By Mark Scott
Buffalo, NY – The New York Air National Guard's 107th Air Refueling Wing based at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station is changing its mission. It was announced Wednesday that the 107th will become an airlift unit, joining the 914th Airlift Wing that is already based at Niagara Falls.
The change in mission for the 107th comes as no surprise. When the air base at Niagara Falls was saved from closing two years ago, the plan was for the 107th to join the 914th in flying C-130 cargo planes. Vice Wing Commander of the 107th, Colonel Dale Howard, says the proposal announced Wednesday formalizes that.
Under the Air Force proposal, the 914th would have primary responsibility for the C-130 planes at the base. But airmen from both units would operate them. It's just the second time that an Air National Guard Wing and an Air Force Reserve Wing are partnering.
Details and a timetable need to be worked out. Howard says this isn't the first time that the 107th has changed missions.
The 107th will continue to offer air refueling services, as it is currently doing overseas, until the change in mission is finalized.
With this change, the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station will receive additional C-130 aircraft from a base in Nashville, Tennessee.
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