Earthquake briefly cut off US military computers

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colorado - The Air Force said computer links with some U.S. bases in the Pacific were severed by the earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan on March 11, but one of its cyber squadrons restored them within five hours.

The Air Force said Thursday that bases in Japan, Korea and Guam were affected. It wasn't immediately clear what the consequences were.

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The 561st Network Operations Squadron in Hawaii coordinated the repairs. The squadron is part of a unit at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The Air Force Space Command, which ultimately oversees all Air Force cyber operations, is also based at Peterson.

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The Air Force says the Hawaii squadron also canceled planned interruptions for maintenance on Pacific computer networks so they would remain open.