News from New York State Division of Military & Naval Affairs

For more information contact: Lt. Col. Robert Bullock, 518-473-7105 or Eric Durr, 518-786-4581

New York Air Guard Unit Partners With Air Force Reserve

107th Air Refueling Wing to become C-130 airlift unit

LATHAM, NY (10/31/2007; 1125)(readMedia)-- The New York Air National Guard’s 107th Air Refueling Wing will become a C-130 airlift unit and partner with the Air Force Reserve’s 914 Airlift Wing under a proposal announced today by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. T. Michael Moseley.

Both units are based at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station in Niagara Falls New York.

Under the Air Force proposal, the 914th Airlift Wing would have primary responsibility for the C-130H airlift aircraft operated by the Airmen of both wings. This would be the second time that an Air National Guard Wing and Air Force Reserve Wing have been associated together.

The goal, according to Moseley, is to generate efficiencies by sharing resources and reducing duplication of effort, providing contingency surge capability. Associating the two units will also help maintain aircrew and maintenance expertise and experience levels, while reducing peacetime training hours and saving money.

“We look forward to associating with our partners in the Air Force Reserve,” said Major General Joseph Taluto, the adjutant general of New York State. “This partnership will allow our Air National Guard members to better serve their state and the nation.”

“Placing additional C-130 aircraft at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will provide an important capacity in Western New York,” said Major General Robert Knauff, the Deputy Adjutant General and Commander of the New York Air National Guard. “Not only will these aircraft be able to fulfill national missions, but they will be made available in the event of state emergencies at the direction of the governor.”

The operational details of the association of the 107th and the 914th Wings are still being worked out, Knauff said. There is also no timetable yet for delivering the additional aircraft the two units would fly.

This is not the first time the 107th Wing has changed aircraft and missions. While the 107th is currently an air refueling wing—operating KC-135 tankers—the unit was originally a fighter wing prior to being reorganized in 1994.

The Airmen of the 107th have proven their ability to change aircraft and missions and continue without missing a beat, Knauff said.

The assignment of the additional aircraft to the 107th and 914th Wings is one of four initiatives Moseley announced during a visit to the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 118th Airlift Wing.

That wing, based at Nashville International Airport, will become a training unit and re-equip with WC-130s that are being allocated to serve as training aircraft. The C-130H2 aircraft that unit currently flies will be redistributed to equip the 914th and 107th along with other units.

Other initiatives being announced included converting the 94th Airlift Wing at Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia from a training unit to a combat unit and expanding the training responsibilities of the Tactical Airlift Center of Excellence at Little Rock Air Force Base.

“These initiatives will strengthen an already powerful partnership and I look forward to seeing the fruits of our collective efforts,” Moseley said.

(Note: Photographs of aircraft operated by the 914th and 107th Wings are attached.)

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Attachments

KC-135 Operated by 107th Air Refueling Wing

C-130 Operated by 914th Airlift Wing