 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
| 166th Airlift Wing | |
|---|---|
 Delaware Guardsmen load an M-1083 Tactical Vehicle onto aC-130 Hercules for deployment to New Orleans in support ofHurricane Katrina relief efforts. | |
| Active | 7 April 1962-Present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Delaware |
| Branch |  Air National Guard |
| Type | Wing |
| Role | Airlift |
| Part of | Delaware Air National Guard |
| Garrison/HQ | New Castle County Airport, Delaware |
| Insignia | |
| 166th Airlift Wing emblem |  |
| Tail stripe |  The First State |
The166th Airlift Wing of theDelaware Air National Guard is stationed atNew Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by theUnited States Air ForceAir Mobility Command.
The166th Airlift Wingthe wing provides the U.S. Air Force withairlift,airdrop capability of paratroops and cargo, 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.
The 166th Airlift Wing consists of the following units:
On 7 April 1962 theDelaware Air National Guard, with the 142nd Tactical Fighter Squadron, enlarged to group status as the166th Air Transport Group and then was reassigned from theTactical Air Command to theMilitary Air Transport Service. The Delaware Air National Guard gave up itsNorth American F-86 Sabres for the four engineBoeing C-97 Stratofreighter 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 theMilitary Airlift Command. In addition to the name change certain Air National Guard units were also redesignated, including Delaware's. The unit was named the166th Military Airlift Group.
During the period from 1969 to 1971 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 ofWilmington, 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 to the166th Tactical Airlift Group and replaced its C-97s withLockheed C-130A Hercules turboprop cargo planes, and began transition from the Military Airlift Command to theTactical Air Command.
On 16 October 1985, the Delaware Air National Guard began replacing its aging C-130As 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 asOperation 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 toDover 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 group being redesignated the166th Airlift Group. In 1993 an Air Force reorganization placed the 166th underAir Combat Command if called to active duty.
On 1 October 1995, the group was renamed the166th Airlift Wing and was gained by the Air Mobility Command.[1]
In 2021, the unit's 1984 C-130H2 aircraft departed and the wing received newer 1991 C-130H2.5 aircraft.
This article incorporatespublic domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Leadership |  | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure |
| ||||||||||
| Personnel and training | |||||||||||
| Uniforms and equipment | |||||||||||
| History and traditions |
| ||||||||||
