166th Airlift Wing

166th Airlift Wing
166th Airlift Wing emblem
Active	1962-Present
Country	United States
Branch	Air National Guard
Part of	Delaware Air National Guard
Garrison/HQ	New Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware

Senior Master Sgt. Michael Forsyth and Airman 1st Class Jennifer Quigg, load an M-1083 Tactical Vehicle onto a C-130 Hercules for deployment to New Orleans in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts.

The 166th Airlift Wing (166th AW) is a unit of the Delaware Air National Guard, 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.

Overview

The 166th Airlift Wing is a Delaware Air National Guard wing headquartered in New Castle, Delaware. Operating eight permanently assigned, Lockheed C-130 H2 Hercules transport aircraft, the wing provides the U.S. Air Force with tactical airlift and air and land drop of troops, cargo and passengers and aeromedical evacuation of patients anywhere in the world. Additionally, the wing has a civil engineer function and a network warfare unit (the 166th Network Warfare Squadron).

Under command of the Governor of Delaware, the wing is prepared to support the State of Delaware with trained personnel and equipment for various humanitarian missions to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order and public safety. The wing's gaining command is the Air Mobility Command, U.S. Air Force.

Units

The 166th Airlift Wing consists of the following units:

• 166th Operations Group

142d Airlift Squadron

• 166th Maintenance Group
• 166th Mission Support Group
• 166th Medical Group

History

On 7 April 1962 the Delaware Air National Guard, with the 142nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, enlarged to "group status" as the 166th Air Transport Group and the was reassigned from the Tactical Air Command to the Military Air Transport Service. The Delaware Air National Guard gave up its F-86 Sabrejets for the four engine C-97 Stratocruiser cargo planes.

Dr. Harold Brown, Secretary of the Air Force, announced that effective 1 January 1966, the Military Air Transport Service would be redesignated as the Military Airlift Command. In addition to the name change certain Air National Guard units were also redesignated, including Delaware's. The unit was named the 166th Military Airlift Group.

During the period from 1964-1974 the Delaware Air National Guard flew missions to Vietnam.

On 9 April 1968, the Delaware Air National Guard was called to state duty to quell civil disturbance and violence in the city of Wilmington, Delaware. The unit was released from state duty after several weeks. However, many individuals remained on state duty through 20 January 1969.

On 12 May 1971 the Delaware ANG changed its name from the 166th Military Airlift Group to the 166th Tactical Airlift Group and replaced its C-97s with C-130A Hercules prop-jet cargo plane, and began transition from the Military Airlift Command to the Tactical Airlift Command.

On 16 October 1985, the Delaware Air National Guard began replacing its aging, antiquated C-130A's with the delivery of a brand new factory fresh C-130H. The last new C-130H aircraft arrived in January 1986.

On 25 January 1991 selected units of the Delaware Air National Guard were activated for the Persian Gulf War known as Operation Desert Storm. A majority of the unit was stationed at Al Kharj Air Base, Saudi Arabia. Over 150 personnel deployed to six other locations in Europe and two stateside bases. The 166th Civil Engineer Squadron voluntarily deployed to Dover Air Force Base, Delaware and performed the monumental accomplishment of enlarging Dover's Mortuary capacity - the assignment was completed in a record 23 days. On 30 June 1991 the units/personnel were released from active duty performed in support of the Persian Gulf War.

Another name change occurred on 16 March 1992, with the 166th Tactical Airlift Group being redesignated the 166th Airlift Group.

On 1 October 1995, the 166th Airlift Group was renamed the 166th Airlift Wing.

Lineage

• Established as 166th Air Transport Group, and activated, 7 April 1962

Re-designated: 166th Military Airlift Group, 8 January 1966

Re-designated: 166th Tactical Airlift Group, 12 May 1971

Re-designated: 166th Airlift Group, 1 June 1992

Status changed from Group to Wing, 10 January 1995

Re-designated: 166th Airlift Wing, 10 January 1995

See also

• Delaware Air National Guard
• Hugh T. Broomall
• Francis D. Vavala

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency