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Ohio Air Guard Unit is "Herc Strong"

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood
  • 179 Airlift Wing Public Affairs
MANSFIELD -- Ohio --  Eight C-130H Hercules filled out the fleet again at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio, Aug. 4, 2015. The sight is familiar for veterans who are accustomed to seeing eight C-130s on the flight line in Mansfield; a unit rich with aviation heritage.  The unit dates back to flying P-51 Mustangs in 1948 and started flying the C-130B Hercules in January of 1976.  The sights and sounds of a C130 flying overhead were common in every backyard. The local community has always shown a great deal of support, especially when it mattered most and thought they may never see them again. For decades, the sight of the C-130 in the sky was part of being home.

In 2005, the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) committee announced that Mansfield-Lahm Airport Guard Station was listed by the Department of Defense as recommend for closure. The eight C-130H aircraft were divided and distributed; four aircraft sent to the 908th Airlift Wing, at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, and four sent to the 314th Airlift Wing, at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas.

Mansfield lost the C-130H Hercules fleet. However, after further review of the unit's superior record coupled with recommendations for reconsideration by state and local officials, the 179th ended up with a new mission; the C-27J Spartan.

The unit was assigned four of the C-27J Spartans, which reduced manning requirements and eliminated two aircrew positions that had previously been needed for the Flight Engineer and Navigator positions of the C-130H Hercules. Despite such herculean obstacles and tests of adversity, the member's spirits met each new challenge with bravery and consistent quality. While plunged into uncharted territory, working with a new airframe, the 164th Airlift Squadron was tasked to be the first to deploy to the front lines with this aircraft. The unit made history with the C-27J Spartan in the summer of 2011 as it tackled a joint mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom with the U.S. Army.

Despite the successful deployment, the C-27J Spartan program was later abandoned by the Air Force. On Aug. 14, 2013, the last C-27J Spartan departed Mansfield. Fortunately, the Air Force would not be abandoning the 179th along with the C-27J Spartan. Congress announced the return of the C-130H Hercules to Mansfield. Two C-130s arrived on May 24, 2013 and began another conversion period.

Over the next two years, the unit had to rebuild to support eight airframes.  At record pace, the recruiters increased manning and achieved the most recruiting accessions in the nation. Pilots re-qualified. Flight engineers and navigators returned. Maintenance retrained. The 179th Airlift Wing is ready to fly eight C-130H Hercules with decades of experience. Airmen from Mansfield Ohio are ready to serve the nation and the supportive community never lost hope.

To top it all off, not only have familiar things returned, but new things have arrived. A C-130 Flight Simulator known as the Multi-Mission Crew Trainer (MMCT) has been added to the unit as well. This ground breaking technology is one of the first of its kind for the Air National Guard.

The 179th Airlift Wing has weathered the storms of mission conversions and on July 12, 2015, Col. Mark D. Auer, 179th Operations Group Commander announced the 179th Airlift Wing is mission capable.  Members have always trained to do the jobs that have been asked of them, with the aircraft and manning allowed. They serve their community, state and country with professionalism and continue to rise to any challenge. Their story is one of service before self. When the mission wasn't always clear or what aircraft would be on the flight line, these airmen continued to train, continued to serve and continued to trust in leadership. The Ohio Air National Guard unit is always on mission and ready to respond with highly qualified citizen-airmen to execute Federal, State and community missions. Given the chance to prove it, they always will be there. #hercstrong

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