107th Airlift Wing Takes Final Flight in C-130 Thursday Before Switching to MQ-9 Operations

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A C-130 flown by the 107th Airlift Wing fires flares during training over Lake Ontario in 2012. (US Air National Guard Photo by Senior Master Sgt., Raymond Lloyd/Released)

NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, NIAGARA FALLS, NY (09/24/2014)(readMedia)-- Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing make their final flight in a C-130 Hercules on Thursday as the wing continues to transition to flying the MQ-9 remotely piloted vehicle.

Members of the press are invited to see the plane land at the conclusion of the flight and the traditional "wet down" ceremony that follows a final flight and interview the wing commander, Col. John J. Higgins.

WHO: Members of the 107th Airlift Wing of the New York Air National Guard including Col. John J. Higgins, the commander of the 107th Airlift Wing who will serve as navigator on the flight.

WHAT: Final flight of a 107th Airlift Wing crew in a C-130 Hercules tactical transport. As the aircraft heads into the ramp from the runway it will pass under an arch of water sprayed by the base fire trucks.Col. Higgins will be available to discuss the significance of the transition from the C-130 mission to the MQ-9 mission after the aircraft lands

WHEN : 1:45 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, 2014. (The aircraft will land at approximately 2:30 p.m.).

WHERE: Lockport Road Gate, Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station, Niagara Falls , NY

Coverage Opportunities:

Still and video imagery of the C-130 landing and the traditional wet down ceremony in which beverages are sprayed over the Airman making the final flight as they walk down a line of other Airmen. As the aircraft heads into the ramp from the runway it will pass under an arch of water sprayed by the base fire trucks. There will be an interview opportunity with the 107th Airlift Wing Commander Col. John J. Higgins and other wing members.

Members of the media wishing to cover this event must contact contact Major Randy Allen, the 107th Airlift Wing Executive Officer, at (716) 236-3142 prior to 9 a.m. Thursday September 25th. Media must be at the gate a 1:30 p.m.

BACKGROUND:

The 107th Airlift Wing traces its history back to World War II when it was organized as the 339th Air Bombardment Group of the United States Army Air Forces at Hunter Army Airfield, Georgia in September 1943. In April 1944 the unit was re-designated the 339th Fighter Group and was based in England flying P-51 Mustangs to escort American bombers flying over Germany.

In 1946 the unit was re-designated as the 107th Fighter Group and assigned to the New York Air National Guard which formed the unit at Niagara Falls Municipal Airport flying the F-47 Thunderbolt.

The Group was renamed the 1097th Fighter Wing in 1951, with squadrons located across New York. From 1953 to 1958 the 107th Fighter Wing served as part of Air Defense Command, charged with protecting the United States from Russian bombers and flying the F-51H Mustang and then the F-94 Starfire jet.

In 1958 the wing was assigned to the tactical air command and equipped with the F-86 Sabre Jet, one of the best fighters of the era. The 136th Fighter Squadron was based at Niagara Falls and in 1965 began flying the F-100 Super Sabre. In 1968 the 136th was federalized and deployed to Vietnam, serving at Tuy Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam. Wing member Captain Joseph L'Hullie was killed while flying missions from the base.

In 1971 the 107th Tactical Fighter Group was reassigned the air defense mission, flying F-101 Voodoo fighters from Niagara Falls. In 1981 the unit re-equipped with the F-4 Phantom. In 1990 the wing began flying the F-16 and operated that aircraft until it converted to a refueling wing in 1994.

From 1994 to 2008 the wing served as the 107th Air Refueling Wing, flying the KC-135, a Boeing 707 configured to fuel fighters and other plans in mid-air. In 2008 the wing became the 107th Airlift Wing, flying C-130s in partnership with the United States Air Force Reserves 914th Airlift Wing.

As the 107th Air Refueling Wing, the wing deployed in support of United States operations in the Middle East. As the 107th Airlift Wing the unit airdropped supplies to American forces in Afghanistan in 2011.

The wing now transitions to operate the MQ-9 "Reaper" remotely piloted aircraft. This is the same aircraft currently flow by the 174th Attack Wing in Syracuse, which formerly flew F-16 fighters.