World | Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:28pm EDT

U.S. Ospreys win Japanese hearts and minds with quake relief flights

IWAKUNI, JAPAN | BY TIM KELLY

The U.S. military's MV-22 Osprey aircraft has been a lightning rod for opposition to U.S. bases in Japan since 24 of them were deployed on the southern island of Okinawa in 2014.

By sending eight of the tilt-rotor Ospreys to help with relief efforts for survivors of recent earthquakes on Kyushu island, both U.S. and Japanese military planners have been able to showcase an aircraft they see as necessary for Japan's defense.

When an Osprey set down last week on a sports ground in Hakusui village on Kyushu, the first person out was a U.S. Marine Corps photographer taking pictures of Japanese troops unloading supplies. Within hours, the pictures were on social media.

Opposition to U.S. bases in Japan has simmered for years, especially on Okinawa where many people believe the MV-22, which can hover like a helicopter and fly as a fixed wing craft, is prone to crashing.

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