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EspañolWEST VIRGINIA AIR NATIONAL GUARD
The 'West Virginia Air National Guard' is comprised of two Airlift units, the '130th Airlift Wing' based in Charleston, WV, and the '167th Airlift Wing' based in Martinsburg, WV. Currently, the 167th is flying the C-5 Galaxy and the 130th is flying the C-130 Hercules in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In addition, the 167th Wing took part in Operation Desert Shield. Both units are at present reporting to Air Mobility Command.
★ 'The Adjutant General:' Major General Allen E. Tackett
★ 'Commander/Chief of Staff:' Brigadier General Terry Butler
★ 'Assistant Adjutant General for Air:' Brigadier General Loda R. Moore
★ 'State Command Chief:' CMSgt Ronald D. Bowe
The West Virginia Air National Guard was officially federally recognized on March 7th, 1947, as the '167th Fighter Squadron', based at Kanawha Airport in Charleston. During the early years of the 167th, it flew the T-6 Texan trainer, P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt. The unit was activated October 10th, 1950 during the Korean War, and was designated the '167th Fighter Bomber Squadron' when it returned on July 10th, 1952.
In December of 1955, the unit was redesignated as the '167th Fighter Interceptor Squadron', and relocated to Eastern West Virginia Region Airport in Martinsburg, WV. The unit was slated to receive jet aircraft, and due to the limitations of Kanawha Airport at the time, could not use that airfield. Following a two-year expansion of the runway in Martinsburg, the unit received the F-86 Sabrejet, which would remain with them until 1961.
On 1 April, the 167th again changed aircraft when the unit received C-119 Flying Boxcars, manufactured by Fairchild. A new mission and name change also took effect: The 167th Aeromedical Transport Squadron, Light. The mission became evacuation and care of the sick and wounded. The changes resulted in an increase of manpower and the addition of nurses to the unit. The authorized strength had grown to 572 total airmen and officers.
Aircraft changes in 1963 saw the arrival of the C-121 Super Constellation with its worldwide operating capability. Staffing increased to 604 enlisted and 107 officers. Overseas missions flown to Puerto Rico, the Azores, France, England, Germany, Spain and Bermuda were not uncommon. The unit began flying missions to the Pacific areas in 1965 and 1966. During 1966, the Super Constellations made 103 overseas flights, including 26 to Vietnam and 77 to other outpost such as Thailand, Australia, Japan and the Philippines, carrying 1198 tons of military cargo and 1390 passengers
In 1995, the unit began conversion training for the C-130H-3 in the first quarter and transferred most of the "E" models to Peoria, Illinois. The Civil Engineers deployed to Panama and the Medical Squadron deployed to Honduras. Most of the sections took part in a deployment to Alpena, Michigan in September where chemical exercises and other special training took place. The unit celebrated its 40th anniversary on 10 June 1995 with an open house and dance.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., the unit has had members deployed to the four corners of the world in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Unit members have received six Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts in support of these operations.
In December of 2006, the 167th received its first C-5 Galaxy, out of a total of 10 aircraft. At present, the runway at Shepherd Field in Martinsburg is being expanded and reinforced to accommodate the much larger and heavier Galaxy.
In October of 1955, the '130th Troop Carrier Squadron' was formed at Kanawha Airport.
On May 13th, 2005, the Department of Defense released its Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) report, and the 130th Airlift Wing was one of the units slated to be eventually decommissioned. Its complement of 8 C-130H aircraft would be realigned to Pope Air Force Base, and its complement of expeditionary combat support (ECS) personnel to the 167th Airlift Wing.
Upon learning of this, several former commanders of the 130th Airlift Wing along with members of the local Kanawha County Commission and the Yeager Airport Board of Directors and formed the Keep 'Em Flyinggrassroots organization to try and prevent the unit from being decomissioned. Following an outpouring of community support, money was raised for newspaper ads, radio ads, and hire analysts familiar with BRAC, all in an attempt to save the unit. On June 13th 2005, members of the BRAC commission came to Charleston to evaluate the base and talk to General Tackett, Governor Joe Manchin, Senator Robert Byrd, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Col. Bill Peters, Jr, former commander of the 130th and chair for Keep 'Em Flying.
Following this visit, and taking in all the information that was presented to them during that time, the BRAC commission voted 'unanimously', 9-0, to keep the unit intact.
;Official sites
★ West Virginia Air National Guard
★ 167th Airlift Wing
★ 130th Airlift Wing
;Unofficial sites
★ Article detailing expansion of Shepherd Field to accommodate the C-5 Galaxy
| Contents |
| Leadership of the WV Air National Guard |
| 167th Airlift Wing |
| History |
| 21st Century |
| 130th Airlift Wing |
| Attempted Decommissioning |
| External links |
Leadership of the WV Air National Guard
★ 'The Adjutant General:' Major General Allen E. Tackett
★ 'Commander/Chief of Staff:' Brigadier General Terry Butler
★ 'Assistant Adjutant General for Air:' Brigadier General Loda R. Moore
★ 'State Command Chief:' CMSgt Ronald D. Bowe
167th Airlift Wing
History
The West Virginia Air National Guard was officially federally recognized on March 7th, 1947, as the '167th Fighter Squadron', based at Kanawha Airport in Charleston. During the early years of the 167th, it flew the T-6 Texan trainer, P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt. The unit was activated October 10th, 1950 during the Korean War, and was designated the '167th Fighter Bomber Squadron' when it returned on July 10th, 1952.
In December of 1955, the unit was redesignated as the '167th Fighter Interceptor Squadron', and relocated to Eastern West Virginia Region Airport in Martinsburg, WV. The unit was slated to receive jet aircraft, and due to the limitations of Kanawha Airport at the time, could not use that airfield. Following a two-year expansion of the runway in Martinsburg, the unit received the F-86 Sabrejet, which would remain with them until 1961.
A P-51 Mustang of the 167th Fighter Squadron
On 1 April, the 167th again changed aircraft when the unit received C-119 Flying Boxcars, manufactured by Fairchild. A new mission and name change also took effect: The 167th Aeromedical Transport Squadron, Light. The mission became evacuation and care of the sick and wounded. The changes resulted in an increase of manpower and the addition of nurses to the unit. The authorized strength had grown to 572 total airmen and officers.
Aircraft changes in 1963 saw the arrival of the C-121 Super Constellation with its worldwide operating capability. Staffing increased to 604 enlisted and 107 officers. Overseas missions flown to Puerto Rico, the Azores, France, England, Germany, Spain and Bermuda were not uncommon. The unit began flying missions to the Pacific areas in 1965 and 1966. During 1966, the Super Constellations made 103 overseas flights, including 26 to Vietnam and 77 to other outpost such as Thailand, Australia, Japan and the Philippines, carrying 1198 tons of military cargo and 1390 passengers
A C-5 Galaxy of the 167th Airlift Wing
In 1995, the unit began conversion training for the C-130H-3 in the first quarter and transferred most of the "E" models to Peoria, Illinois. The Civil Engineers deployed to Panama and the Medical Squadron deployed to Honduras. Most of the sections took part in a deployment to Alpena, Michigan in September where chemical exercises and other special training took place. The unit celebrated its 40th anniversary on 10 June 1995 with an open house and dance.
21st Century
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., the unit has had members deployed to the four corners of the world in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and IRAQI FREEDOM. Unit members have received six Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts in support of these operations.
In December of 2006, the 167th received its first C-5 Galaxy, out of a total of 10 aircraft. At present, the runway at Shepherd Field in Martinsburg is being expanded and reinforced to accommodate the much larger and heavier Galaxy.
130th Airlift Wing
In October of 1955, the '130th Troop Carrier Squadron' was formed at Kanawha Airport.
Attempted Decommissioning
On May 13th, 2005, the Department of Defense released its Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) report, and the 130th Airlift Wing was one of the units slated to be eventually decommissioned. Its complement of 8 C-130H aircraft would be realigned to Pope Air Force Base, and its complement of expeditionary combat support (ECS) personnel to the 167th Airlift Wing.
A WV Air National Guard C-130H
Upon learning of this, several former commanders of the 130th Airlift Wing along with members of the local Kanawha County Commission and the Yeager Airport Board of Directors and formed the Keep 'Em Flyinggrassroots organization to try and prevent the unit from being decomissioned. Following an outpouring of community support, money was raised for newspaper ads, radio ads, and hire analysts familiar with BRAC, all in an attempt to save the unit. On June 13th 2005, members of the BRAC commission came to Charleston to evaluate the base and talk to General Tackett, Governor Joe Manchin, Senator Robert Byrd, Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Col. Bill Peters, Jr, former commander of the 130th and chair for Keep 'Em Flying.
Following this visit, and taking in all the information that was presented to them during that time, the BRAC commission voted 'unanimously', 9-0, to keep the unit intact.
External links
;Official sites
★ West Virginia Air National Guard
★ 167th Airlift Wing
★ 130th Airlift Wing
;Unofficial sites
★ Article detailing expansion of Shepherd Field to accommodate the C-5 Galaxy
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