Operation SAMOA ASSIST
03 October 2009
RAAF C17 aeromedical evacuation
The RAAF evacuated seven Australians from Samoa this week (30 SEP and 1 OCT local time) after a tsunami swept through beach side resorts in the island’s south.
The RAAF C17 conducted an aeromedical evacuation for six of the injured Australians after it delivered much needed humanitarian supplies on 30 SEP. The seventh was evacuated the next days
The C-17 aircraft delivered 20 tons of humanitarian aid and specialist AusAID personnel and 10 RAAF aero-medical evacuation staff.
The stores included 127 family-sized tents, 1340 water jerry cans, 975 wool blankets, 1000 mosquito nets, 970 tarpaulins and 1250 water purification tablets.
Through the night RAAF C-130 Hercules also delivered equipment and NZDF personnel to assist in recovery operations in the wake of the disaster, including a RNZAF UH-1H helicopter.
The tsunami that struck Samoa and American Samoa followed an earthquake of 8.1 magnitude about 240km southwest of Apia in Samoa at 0648 on 29 SEP (local time).
Four Australians have been confirmed killed as a result of the tsunami.
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A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-3 Orion, flys over southern side of Samoan coastline, looking for survivors only hours after the Samoa Tsunami hit.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Luke Mahalm takes the blood presure of Mr Frank Ress, Melbourne an Australian tourist injured in the Samoa Tsunami before he is flown home.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) CPL Samantha Melville of the Aero Medical Evacuation Team reasures Mr John Blacker, an Australian tourist injured in the Samoa Tsunami, before he is flown home on a RAAF C-17.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Going home: Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Leading Aircraft Woman Zoe Wilson finishes final paper work on her injured Australian patient before taking off for home in a RAAF C-17 Globemaster.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Australian tourist injured during the Samoa Tsunami, Ms Giallan Brown from Brisbane, is assessed by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Aero Medical Evacuation Team, Corporal Tony Ridgeway, and Leading Aircraft Woman Zoe Wilson, prior to her flight home on a RAAF C-17 Globemaster.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Mr Rob Bebrouth from Brisbane is looked after by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Flying Officer Pamela Wittiman with the Aero Medical Evacuation Team, before being loaded on a RAAF C-17 Globemaster for home.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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Going home: A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Aero Medical Evacuation team carries injured Australians from the Samoa Tsunami aboard a RAAF C-17 Globemaster.
(Date taken: 30 September 2009)
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