa
C-17s with the Hawaii Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force completed a ten-day mission during which they ferried humanitarian and disaster relief to victims of the tsunami and earthquake that struck American Samoa on September 29.
October, 2009 -- Humanitarian missions to Indonesia
C-17s from McChord AFB, Wash., completed a humanitarian airlift mission to earthquake-stricken Padang, Indonesia, where nearly 800 people were killed, giving them a total of three humanitarian missions in the week following the September 30 quake.
The C-17 has participated in numerous worldwide operations since 1990. Today the C-17 supports U.S. troops fighting terrorism in Afghanistan and Iraq and those responding to humanitarian disasters globally. The C-17 flew missions to Pakistan following its devastating earthquake, assisted Thailand after the tsunami, evacuated Americans from Lebanon on the eve of war, brought supplies to thousands impacted by Hurricane Katrina, and aided victims in storm-ravaged Burma.
View a video detailing how C-17 makes a difference.
C-17 Disaster and Humanitarian Relief
- Immediate response
- Delivers 100 bed fully equipped field hospital, personnel and supplies
- Completely self-sufficient
- Makes sites with limited access accessible
May 2008, Bringing relief to Myanmar following cyclone
Several USAF C-17s transported water and food to supply zones in Thailand
April 2008, Delivering water well drilling equipment to Kenya
USAF C-17 Globemaster III transport jet brought more than 100,000 pounds of well-drilling equipment and nearly a dozen Navy Seabees to Nairobi's airport during a two-day delivery mission.
February 2008, Helping the Chinese weather extreme winter storms
Two C-17s based at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska and Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, brought more than 225,000 pounds of food, medicine, and cold weather supplies to Shanghai as the country faced the worst winter in 50 years.
January 2008, Rescuing an Icebound British Trawler Near Antarctica
A USAF C-17 based at McChord Air Force Base, Washington, dropped replacement engine parts to a British fishing boat adrift in pack ice fishing trawler adrift in pack ice due to a broken piston.
Other humanitarian missions include:
- October 2005, Pakistan
- September 2005, Louisiana, Texas
- January 2005, Thailand, Indonesia
- October 2001, Afghanistan
- June 2001, Texas
- August 2000, Texas, Montana, and Idaho
- April 2000, Kosovo
- March 2000, Mozambique
- August 1999, Turkey
- January 1999, Christmas Island
- September 1998, Keiko
- January 1998, China, Canada, Maine
- April 1997, Zaire
- April 1996, Liberia
- December 1995, Yugoslavia, Bosnia and Herzegovina
- September 1995, Virgin Islands
Go to the C-17 Tutorial (clicking on this link will open a new browser window)