West Virginia Air National Guard
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The West Virginia Air National Guard is composed of two Airlift units, the 130th Airlift Wing based in Charleston, and the 167th Airlift Wing based in Martinsburg. 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.
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[edit] Leadership
- 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
[edit] 167th Airlift Wing
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.
[edit] 130th Airlift Wing
[edit] Attempted Decommissioning
On May 13, 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.
[edit] External links
- Official sites
- West Virginia Air National Guard
- 167th Airlift Wing
- 130th Airlift Wing
- Article detailing expansion of Shepherd Field to accommodate the C-5 Galaxy
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