Members of the 37th Airlift Squadron load supplies onto a C-130J Super Hercules, Oct. 29, 2011, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The cargo consisted of blankets, cots and tents flown to Turkey as humanitarian aid for the victims of a major earthquake that occurred in north-eastern Turkey recently. A K-loader finishes loading supplies onto a C-130J Super Hercules, assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, Oct. 29, 2011, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The cargo consisted of blankets, cots and tents flown to Turkey as humanitarian aid for the victims of a major earthquake that occurred in north-eastern Turkey recently. A forklift offloads supplies from a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, Oct. 29, at Erzurum Airport, Turkey. The C-130J was taking blankets and cots flown as humanitarian aid for the victims of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred in north-eastern Turkey recently. A forklift offloads supplies from a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron, Oct. 29, 2011, at Erzurum Airport, Turkey. The C-130J was taking blankets and cots flown as humanitarian aid for the victims of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred in northeastern Turkey recently. Staf Sgt. Kyle Brooks, 37th Airlift Squadron, supervises a forklift offloading supplies from a C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 37th AS, Oct. 29, 2011, at Erzurum Airport, Turkey. The C-130J was taking blankets and cots flown as humanitarian aid for the victims of a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that occurred in northeastern Turkey recently. Aircrew assigned to the 37th Airlift Squadron perform preflight checklists in a C-130J Super Hercules before takeoff Oct. 29, 2011, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The C-130J was taking blankets, cots and tents flown to Turkey as humanitarian aid for the victims of a major earthquake that occurred in north-eastern Turkey recently. US delivers aid to Turkish earthquake victims by By Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson U.S. Air Forces in Europe Public Affairs 10/30/2011 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany -- The U.S. European Command sent two C-130J Super Hercules loaded with cots, blankets, sleeping bags and hygiene kits to north-eastern Turkey, Oct. 29 to aid victims of a recent earthquake there. The C-130Js from the 86th Airlift Wing departed Ramstein Air Base, Germany, to deliver the supplies to the Van region of Turkey, which was devastated by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake Oct. 23. More than 500 people were killed by the earthquake and about 2,300 people are injured. "The earthquake in Van really hit a couple of areas hard, but it is great to be able to help our friends," said Laird Treiber, of the U.S. Embassy in Ankara, Turkey. "Turkey is a long standing ally and they have helped us out in the past, so it feels good to be able to help them." The flights were the first of several planned. In total, EUCOM plans to deliver approximately 1,700 blankets, 2,600 cots, 275 sleeping bags, and 350 tents and heating units. "We are always ready," said Lt. Col. Patrick Driscoll, 37th Airlift Squadron and aircraft commander. "This humanitarian aid mission is a great example of the strong partnership that exisits between our two nations." The U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Turkey and the U.S. Defense Department through U.S. European Command responded to the Turkish government's request for aid as a result of the earthquake in Turkey.