Indonesian Tsunami

Two days after Indian Ocean littoral countries were devastated by a tsunami generated by a severe earthquake off Sumatra, Indonesia, on 26 December, the first two Air Force C-130H transports from No 36 Squadron touched down at Medan to begin flying relief into Aceh Province. RAAF participation in the relief effort, called Operation Sumatra Assist, ranged from medical staff, aeromedical evacuation teams, air traffic controllers, engineers, logistics personnel and air terminal staff in addition to a variety of transport aircraft.