167th Airlift Wing

Last updated

167th Airlift Wing
167th Airlift Wing - C-130 and C-5 2003.jpg
167th Airlift Wing receiving its first C-5 Galaxy, 4 December 2006
Active1958–present
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
AllegianceFlag of West Virginia.svg  West Virginia
Branch US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg   Air National Guard
TypeWing
RoleAirlift
Part of West Virginia Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base, Martinsburg, West Virginia
Motto(s)Mountaineer Pride Worldwide
Tail CodeRed tail stripe "Martinsburg"
Insignia
167th Airlift Wing emblem 167th Airlift Wing.png
Aircraft flown
Transport C-17 Globemaster III

The 167th Airlift Wing (167 AW) is a unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard, stationed at Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base, Martinsburg, West Virginia. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

Contents

Overview

The 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard is an airlift unit that flies the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft. The wing began at the end of World War II when its 167th Fighter Squadron flew the P-51 Mustang and F-86 Sabre fighters. The unit has deployed to the four corners of the Earth in support of the Global War on Terrorism and continues to support this effort. The 167th's focus today, and in the future, is summed up in the unit's motto: "Mountaineer Pride Worldwide."[ citation needed ]

The unit has been active in numerous exercises such as Sentry Storm, Volant Oak, Rodeos, and various overseas deployments; for example, 1981, and again in 1988, all aircraft deployed to Europe a first for any unit.

Units

The 167th Airlift Wing is composed of the following units:

 : 167th Airlift Squadron

History

The 167th Tactical Airlift Group, was established on 1 July 1972 when authorization was granted to expand the 167th Tactical Airlift Squadron to group level. The 167th TAG was operationally gained by Tactical Airlift Command and flew C-130A Hercules transports . Late in 1977, the unit received "B" model C-130s. The 1986, the number of aircraft assigned increased, and in 1989, the "B" model was replaced with the "E" model.

Initially, the base at the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport had only one hangar, a motor pool, and a supply building. Many major additions have since been made to the base, including a fire hall, base operations building, nose dock, civil engineering building, corrosion control/fuel cell facility, engine shop, aerospace ground equipment shop, barracks, clinic, avionics shop and aerial port building.

On Sunday, 8 July 1984, the 167th Tactical Airlift Group reached 100,000 hours of safe flying, only the fifth Air Guard unit to achieve this goal. In 1987, the unit received an Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI) from the Military Airlift Command. The unit received eight Outstanding, twelve Excellent and one Satisfactory rating among the various components of the unit. Other awards during this period include the fourth Air Force Outstanding Unit Award received in 1988 and the Distinguished Unit Flying Award from the National Guard Association in 1989.[ citation needed ]

The conversion in July 1989 to the newer C-130E broadened the group's capabilities with the ability to airdrop during adverse weather and transport an additional 20,000 pounds of cargo.

In 1990, the unit came to the aid of communities, providing relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Hugo and the California earthquake. Supplies were also flown to Puerto Rico, which had been devastated by the hurricane. Also in 1990, members of the Aeromedical Evacuation Flight, Mobile Aerial Port Squadron, Tactical Airlift Squadron and Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, along with support personnel from other areas were the first called to volunteer to take part in Operation Desert Shield. They did so, with many leaving on only a few hours' notice.

Reorganization and realignment put the 167th in the Air Combat Command during this time frame. Another first for the 167th was the receipt of a new C-130H-3 on 21 December 1994. Greeted by Santa Claus upon its arrival, the aircraft is the first new plane received by the unit in its history. Previous conversions had been to newer models, but not just off the assembly line.

In early 1995, while flying the C-130E version of the C-130 Hercules aircraft, the by now renamed 167th Airlift Group (167 AG) began conversion training for the C-130H-3 variant in the first quarter, transferring most of their "E" models to the Illinois Air National Guard's 182d Airlift Wing in Peoria, Illinois. The 167 AG's Civil Engineers deployed to Panama and the Medical Squadron deployed to Honduras that year, while 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.

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.

The 167th Airlift Group was redesignated the 167th Airlift Wing (167 AW) on 1 October 1995 and as it became operationally capable in the C-130H-3 aircraft to perform its airlift mission. [1] Then on 16 April 1997, the 167th Airlift Wing was reallocated to the Air Mobility Command (AMC), with no change in mission or assignment. The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission converted the wing's aircraft from the C-130 Hercules to the C-5 Galaxy. [1] In February 2012, the Force Structure Overview was released by the Secretary of the Air Force. The document detailed numerous aircraft changes throughout the active, Guard and Reserve forces, including the replacement of the unit's C-5 aircraft with C-17s. On 25 September 2014, the 167th Airlift Wing flew its final C-5 mission, a local training sortie. That same day the wing received its first C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, one of eight C-17s the unit is slated to receive. [2]

A 167th AW C-130H over Harpers Ferry. C-130H 167th AW over Harpers Ferry.jpg
A 167th AW C-130H over Harpers Ferry.

The Wing participated in an Operational Readiness Evaluation and Inspection in 1998 at the Combat Readiness Training Center, Savannah, Georgia. At the conclusion of the ORI, the 167th received its first ever overall Outstanding rating. Since the 11 Sept. 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 March 2002, West Virginia Senator Robert Byrd announced that the unit would transition to the C-5 Galaxy aircraft. On 4 December 2006 the first C-5 aircraft assigned to the unit landed at Shepherd Field. Ten more aircraft were assigned to the 167th Airlift Wing throughout the following two years.

On 28 March 2007 the unit launched its first C-5 mission from Shepherd Air Field. After a brief stop at Dover Air Force Base, the aircraft continued on to Camp Lemonier, Djibouti, Africa, delivering two CH-53E Super Stallion helicopters (used for humanitarian assistance, personnel and equipment movement, and noncombatant casualty evacuations) and more than 60 marines supporting Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.

The wing has since retired its fleet of C-5 aircraft and has received eight C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft.

Lineage

Re-designated: 167th Airlift Group, 1 June 1992
Status changed from Group to Wing, 1 October 1995
Re-designated: 167th Airlift Wing, 1 October 1995

Assignments

Gained by: Tactical Air Command
Gained by: Military Airlift Command, 1 December 1974
Gained by: Air Mobility Command, 1 June 1992
Gained by: Air Combat Command, 1 December 1993 – 1 October 1995
Gained by: Air Mobility Command

Components

Stations

Designated: Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base, West Virginia, 1991-Present

Aircraft

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">109th Airlift Wing</span> Unit of the NY Air National Guard assigned to provide Arctic and Antarctic airlift operations

The 109th Airlift Wing is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Schenectady, New York. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">172nd Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 172nd Airlift Wing is a unit of the Mississippi Air National Guard, stationed at Allen C. Thompson Field Air National Guard Base, Mississippi. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kentucky Air National Guard</span> Unit of the US Air National Guard for the State of Kentucky

The Kentucky Air National Guard (KY ANG) is the aerial militia of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, United States of America. It is, along with the Kentucky Army National Guard, an element of the Kentucky National Guard.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Air National Guard</span> Military unit

The West Virginia Air National Guard (WV ANG) is the aerial militia of the State of West Virginia, United States of America. It is, along with the West Virginia Army National Guard, an element of the West Virginia National Guard, and is also closely associated with the United States Air Force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">139th Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 139th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Missouri Air National Guard, stationed at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Missouri. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">118th Wing</span> Military unit

The 118th Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard, stationed at Joint Base Berry Field, formerly Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville, Tennessee. The 118th is equipped with the MQ-9 Reaper. If activated to federal service, it is gained by the United States Air Force Air Combat Command.

The 130th Airlift Wing is a unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard, stationed at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, West Virginia. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">133rd Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 133rd Airlift Wing is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard, stationed at Minneapolis–Saint Paul Joint Air Reserve Station, Minnesota. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">179th Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 179th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Ohio Air National Guard, stationed at Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base, Mansfield, Ohio. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the Wing is gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">137th Special Operations Wing</span> Oklahoma Air National Guard unit

The 137th Special Operations Wing is a unit of the Oklahoma Air National Guard located at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by Air Force Special Operations Command. During World War II, its predecessor, the 404th Fighter Group, flying Republic P-47 Thunderbolts, provided close air support to troops following the Operation Overlord, the Normandy landing until the close of the war. The wing is entitled to the honors won by the group by temporary bestowal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">152nd Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 152nd Airlift Wing is a unit of the Nevada Air National Guard, stationed at Nevada Air National Guard Base, Nevada. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the Wing is operationally gained by the 18th Air Force of the Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">156th Wing</span> Unit of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard

The 156th Wing is a unit of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, stationed at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, in Carolina, Puerto Rico. If activated to federal service with the United States Air Force, the wing is operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">164th Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 164th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Tennessee Air National Guard, stationed at Memphis Air National Guard Base, Tennessee. If activated to federal service in the United States Air Force, the 164th is gained by Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">165th Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 165th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Georgia Air National Guard, stationed at Savannah Air National Guard Base, in the U.S. state of Georgia. If activated to federal service, the wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">166th Airlift Wing</span> Military unit

The 166th Airlift Wing of the Delaware Air National Guard (DANG) is stationed at New Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">130th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 130th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard 130th Airlift Wing located at Charleston Air National Guard Base, Charleston, West Virginia. 130th is equipped with the C-130J Super Hercules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">156th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 156th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the North Carolina Air National Guard 145th Airlift Wing. It is assigned to Charlotte Air National Guard Base, North Carolina and is equipped with the Boeing C-17 Globemaster III aircraft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">142nd Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 142d Airlift Squadron is a unit of the Delaware Air National Guard 166th Airlift Wing located at New Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware. It is equipped with the C-130H Hercules.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">167th Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 167th Airlift Squadron is a unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard 167th Airlift Wing located at Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base, Martinsburg, West Virginia. It is equipped with the C-17 Globemaster III, heavy airlifter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">183rd Airlift Squadron</span> Military unit

The 183rd Airlift Squadron is a unit of the 172nd Airlift Wing of the Mississippi Air National Guard, stationed at Allen C. Thompson Field Air National Guard Base, Mississippi. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency

  1. 1 2 "167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard - Home". af.mil.
  2. "Factsheets : History of the 167th Airlift Wing". af.mil. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 17 May 2016.