146th Airlift Wing
The 146th Airlift Wing is a California Air National Guard unit providing military airlift, humanitarian assistance, aeromedical evacuation, and aerial firefighting support.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
The 146th Airlift Wing is a unit of the California Air National Guard based at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in Oxnard, California. When placed into federal service, it falls under the operational authority of the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command. Unlike a commercial brand, the wing is a military organization whose identity is expressed through its public-service mission, unit heritage, aircraft, personnel, and continuing support to state and federal authorities. The wing's principal capability is global airlift using the Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules. Its missions include transporting personnel, cargo, and equipment; delivering supplies by air; supporting contingency operations; and assisting with aeromedical evacuation and air terminal operations. The organization can operate in support of California state missions as well as overseas United States military requirements. Its C-130 fleet also supports humanitarian relief after disasters such as hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, and other emergencies. A distinctive part of the wing's public role is aerial wildfire suppression. Since 1974, the 146th has participated in the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System program, using removable equipment supplied by the United States Forest Service to deliver fire retardant from C-130 aircraft. The wing was the first unit to transition to the MAFFS II system in 2008 and became the only unit operating that system on the C-130J platform. The system was first used by the wing on an active fire in July 2010. Through this work, the wing has contributed to the protection of communities, forests, rangelands, and infrastructure in California and elsewhere. The wing's lineage reaches back to the 115th Observation Squadron, established in 1924 and descended from an earlier California National Guard aviation organization. The 115th Airlift Squadron, now assigned to the 146th Operations Group, is recognized as the oldest unit in the California Air National Guard. The modern wing was organized on 1 November 1950 after the Air National Guard adopted the wing-base structure. It was federalized during the Korean War, operated as a fighter-bomber training formation, later served in air-defense roles, and converted to strategic airlift in the early 1960s. The unit moved from Van Nuys to its present Channel Islands facility beginning in December 1988. Most operations had transferred by March 1990, and the Van Nuys installation was formally closed in April of that year. Since then, the wing has supported missions ranging from Cold War exercises and Operation Just Cause to Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Northern Watch, and post-2001 campaigns in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and other areas. Its personnel have also supported California emergencies, pandemic response, civil-support missions, and wildfire operations. The 146th Airlift Wing is organized around operations, maintenance, mission support, medical, security, and contingency-response functions. Its current public identity combines military readiness with a strong domestic-emergency role: it is both a deployable airlift formation and a California-based emergency-response resource.
History
The 146th Airlift Wing's heritage is rooted in California National Guard aviation. Its principal flying unit, the 115th Airlift Squadron, traces its lineage to the 115th Observation Squadron, established on 16 June 1924. That organization belonged to the group of pre-World War II National Guard observation squadrons and is regarded as the oldest unit in the California Air National Guard. The modern wing structure emerged during the Air National Guard reorganization of 1950. On 31 October 1950, the 62d Fighter Wing was inactivated as the service adopted the wing-base system. The 146th Composite Wing was established for California and activated the following day, inheriting personnel, equipment, and responsibilities from the earlier formation. The Korean War soon led to federalization. On 1 March 1951, the wing entered federal service, was redesignated the 146th Fighter-Bomber Wing, and moved to Moody Air Force Base in Georgia as an F-51D training organization. Its subordinate California units were distributed among other federal formations and assignments during the conflict. The units returned to state control in November 1952, and the wing was reconstituted at Van Nuys on 1 January 1953. During the 1950s, the wing moved through several fighter and air-defense configurations. Its squadrons operated F-51 and F-86 aircraft, assumed day-interceptor and later all-weather interception duties, and worked within the Air Defense Command system. The F-86L introduced compatibility with the computerized Semi-Automatic Ground Environment network, allowing ground controllers to direct interceptors toward identified targets. Some subordinate formations expanded into separate groups as California and Arizona Air National Guard structures changed. A major strategic shift occurred in 1961, when the wing transferred to the Military Air Transport Service and exchanged its Sabre interceptors for C-97 Stratofreighter transports. It became the 146th Air Transport Wing (Heavy). The wing was federalized during the Berlin Crisis from October 1961 until August 1962 and performed worldwide transport work from Van Nuys. During the 1960s, its aircraft supported long-range missions to locations including Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, South Vietnam, Okinawa, and Thailand. The C-97s were retired in 1970, after which the wing moved to Tactical Air Command and began operating C-130A Hercules aircraft. C-130B aircraft replaced the earlier models in 1973. A post-Vietnam reduction led to the inactivation of the 195th Tactical Airlift Squadron in September 1974; its people, aircraft, and equipment were consolidated with the 115th. The wing continued to develop as a total-force partner with active-duty Air Force organizations, participating in exercises such as Team Spirit, Volant Oak, Red Flag, Reforger, Ember Dawn IV, and Brave Shield. The wing's relocation from Van Nuys to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station began in December 1988. The new site was built on federal land next to the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in Ventura County. Most personnel had moved by March 1990, and the Van Nuys flag was lowered for the final time on 30 April 1990. The wing performed operational airlift during Operation Just Cause in Panama and supplied personnel for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. During the 1990s, it supported missions in the Middle East, humanitarian airlift, and wildfire suppression. Its Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron received national-level recognition in 1999 for medical operations. After 2001, the 146th became a recurring participant in overseas mobility operations. Its crews and support personnel operated in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, and neighboring areas, supporting Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, Inherent Resolve, Freedom's Sentinel, Resolute Support, and Enduring Sentinel. One Afghanistan deployment transported more than 8,900 tons of cargo and 25,367 passengers during a four-month period. In parallel, the wing expanded its domestic role through disaster response, pandemic support, and MAFFS wildfire missions. The organization now operates C-130J aircraft and maintains a dual state-and-federal identity centered on air mobility, emergency response, and readiness.
- 2023
C-130 simulator facility construction begins
[1]Groundbreaking took place for a building intended to house a new C-130 flight simulator.
- 2010
First operational MAFFS II fire mission
[1]MAFFS II was used by the wing on an active wildfire in July.
- 2008
First C-130J unit to transition to MAFFS II
[1]The wing became the first unit to transition to the MAFFS II aerial firefighting system for C-130J aircraft.
- 1990
Relocation to Channel Islands
[1]The wing completed its move from Van Nuys to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, with the former base formally closed on 30 April.
- 1989
Combat airlift in Panama
[1]Wing crews deployed for Volant Oak and flew combat airlift missions during Operation Just Cause.
- 1974
MAFFS aerial firefighting participation begins
[1]The wing began operating removable Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System equipment supplied by the United States Forest Service.
- 1970
C-130 era begins
[1]After retiring its C-97 aircraft, the wing transitioned to C-130 Hercules theater airlift operations.
- 1961
Conversion to strategic airlift
[1]The wing transferred to the Military Air Transport Service, received C-97 transports, and was redesignated the 146th Air Transport Wing (Heavy).
- 1951
Federalization during the Korean War
[1]The wing entered federal service, became the 146th Fighter-Bomber Wing, and moved to Moody Air Force Base for training duties.
- 1950
146th Composite Wing activated
[1]The 146th Composite Wing was recognized and activated in California on 1 November after the Air National Guard adopted the wing-base organization.
Products and positioning
A deployable California Air National Guard airlift organization combining global military mobility with domestic emergency response, humanitarian relief, aeromedical support, and aerial wildfire suppression.
Military transport aircraft
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules
The C-130J is the wing's principal aircraft and supports tactical and intra-theater airlift, cargo and passenger transport, airdrop, humanitarian missions, and contingency deployments. Its ability to operate from austere airfields makes it suitable for both overseas military operations and domestic emergency response. The aircraft is also configured to carry MAFFS II equipment for aerial wildfire suppression.
Aerial firefighting system · 2008
Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System II
MAFFS II is a removable firefighting module supplied through the United States Forest Service. Installed in a C-130J, it enables trained crews to deliver fire retardant over large wildland fires without permanently converting the aircraft from its airlift role. The 146th was the first unit to transition to the system and has used it in operational wildfire response.
Training infrastructure · 2023
C-130 flight simulator facility
A simulator facility at Channel Islands was planned to support C-130 training and readiness. Construction was delayed after allocated funds were diverted, but building work eventually began in January 2023.
Brand decisions
2023
Proceed with C-130 simulator facilityStrategyBackground
A planned simulator project had been delayed in 2019 after its allocated funds were redirected during a national emergency.
Action taken
Construction of the building for the new simulator broke ground in January 2023.
Aftermath
The project was intended to strengthen local C-130 training and readiness infrastructure.
2008
Transition to MAFFS IIGeneration changeBackground
The wing needed a modern aerial firefighting system compatible with its newer C-130J aircraft.
Action taken
It became the first unit to transition to MAFFS II.
Aftermath
The transition enabled the wing to combine C-130J airlift operations with the newer generation of removable wildfire-suppression equipment.
Sources2 sources
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