3 Planes Leave L.A. With Salvador Supplies

Three cargo planes carrying more than 50,000 pounds of emergency supplies left Los Angeles on Saturday for earthquake-stricken El Salvador.

The Southern California and the Northern California-Nevada divisions of the Salvation Army chartered a Boeing 727 jet that loaded supplies in San Francisco before arriving at Los Angeles International Airport, where more supplies were put aboard.

In a joint effort, Medical Aid for El Salvador, Oxfam/America and Operation California sent mostly medical supplies aboard another 727 jet and a propeller-driven DC-3.

Spokesmen for the relief efforts said they received Salvadoran government approval to send the supplies on Friday, amid reports that the government previously had refused landing rights to some private groups because of concern about how the relief shipments would be distributed.

The Salvadoran ambassador to the United States said his government would grant landing rights to any group that submits a flight plan and is identifiable by Salvadoran airport authorities. Ambassador Pablo Alvergue told The Times in a telephone interview that he was unaware of flights being denied landing rights, but he added, “Marxist groups are trying to take advantage of the situation in order to . . . send these medical services for the guerrillas. They are trying to supply the guerrillas with food and other materials.”

But Alvergue said he could not name any U.S. groups trying to support Salvadoran insurgents under the guise of earthquake relief.

Relief groups involved in the airlifts denied any involvement in the Salvadoran insurgency.

“We’re totally non-political,” said Richard Walden, executive director of Operation California. He said supplies from his group’s effort will be distributed by the Salvadoran Roman Catholic Archdiocese.