Charleston Air Force Base has been bustling with activity ever since Operation Unified Response started weeks ago.

"I've been down to Haiti six times," said Capt. Christopher Nary with the U.S. Air Force. He and hundreds of others at Charleston AFB are focusing on relief efforts in Haiti.

"Our part of the mission in Haiti is to resupply," said Cmdr. James Copher with Charleston AFB. "We've taken both food and water."

Crews in Charleston are using massive planes called C-17s.

"It's the second biggest plane the Air Force has," said Capt. Christopher Bengtson, a C-17 pilot. The plane is about 170 feet from nose to tail with a similar wingspan, but it's really known for its cargo capacity. The C-17 can carry nearly 170,000 pounds of cargo.

"Once we upload the cargo and actually see what's back there it's pretty cool to see all the stuff that we're taking," Nary said.

The plane KULR-8’s Sarah Gravlee hopped on board carried both supplies and passengers. The mission started early Wednesday morning, taking off from Charleston with a few palates full of medical supplies. It stopped at an Air Force base in Honduras where they unloaded supplies, and made room for two fire trucks. Then it was off to Haiti.

Crews based at Charleston AFB have already made hundreds of stops in Haiti. They unload the supplies at the airport in Port Au Prince. The Air Force is setting up a base right at the airport, but they have to bring in tents because the building is not structurally sound.

"Coming into Haiti is fun," Bengtson said. "You can actually see the people you're helping."

That was especially visible on the mission as nearly 130 passengers including 40 orphans recently adopted by American citizens were picked up. Their journey was not an easy one.

"Many of us have been staying at the embassy for the past week," said parent Ernest Parker. Another parent said they slept on the floor of the embassy without pillows or blankets. When they saw the Air Force plane land they knew their luck was turning around.

"We cried," one parent said. "It's a miracle by the grace of God only."

"I can't even begin to tell you how awesome it is to know that when this plane lands I'll be on American soil and I'll have my son with me," Parker said.

The plane has about 50 jump seats, but other passengers had to be strapped to the floor of the plane like cargo. Passengers were let off in Miami and the plane headed back to Charleston. It was a 22-hour mission for the flight crew, but a much longer journey for the evacuees.

The flight crew gets 18 hours of rest then could be called up for another mission and do it all again. Nine members of Montana's Air National Guard are assisting in Operation Unified Response.