130th Airlift Wing

The 130th Airlift Wing is a unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard headquartered at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base at Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia. Its principal role is tactical airlift: moving personnel, equipment, supplies and other cargo for the United States, the West Virginia National Guard and allied or partner forces. The wing also supports medical evacuation, humanitarian assistance, disaster relief and other domestic emergency missions when directed by state or federal authorities. As an Air National Guard organization, the wing has a dual-status operating model. During ordinary state missions it can operate under the authority of the governor of West Virginia, supporting civil authorities and state emergency-response requirements. When federally activated, it becomes part of the United States Air Force force structure and is aligned with Air Mobility Command. This arrangement allows the unit to combine local emergency-response responsibilities with expeditionary airlift operations outside the United States. The wing's current aircraft are C-130J-30 Super Hercules transports. The type is designed for short- and medium-range tactical airlift and can carry troops, vehicles, cargo and relief supplies. Its modern avionics and digital flight systems reduce the need for legacy flight-deck crew positions, while improvements in payload handling, fuel efficiency, maintenance and airframe life support more flexible operations. The transition from the C-130H to the C-130J-30 began in August 2021, when the first of eight aircraft arrived. The organization traces its modern lineage to the 130th Air Resupply Group, which received federal recognition in October 1955. After periods as a troop carrier, air commando, special operations and tactical airlift organization, it became the 130th Airlift Group in 1992 and was elevated to wing status in October 1995. Its aircraft history includes the C-119 Flying Boxcar, U-10D Super Courier, C-130E Hercules, C-130H Hercules and C-130J-30 Super Hercules. The 130th has participated in domestic and overseas operations for decades. Its record includes early Air Guard deployments outside the United States, special operations activity during the 1960s, participation in Operation Bright Star in Egypt, D-Day commemorative activities in France, airlift support during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, the Bosnian airlift known as Operation Provide Promise, Operation Support Hope in Rwanda, Operation Southern Watch in Southwest Asia, and disaster-relief support associated with Hurricane Mitch in Central America. In 2005, a proposed Base Realignment and Closure action placed the wing at risk of deactivation. A local campaign involving former commanders, elected officials, the airport and community organizations helped present a case for retaining the unit, and the BRAC Commission ultimately voted to keep it intact. The wing includes the 130th Operations Group and 130th Airlift Squadron, the 167th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, the 130th Maintenance Group, the 130th Mission Support Group and the 130th Medical Group. Its institutional identity is therefore based on military readiness, air mobility, state support and expeditionary service rather than on commercial products or consumer branding.

The wing's lineage begins with the 130th Air Resupply Group, which was allotted to the Air National Guard and received federal recognition on 15 October 1955. It was inactivated in October 1958, then reactivated as the 130th Troop Carrier Group on 16 January 1962. The organization was redesignated the 130th Air Commando Group in July 1963 and operated in the Air Commando tradition, using C-119 Flying Boxcars and U-10D Super Couriers for air mobility, observation and special operations-related missions. In 1965, the organization became the first Air Guard unit reported to deploy outside the United States. During the 1960s and early 1970s it trained and operated alongside active-duty Air Commando organizations and took part in international missions. In 1968, following an Air Force-wide nomenclature change, it became the 130th Special Operations Group. The unit received repeated recognition for its flying performance, including four Spaatz Trophy awards as an outstanding flying unit and five Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, according to the wing's historical account. The end of the Vietnam War era brought a change in emphasis. In 1975 the Flying Boxcars were retired and replaced by C-130E Hercules aircraft. The organization was redesignated the 130th Tactical Airlift Group, and its gaining command shifted from Tactical Air Command to Military Airlift Command. Tactical airlift became the primary mission, while special operations became secondary. The C-130H entered service in 1986, extending the wing's transport capability. The wing contributed personnel and aircraft to major overseas operations during and after the Cold War. In 1981 it participated in Operation Bright Star near Cairo, Egypt, and in 1984 it took part in D-Day fortieth-anniversary activities in France. During Operation Desert Shield, the unit led a volunteer package of 16 C-130 aircraft and support personnel drawn from multiple Air National Guard organizations. Selected members subsequently helped form the 1630th Tactical Airlift Squadron (Provisional) at Al Ain, United Arab Emirates. Other personnel from the tactical clinic and mobile aerial port were activated for support locations in the United Kingdom and at Dover Air Force Base. During Desert Storm, aircraft and personnel operated from King Fahd Air Base in Saudi Arabia; the deployed organization later received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor. In the 1990s, the organization supported the Bosnian airlift known as Operation Provide Promise, including deployments to Rhein-Main Air Base in Germany. It also sent an aircraft and two crews to Rwanda for Operation Support Hope in 1993. In January through March 1996, two aircraft, six crews and maintenance personnel deployed to Saudi Arabia for Operation Southern Watch, followed by additional Southern Watch support from Prince Sultan Air Base in 1998. During the late 1990s, personnel in Panama supported Coronet Oak and assisted relief efforts following Hurricane Mitch in Honduras and Nicaragua. The organization became the 130th Airlift Group in March 1992 and was redesignated the 130th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995. The wing continued to serve under Air Mobility Command after changes in gaining-command relationships during the 1990s. Its most significant institutional challenge came with the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process. The Department of Defense recommended deactivation and proposed transferring the wing's eight C-130H aircraft to Pope Air Force Base, with expeditionary combat-support personnel assigned elsewhere. Former commanders, local officials, Yeager Airport and community organizations formed the Keep 'Em Flying effort. After a public campaign and an on-site review, the BRAC Commission voted 9–0 to retain the wing. On 8 August 2021, the wing began its transition from the C-130H to the C-130J-30 Super Hercules. The replacement aircraft brought modern digital avionics, greater efficiency, improved cargo capability and a reduced legacy crew arrangement. The wing remains an active West Virginia Air National Guard airlift organization, capable of state emergency response and federalized missions supporting Air Mobility Command, the United States and its allies.

• 2021

  C-130J-30 transition begins

  [2]130th Airlift Wing official website130aw.ang.af.mil

  The wing began receiving eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft, replacing the C-130H fleet.

• 2005

  Retained after BRAC review

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The BRAC Commission rejected the proposed deactivation and voted unanimously to preserve the unit.

• 1995

  Elevated to wing status

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The 130th Airlift Group became the 130th Airlift Wing on 1 October 1995.

• 1992

  Redesignated as the 130th Airlift Group

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted its airlift-group designation on 16 March 1992.

• 1975

  Transition to tactical airlift

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  C-119 aircraft were retired, C-130E aircraft introduced, and the unit became the 130th Tactical Airlift Group.

• 1965

  First reported overseas Air Guard deployment

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The unit is recognized in its historical account as the first Air National Guard unit to deploy outside the United States.

• 1963

  Redesignated as the 130th Air Commando Group

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization adopted the Air Commando designation on 24 July 1963.

• 1962

  Reactivation as the 130th Troop Carrier Group

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The unit was reactivated on 16 January 1962 as a troop carrier group.

• 1955

  Federal recognition as the 130th Air Resupply Group

  [1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  The organization was activated and received federal recognition on 15 October 1955.

A dual-role Air National Guard airlift organization combining tactical air mobility, expeditionary support and West Virginia emergency-response capability.

• Tactical airlift aircraft · 2021

  C-130J-30 Super Hercules

  The wing's current transport aircraft, introduced beginning in 2021. The stretched C-130J-30 supports troop, cargo and relief-supply transport and offers modern avionics, digital flight controls, improved fuel efficiency, upgraded cargo handling, lower maintenance demands and a longer expected service life than earlier Hercules variants. Its updated flight-deck design removes traditional navigator and flight-engineer positions.

• Tactical airlift aircraft · 1986

  C-130H Hercules

  The wing's principal aircraft from 1986 until the transition to the C-130J-30. The C-130H supported domestic readiness, overseas exercises, expeditionary airlift and operations including Southwest Asia deployments and humanitarian missions.

• Tactical airlift aircraft · 1975

  C-130E Hercules

  Introduced in 1975 when the organization shifted from the C-119 Flying Boxcar to a Hercules-based tactical airlift mission. The model established the wing's modern transport role and was later replaced by C-130H aircraft.

• 1998Coronet Oak and Hurricane Mitch relief

  Panama · Honduras · Nicaragua

  While participating in Coronet Oak in Panama, wing personnel also supported relief operations after Hurricane Mitch affected Honduras and Nicaragua.

  Outcome. The wing contributed airlift and support capacity to regional disaster relief.

  Source
• 1996Operation Southern Watch

  Saudi Arabia · Southwest Asia

  The wing deployed aircraft, crews and maintenance support to Saudi Arabia from January through March 1996 and supported the operation again in 1998.

  Outcome. The unit provided tactical airlift support for the regional mission.

  Source
• 1993Operation Support Hope

  Rwanda · Africa

  One aircraft and two crews deployed for approximately 30 days in support of the humanitarian operation in Rwanda.

  Outcome. The deployment provided airlift support for the relief effort.

  Source
• 1992Operation Provide Promise

  Bosnia and Herzegovina · Germany

  Aircraft and personnel deployed to Rhein-Main Air Base to support the international airlift serving Bosnia.

  Outcome. The wing conducted repeated support deployments, including one from September to October 1998.

  Source
• 1990Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm

  Southwest Asia · United States · United Kingdom

  The wing led a multi-state volunteer package of C-130 aircraft and support personnel, later contributing aircraft, aircrews, medical personnel and aerial-port specialists to the Gulf War effort.

  Outcome. The deployed elements supported airlift operations across the region and received an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor.

  Source

• 2021

  Conversion to the C-130J-30 fleetGeneration change

  Background

  The wing's C-130H aircraft were replaced as part of a modernization effort.

  Action taken

  The first of eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft arrived on 8 August 2021.

  Aftermath

  The conversion improved avionics, payload handling, efficiency and multi-role capability while streamlining the flight-deck crew configuration.

  Source

• 2005

  Retention after proposed deactivationStrategy

  Background

  The 2005 BRAC proposal called for deactivating the wing and transferring its aircraft and expeditionary support functions.

  Action taken

  Community leaders, former commanders, the airport and elected officials organized the Keep 'Em Flying campaign and presented the case for retaining the installation.

  Aftermath

  Following a local review, the BRAC Commission voted 9–0 to keep the wing intact.

  Source

• 1975

  Shift from special operations to tactical airliftStrategy

  Background

  After the Vietnam War era, the organization needed a mission and aircraft structure suited to broader transport requirements.

  Action taken

  It retired the C-119 fleet, accepted C-130E Hercules aircraft and became a tactical airlift group.

  Aftermath

  Tactical airlift became the primary mission, while special operations became secondary.

  Source

• 2021

  130th Airlift Wing begins transition to the C-130J-30[2]130th Airlift Wing official website130aw.ang.af.mil

  Product generation · Product launch

  The wing began replacing its C-130H aircraft with eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules aircraft, introducing newer avionics, improved performance and a revised flight-deck crew configuration.

• 2005

  BRAC Commission votes to retain the 130th Airlift Wing[1]130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  After the Department of Defense proposed deactivating the wing and transferring its aircraft and support functions, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission reviewed the Charleston installation and voted unanimously to keep the unit intact.

1. 1130th Airlift Wingen.wikipedia.org
2. 2130th Airlift Wing official website130aw.ang.af.mil