Six weeks of sustained high winds and waves during February and March prevented Portuguese ships from delivering food to Santa Maria Island in the Azores. Recalling that U.S. planes had transported food to the Azores as part of a “People to People” foreign aid policy, island authorities sought U.S. help.
In mid-March, the East Trpt AF diverted a 17th Air Transport Squadron C–124 Globemaster to Lajes AB in the Azores for an emergency airlift. On March 15, the plane airdropped nearly five tons of potatoes, onions, oranges, and other food to Santa Maria islanders, helping them to survive until shipping resumed.