The fuel, the same type used by the Hercules aircraft, was delivered to the station in their wing tanks.

A Hercules aircraft had crashed back in the 1980s and was buried in snow at the end of the skiway.

The British move follows a request from Washington and at least four Hercules aircraft are expected to take part.

The Hercules aircraft have now stopped bringing in aid.

Each Hercules aircraft takes 88 soldiers, 3000 pounds of food and ammunition.

In an hour's time the men will board a crowded, and today extremely hot, C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The cost of chartering 15 Hercules aircraft, filling them with food and organising distribution on the ground is £6.6 million over three weeks.

Marshall also has other substantial hangar space that can hold up 12 C-130 Hercules aircraft.

The Falklands war saw the Hercules aircraft come into its own.

Two military C-130 Hercules aircraft were employed to spray oil dispersant.