Article Posted on : - May 01, 2010

C-130 Hercules cargo planes. A file photo

WASHINGTON (AP): Two Air Force planes will spray chemicals to help break up the Gulf Coast oil spill, US officials said as they considered what more the military could do to assist.

The two C-130 Hercules cargo planes were staging for their flights at Lake Charles, Louisian, after getting the orders, Pentagon press secretary Geoff Morrell said.

The planes were sent from their home base in Ohio on Thursday.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates also was considering a request from Louisiana Gov Bobby Jindal for the federal government to pay for 6,000 National Guard soldiers and airmen who were preparing to help with security, medical needs, engineering and other tasks.

Asked if he was confident the military was doing all it could to help, Morrell said: "We are confident that we are providing what has been asked of us and what is required of us at this point."

But he noted the situation continued to evolve as oil seeped into Louisiana's wetlands and threatened to push deeper inland.

"This is a dynamic, changing situation," Morrell said, and the military will help as needed.

The Navy said Thursday that it was sending booms, skimmers and contractors at its bases in Mississippi and Florida that it is opening as staging areas.