| West Virginia Air National Guard | |
|---|---|
| Active | 1947 - present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | Air National Guard |
| Role | "To meet state and federal mission responsibilities." |
| Commanders | |
| Civilian leadership | President Barack Obama (Commander-in-Chief) Michael B. Donley (Secretary of the Air Force) Governor Earl Ray Tomblin (Governor of the State of West Virginia) |
| State military leadership | Major General Allen E. Tackett |
| Insignia | |
| USAF Roundel | |
The West Virginia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is, along with the West Virginia Army National Guard, an element of the West Virginia National Guard. It is considered a part of the United States Air Force, as well as of the state.
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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.
Since the September 11 attacks 2001 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 2006, the 167th received its first C-5 Galaxy, out of a total of 11 aircraft. At present, the runway at Shepherd Field in Martinsburg is being expanded and reinforced to accommodate the much larger and heavier Galaxy.
On 13 May 2005, the Department of Defense released its Base Realignment and Closure, 2005 (BRAC) report, and the 130th Airlift Wing was one of the units slated to be eventually decommissioned. Its complement of eight 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 formed the Keep 'Em Flying grassroots organization to try to prevent the unit from being decommissioned. Following an outpouring of community support, money was raised for newspaper ads and radio ads, and to hire analysts familiar with BRAC, all in an attempt to save the unit. On June 13, 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.
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