Video: C-17 loaded with hurricane relief supplies just for Kamala Harris photo op: Report

As this is the second time I saw this story on RallyPoint I decided to look further into it. The best I can give it is "undetermined".

Facts as I was able to establish:
• The last recorded C-17 relief supply mission from the 145th was on 3 October (for a total of four C-17 missions to date).
• VP Harris met with JTF-NC and members of the NCANG 145th Airlift Wing on 5 October.
• The Commander USNORTHCOM and the NCNG Adjutant General (MG Hunt) met with the NC Joint Force Headquarters on 7 October and received a status update of the state’s response to Helene.
• The cumulative information provided by the AG of the NCNG during the North Carolina Hurricane Helene Briefing on 9 October* synchs with the public affairs statement released on 6 October*.
• According to ADSB Exchange* another C-17 previously shown delivering supplies (N30602) on 3 October flew from the ANG airbase (where the relief supplies are) to Asheville, NC (where the relief supplies are offloaded) this afternoon (found a video* from the air crew describing the mission).
• According to ADSB Exchange, the C-17 in the “photo op” (registration N10197) flew to JB Andrews on the 9th and the to Europe on the 11th.

So, is it possible that the loading of a C-17 was done for a photo-op? Sure, the accusation absolutely could fit the circumstances although there is no indication, in the photos* or elsewhere, that the 145th "loaded an entire C17 with supplies" (the “photo op” pictures only show one pallet being loaded).

However, two other reasonable explanations are also:
• The C-17 in the photo (N10197) was being loaded for another mission that had nothing to do with the hurricane relief flights. The flight in the photo flew to Andrews on the 9th and continued the following day to Europe.
• The loading of a pallet on the aircraft was initiated on the NCNG side. I’m sure I’m not the only Commander who’s been involved with staging a “dog and pony shows” for a senior VIP visitor due to a GOGI (General Officer Good Idea) and not by any prompting from the VIP.

Bottom line – there’s just not enough information to prove or deny the accusation, so the supports of VP Harris will say it’s another fictitious statement and her detractors will say it’s solid proof of her playing politics while people suffer.
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* 145th AW PAO statement (6 OCT 24) - https://www.145aw.ang.af.mil/News/Article/3927662/helene-relief-efforts-the-ncang-delivers-450000-pounds-of-cargo-and-counting/
* DVIDSBUB PAO images of VP Harris engagement (5 OCT 24) - https://www.dvidshub.net/image/8689345/vp-harris-visits-north-carolina-meets-with-local-officials-helene-relief
* ADSB Exchange 3 OCT 24 track of N30602 - https://globe.adsbexchange.com/?icao=ae07dc&lat=35.154&lon=-81.614&zoom=9.7&showTrace=2024-10-03
* North Carolina Hurricane Helene Briefing - 10/09/24 - https://www.facebook.com/NCgovernor/videos/ [login to see] 369431
* 10 OCT NCANG Helene Relief Mission video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya_PiAam6pY

File this story with the one about the "Pet-eating Haitians".

Shameful if true, but this seems unverified.