133d Airlift Wing
Encyclopedia
The 133d Airlift Wing (133 AW) is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard
and Minnesota National Guard
, part of the United States Air Force
. It's located at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in St. Paul
, Minnesota. Operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command
(AMC), the 133 AW flies the C-130 H3 Hercules
aircraft. The wing's 109th Airlift Squadron
is one of the oldest Air National Guard
units in the country. The 109th Aero Squadron, MN National Guard (34th ID) was federally recognized by the War Department on January 17, 1921. It was the first National Guard aviation squadron to receive federal recognition following World War I
.
, Minnesota National Guard, passing muster inspection on 17 January 1921. This unit was, however, assigned to the (Army) National Guard, as the Air National Guard was not formed in the U.S. before 1946. The 109th Observation Squadron was send to Europe, initially flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V
, and later reconnaissance missions with the North American F-6 Mustang.
During the Korean War
Minnesota's Air Guard was also activated, contributing pilots to active wings in Korea.
In the 1950s and early 1960 both units of the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
in Duluth and 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
in St. Paul were providing active air defense commitments with 24 hour alert status. Threats by the Soviet Union
to oust Western troops from West Berlin in 1961 prompted the Berlin Crisis
and a call-up of selected National Guard forces throughout the U.S. Included in this mobilization were members of the 133rd Air Transport Wing, who served in federal active service for 11 months while operating out of their home station at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
During the Vietnam War
, although never officially mobilized, the Air Guard flew hundreds of supply and transport missions to Southeast Asia.
The Minnesota Air National Guard was also activated in the Global War On Terror since 11 September 2001. Immediately after the attack on New York City
and Washington, D.C.
, F-16s from the 148th Fighter Wing were providing combat air patrols
over key locations. The 133rd Airlift wing also provided airlift in Afghanistan
.
During the Korean War Minnesota's Air Guard was also activated, contributing pilots to active wings in Korea.
Both Minnesota squadrons flew the F-89 on active air defense missions beginning in the late 1950s. In January 1958, the 109th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron took over the F-89H all-weather interceptors of a deactivated Air Force squadron, along with the alert hangars that now house the museum. The Northrop F-89H was a subsonic fighter designed to serve as an all-weather interceptor. It served during the Korean War and the early days of the Cold War. The 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Minneapolis flew the F-89H in 1957-59, until its mission changed from air defense to air transportation flying the C-97s.
The Minnesota Air National Guard’s 133rd Fighter Interceptor Wing converted from fighters to transport aircraft in 1960. At that time, its mission went global. The first missions were to carry military troops and cargo related to the Berlin and Cuba crises. Later that decade, the Minnesota Air Guard hauled high priority supplies to US troops in Vietnam and re-supplied the U-2
mission out of Taiwan. Throughout those 10 years, they flew many humanitarian flights, carrying food, medical supplies and blankets to victims of natural disasters and foreign government unrest.
The museum’s C-130A was flown by the 109th TAS. In the summer of 1970 the C-130As assigned to the 109th TAS where given by the U. S. government to the South Vietnam Air Force. Some may even be flying today by the Vietnamese government. The 109th has since flown the C-130E model and are currently flying the C-130 H3 model. The C-130 has a crew of 4-6: at least 2 pilots,1 flight engineer and 1 loadmaster; an additional loadmaster and navigator are usually part of the crew.
**133d Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Air Defense Command)
Minnesota Air National Guard
The Minnesota Air National Guard is the air force militia of the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is, along with the Minnesota Army National Guard, an element of the Minnesota National Guard.-Mission:...
and Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard
The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 14,000 soldiers of the Minnesota Army National Guard and Airmen of the Minnesota Air National Guard, serving in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal...
, part of the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
. It's located at Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in St. Paul
Saint Paul, Minnesota
Saint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
, Minnesota. Operationally-gained by the Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command
Air Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
(AMC), the 133 AW flies the C-130 H3 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
aircraft. The wing's 109th Airlift Squadron
109th Airlift Squadron
The 109th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 133rd Airlift Wing.-Mission:...
is one of the oldest Air National Guard
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
units in the country. The 109th Aero Squadron, MN National Guard (34th ID) was federally recognized by the War Department on January 17, 1921. It was the first National Guard aviation squadron to receive federal recognition following World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Mission
The 133rd Airlift Wing provides the U.S. Air Force with tactical airlift of troops, cargo, and medical patients anywhere in the world. Additionally, the 133 AW is prepared to support the State of Minnesota with troops and aircraft assets capable of assisting in a disaster or state of emergency.History
The first National Guard flying unit in the nation was the 109th Observation Squadron109th Airlift Squadron
The 109th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 133rd Airlift Wing.-Mission:...
, Minnesota National Guard, passing muster inspection on 17 January 1921. This unit was, however, assigned to the (Army) National Guard, as the Air National Guard was not formed in the U.S. before 1946. The 109th Observation Squadron was send to Europe, initially flying the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.V
Supermarine Spitfire
The Supermarine Spitfire is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force and many other Allied countries throughout the Second World War. The Spitfire continued to be used as a front line fighter and in secondary roles into the 1950s...
, and later reconnaissance missions with the North American F-6 Mustang.
During the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
Minnesota's Air Guard was also activated, contributing pilots to active wings in Korea.
In the 1950s and early 1960 both units of the 179th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
179th Fighter Squadron
The 179th Fighter Squadron flies the F-16C Fighting Falcon. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 148th Fighter Wing.-Lineage:...
in Duluth and 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron
109th Airlift Squadron
The 109th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 133rd Airlift Wing.-Mission:...
in St. Paul were providing active air defense commitments with 24 hour alert status. Threats by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
to oust Western troops from West Berlin in 1961 prompted the Berlin Crisis
Berlin Crisis of 1961
The Berlin Crisis of 1961 was the last major politico-military European incident of the Cold War about the occupational status of the German capital city, Berlin, and of post–World War II Germany. The U.S.S.R...
and a call-up of selected National Guard forces throughout the U.S. Included in this mobilization were members of the 133rd Air Transport Wing, who served in federal active service for 11 months while operating out of their home station at the Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport.
During the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, although never officially mobilized, the Air Guard flew hundreds of supply and transport missions to Southeast Asia.
The Minnesota Air National Guard was also activated in the Global War On Terror since 11 September 2001. Immediately after the attack on New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, F-16s from the 148th Fighter Wing were providing combat air patrols
Combat air patrol
Combat air patrol is a type of flying mission for fighter aircraft.A combat air patrol is an aircraft patrol provided over an objective area, over the force protected, over the critical area of a combat zone, or over an air defense area, for the purpose of intercepting and destroying hostile...
over key locations. The 133rd Airlift wing also provided airlift in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
.
During the Korean War Minnesota's Air Guard was also activated, contributing pilots to active wings in Korea.
Both Minnesota squadrons flew the F-89 on active air defense missions beginning in the late 1950s. In January 1958, the 109th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron took over the F-89H all-weather interceptors of a deactivated Air Force squadron, along with the alert hangars that now house the museum. The Northrop F-89H was a subsonic fighter designed to serve as an all-weather interceptor. It served during the Korean War and the early days of the Cold War. The 109th Fighter Interceptor Squadron at Minneapolis flew the F-89H in 1957-59, until its mission changed from air defense to air transportation flying the C-97s.
The Minnesota Air National Guard’s 133rd Fighter Interceptor Wing converted from fighters to transport aircraft in 1960. At that time, its mission went global. The first missions were to carry military troops and cargo related to the Berlin and Cuba crises. Later that decade, the Minnesota Air Guard hauled high priority supplies to US troops in Vietnam and re-supplied the U-2
Lockheed U-2
The Lockheed U-2, nicknamed "Dragon Lady", is a single-engine, very high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft operated by the United States Air Force and previously flown by the Central Intelligence Agency . It provides day and night, very high-altitude , all-weather intelligence gathering...
mission out of Taiwan. Throughout those 10 years, they flew many humanitarian flights, carrying food, medical supplies and blankets to victims of natural disasters and foreign government unrest.
The museum’s C-130A was flown by the 109th TAS. In the summer of 1970 the C-130As assigned to the 109th TAS where given by the U. S. government to the South Vietnam Air Force. Some may even be flying today by the Vietnamese government. The 109th has since flown the C-130E model and are currently flying the C-130 H3 model. The C-130 has a crew of 4-6: at least 2 pilots,1 flight engineer and 1 loadmaster; an additional loadmaster and navigator are usually part of the crew.
Lineage
- 367th Fighter Group367th Fighter GroupThe 367th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force unit. Its last assignment was with XII Tactical Air Command stationed at Seymour Johnson Field , North Carolina...
, 26 May 1943-7 November 1945 - Allotted to Minnesota Air National Guard as 133d Fighter Group, 24 May 1946
- Extended federal recognition and activated on 28 August 1947
- Re-designated: 133d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 23 March 1951
- Federalized and placed on active duty, 2 March 1951
- Inactivated on 6 February 1952
- Reactivated and Re-designated: 133d Fighter Group, 1 December 1952
- Re-designated: 133d Fighter-Interceptor Group, 1956
- Re-designated: 133d Air Transport Group, 1956
- Re-designated: 133d Military Airlift Group, 1966
- Re-designated: 133d Tactical Airlift Group, 1975
- Re-designated: 133d Airlift Group, 1 June 1992
- Re-designated: 133d Airlift Wing, 1995-Present
Assignments
- Second Air ForceSecond Air ForceThe Second Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command . It is headquartered at Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi....
(ADC), 28 August 1947 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(ADC), 1 July 1948 - Tenth Air ForceTenth Air ForceThe Tenth Air Force is a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Reserve Command . It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas....
(ConAC), 1 December 1948 - 30th Air Division (ConAC), 1 February 1950
- 30th Air Division (ADC)), 1 February 1950
- Federalized and placed on active duty under Air Defense Command, 2 March 1951
- 133d Fighter-Interceptor Wing**, 2 March 1951-6 February 1952
- 31st Air Division (ADC), 1 December 1952
- Military Air Transport ServiceMilitary Air Transport ServiceThe Military Air Transport Service is an inactive Department of Defense Unified Command. Activated on 1 June 1948, MATS was a consolidation of the United States Navy Naval Air Transport Service and the United States Air Force Air Transport Command into a single, joint, unified command...
, 1956 - Military Airlift CommandMilitary Airlift CommandThe Military Airlift Command is an inactive United States Air Force Major Command of the USAF which was headquartered at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois. It was constituted on 1 January 1966 and active until the end of the Cold War, when the Air Force table of organization was revised...
, 1966 - Air Mobility CommandAir Mobility CommandAir Mobility Command is a Major Command of the U.S. Air Force. AMC is headquartered at Scott AFB, Illinois, east of St. Louis....
, 1 June 1992-Present
**133d Fighter-Interceptor Wing (Air Defense Command)
- Federalized by the Air National Guard, 2 March 1951 at Holman Field, St Paul, Minnesota
- Assigned to: Eastern Air Defense ForceEastern Air Defense ForceThe Eastern Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Stewart Air Force Base, New York. It was inactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
- Reassigned to: Central Air Defense ForceCentral Air Defense ForceThe Central Air Defense Force is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Air Defense Command being stationed at Richards-Gebaur Air Force Base, Missouri. It was deactivated on July 1, 1960.-History:...
, 20 May 1951 - Moved to: St. Paul International Airport, Minnesota, 28 June 1951
- Inactivated 6 February 1952
Components
- 109th Airlift Squadron109th Airlift SquadronThe 109th Airlift Squadron flies the C-130H Hercules. It is a unit of the Minnesota Air National Guard. Its parent unit is the 133rd Airlift Wing.-Mission:...
(1960–present) - 109th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1921–1960)
- 179th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (1947–1960)
Stations
- Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, St. Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul, MinnesotaSaint Paul is the capital and second-most populous city of the U.S. state of Minnesota. The city lies mostly on the east bank of the Mississippi River in the area surrounding its point of confluence with the Minnesota River, and adjoins Minneapolis, the state's largest city...
(1921–present)
Aircraft
- C-130H Hercules (1995 – present)
- C-130E Hercules (1981–1995)
- C-130A Hercules (1971–1981)
- C-97G Stratofreighter (1960–1971)
- F-89H Scorpion (1958–1960)
- F-94C Starfire (1957–1960)
- F-94A-B Starfire (1956–1957)
- T-33A T-Bird (Mid 1950's to Late 1960's)
- T-28A Trojan (1954–1955)
- C-45G Expeditor (Late 1940's)
- F-51D Mustang (1947–1954)
- T-6A Texan (1947–1954)
