News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

For more information contact: Lt. Col. Deanna Miller, 107 Airlift Wing, (716) 236-3142 or after hours at (716) 236-2468.

New Name, New Mission for 107th Air Guard Unit

New York Air Guard transformation redesignates historic unit

LATHAM, NY (04/01/2008; 0845)(readMedia)-- One of the first steps towards a new mission is a new name: the 107th Air Refueling Wing becomes the 107th Airlift Wing at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station on Tuesday, April 1.

The name change is a result of a 2005 BRAC decision, which directed the 107th Air Refueling Wing to convert to an Airlift Wing and form an association with the 914th Airlift Wing.

This conversion to an Airlift Wing brings the loss of the unit’s KC-135 Air Refuelers. In their place, the Air Base will have a full complement of C-130H2 aircraft. The 107th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, along with the 914th Airlift Wing, Air Force Reserve, will work together to employ these aircraft.

The association with the 914th Airlift Wing is the second-ever guard/reserve association in history, the first-ever in combat delivery. This association will allow the guardsmen and reservists to share resources, increasing mission effectiveness and decreasing duplication of effort.

The 107th became an Air Refueling Wing in 1994. After more than 40 years as a fighter group, the name was changed from the 107th Fighter Group to the 107th Air Refueling Wing with the 107th’s receipt of KC-135R’s. The KC-135’s refuel other aircraft in mid-air, operating much like a mobile gas station. The KC-135 is also capable of hauling cargo and troops.

Over the years, the 107th has provided support to numerous operations around the globe while maintaining its state mission. The 107th has provided support for Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom, Hurricane Katrina and Western New York’s October Storm.

The 107th Airlift Wing will continue to provide support for state and around the globe operations with its new mission, flying C-130H2’s. The C-130 offers flexible configurations for various airlift and medical missions. The C-130 is also capable of dropping troops and supplies into rough and hazardous terrain.

For more information please contact Lt. Col. Deanna Miller, Wing Executive Officer/Community Manager at (716) 236-3142.

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Attachments

The new organizational patch of the 107th Airlift Wing.