109th Airlift Wing
A New York Air National Guard wing specializing in ski-equipped airlift for Arctic and Antarctic operations.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The 109th Airlift Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard based at Stratton Air National Guard Base in Schenectady, New York. When placed into federal service, it is assigned to the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. Its distinctive role is the operation of ski-equipped Lockheed C-130 Hercules aircraft, designated LC-130H, which can land on snow and support isolated research and military sites in polar environments. The wing is the only military organization operating this specialized type of aircraft. The wing's principal mission is airlift support for the United States Antarctic Program, administered by the National Science Foundation. Its crews transport fuel, equipment, food, scientific supplies, researchers, and support personnel between coastal bases and remote inland locations, including Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station. Antarctic operations are conducted within the broader Operation Deep Freeze framework, through which the U.S. military supports American scientific activity in Antarctica. The wing maintains an operating presence connected with Christchurch, New Zealand, and Williams Field near McMurdo Station, while its aircraft operate to temporary snow runways and remote field camps across the continent. The wing also supports Arctic logistics, historically including resupply of distant radar and communications sites in Greenland. The organization began federal recognition in 1956 as the 109th Fighter Group (Air Defense), flying F-94B Starfire interceptors for the defense of northern and eastern New York. It moved through tactical fighter, heavy air transport, military airlift, tactical airlift, and airlift designations as national defense requirements changed. In the 1960s, C-97 Stratofreighter transports gave the unit a worldwide airlift role, including scheduled missions to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. C-130 operations began in the early 1970s, initially supporting tactical airlift and domestic disaster relief. The wing's polar specialization developed from its support of the Distant Early Warning Line and from the use of ski-equipped C-130s in the Arctic. After the closure of the Greenland radar stations, the unit transferred its cold-weather aviation expertise to Antarctic scientific logistics. In 1998, it formally assumed responsibility for U.S. Antarctic Program airlift support from the U.S. Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six, which was later disestablished as part of post-Cold War restructuring. The wing has since become a long-term aviation partner of the National Science Foundation. Although polar logistics is its signature activity, the 109th also performs broader Air National Guard missions. Personnel have supported domestic disaster and hurricane relief, overseas contingency operations, aeromedical evacuation, and deployments connected with Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Enduring Freedom, and other missions. After the September 11, 2001 attacks, the wing sent civil-engineering, services, and public-affairs personnel to New York City. Its aircraft and personnel have also participated in multinational training and humanitarian responses. The wing remains an operational military formation rather than a commercial brand, with its public identity centered on specialized airlift, scientific support, expeditionary readiness, and service to New York State and the United States.
History
The 109th Airlift Wing was established in 1956 as the 109th Fighter Group (Air Defense) and received federal recognition in the New York Air National Guard on 1 May of that year. Stationed at Schenectady County Airport, it initially operated F-94B Starfire interceptors with the 139th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron and was assigned to the 107th Air Defense Wing. In 1958, the group moved from an air-defense mission to tactical fighter operations, adopting the 109th Tactical Fighter Group designation and training in interception, air-to-ground rocketry, strafing, and tactical bombing with F-86H Sabres. The unit entered the airlift field in January 1960, becoming the 109th Air Transport Group (Heavy) and transferring to the Military Air Transport Service. The 139th Air Transport Squadron operated C-97 Stratofreighters, providing intercontinental transport and a secondary aeromedical mission. During the Berlin Crisis, the squadron was federalized from October 1961 until August 1962 and performed worldwide transport in support of Air Force requirements. During the 1960s, it flew scheduled routes to Europe, Africa, the Caribbean, and South America. Following the 1966 reorganization of Military Air Transport Service into Military Airlift Command, the group and squadron received new military-airlift designations. C-97 retirement led to another transition. In 1971 the organization became a tactical airlift group and received C-130A Hercules aircraft. Its early Hercules operations included major domestic disaster relief: after Tropical Storm Agnes struck in June 1972, the unit flew continuous missions into areas of New York where roads and other surface transportation had been disrupted. The wing returned to Military Airlift Command control in 1974 when that command assumed responsibility for the Air Force-wide tactical airlift mission. The wing's polar mission grew from Arctic operations. It used ski-equipped Hercules aircraft to support the Distant Early Warning Line and remote stations in Greenland. The last flight to the DYE-3 radar site took place in December 1989 as the Greenland stations were closed. The unit's experience with snow runways and severe-weather logistics was then redirected toward Antarctic research support. It augmented the Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six for several years before assuming the U.S. Antarctic Program airlift mission in 1998. The new responsibility was funded by the National Science Foundation and included operations from Christchurch and Williams Field near McMurdo Station. The organization was redesignated the 109th Airlift Group in 1992 and became the 109th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995 under the Air Force's one-base, one-wing structure. During the early 1990s, members supported the Gulf War period and elements of the 139th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron deployed to Rwanda during Operation Support Hope. In 1999, the wing helped evacuate Dr. Jerri Nielsen from the South Pole after she developed serious health concerns while serving at the isolated station. After the September 11 attacks, the wing rapidly deployed civil-engineering, services, and public-affairs personnel to Ground Zero. It has subsequently supported overseas operations, including missions associated with Operation Enduring Freedom. A 2005 Base Realignment and Closure proposal would have transferred several conventional C-130H aircraft to another Air Force unit while retaining the ski-equipped LC-130 fleet in Schenectady, but the proposed realignment was not implemented. In 2007, the 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron deployed to Afghanistan with its own aircraft. In the twenty-first century, the wing has continued seasonal Antarctic operations at a demanding tempo. During the 2011–2012 season, six LC-130H aircraft flew hundreds of missions between McMurdo and inland destinations, carrying millions of pounds of supplies and more than 1,600 passengers. The aircraft have also assisted with reconnaissance and communications during maritime emergencies in Antarctic waters. The wing remains a distinctive component of the Air National Guard because its ski-equipped Hercules aircraft provide access to remote snow runways that are unavailable to conventional transports.
- 2001
Post-September 11 domestic deployment
[1]Wing personnel deployed to Ground Zero in support of the response to the September 11 attacks.
- 1998
Antarctic mission transferred from the Navy
[1]The wing assumed U.S. Antarctic Program airlift support from the Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six.
- 1995
Formation of the airlift wing
[1]The 109th Airlift Wing was established, with the 139th Airlift Squadron assigned to its Operations Group.
- 1989
End of Greenland DEW Line flights
[1]The final flight to the DYE-3 radar site marked the end of the wing's DEW Line resupply mission.
- 1971
C-130 tactical airlift era begins
[1]The group received C-130A Hercules aircraft and entered tactical airlift operations.
- 1960
Transition to heavy air transport
[1]The unit became the 109th Air Transport Group (Heavy) and began operating C-97 Stratofreighter transports.
- 1956
Federal recognition as a fighter group
[1]The 109th Fighter Group (Air Defense) was activated in the New York Air National Guard at Schenectady County Airport.
Products and positioning
A specialized National Guard airlift organization distinguished by its unique ability to operate ski-equipped C-130 aircraft in remote Arctic and Antarctic environments.
Ski-equipped military transport aircraft
LC-130H Hercules
The LC-130H is a modified C-130 Hercules equipped with retractable ski and wheel landing gear. It enables the wing to land on compacted snow and supply remote Arctic and Antarctic sites. The aircraft carries personnel, fuel, scientific equipment, food, and other cargo for the United States Antarctic Program and related military logistics missions.
Tactical airlift aircraft · 1971
C-130 Hercules
The wing operated conventional C-130 aircraft for tactical airlift, domestic disaster relief, expeditionary missions, and overseas operations before its current identity became primarily associated with ski-equipped polar transport.
Marketing campaigns
- 2007Afghanistan expeditionary deployment
Afghanistan
The 139th Expeditionary Airlift Squadron deployed aircraft and personnel to Afghanistan.
Outcome. It was the unit's first deployment of its own aircraft to a combat theater since the Vietnam War.
- 2001September 11 response
United States
Civil-engineering, services, and public-affairs personnel were sent to Ground Zero shortly after the attacks.
Outcome. The deployment demonstrated the wing's domestic emergency-response role in addition to its polar mission.
- 1998United States Antarctic Program support
Antarctica · New Zealand
The wing assumed the Navy's Antarctic airlift role, supporting McMurdo Station, South Pole Station, Scott Base, and remote research camps.
Outcome. The wing became the long-term Air National Guard aviation provider for U.S. Antarctic research logistics.
Brand decisions
2005
Proposed aircraft realignment under BRACStrategyBackground
The Department of Defense proposed transferring four conventional C-130H aircraft to the 189th Airlift Wing as part of its Base Realignment and Closure recommendations.
Action taken
The proposal would have retained the ski-equipped LC-130 fleet at Schenectady, but the recommended realignment was not implemented.
Aftermath
The wing continued operating from Stratton Air National Guard Base with its existing polar specialization.
1996
Decision to assume the Navy's Antarctic missionStrategyBackground
Post-Cold War restructuring and the planned elimination of the Navy's Antarctic Development Squadron Six created a requirement for a new operator of ski-equipped Antarctic transports.
Action taken
The Air National Guard selected the 109th to take over the entire Antarctic airlift mission, with funding provided by the National Science Foundation.
Aftermath
The transfer was completed in 1998 and established the wing's defining modern role.
Sources2 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/109th-airlift-wing · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled