5 SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Sunday marks the 50-year anniversary of the C-130A Hercules flying mission at the Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing in St. Paul, Minn. The Wing’s first mission flight was “wheels up” on Feb. 21, 1971.
Over the last 50 years, the Wing has received three updated models of the aircraft. One of the original C- 130A models is still on display at the Minnesota Air National Guard Museum, co-located at the 133rd. The current model, the C-130H3 Hercules, has been with the 133rd Airlift Wing since 1996. The C-130 is a legendary cargo aircraft known for its tactical abilities; it can operate from rough, dirt strips and is the prime transport for airdropping troops, equipment, and aid into hostile areas, as well as providing medical evacuations. In Minnesota, the cargo aircraft are often used to assist with natural disasters and state emergencies. Over the last 50 years, the 133rd Airlift Wing has collected a total of 213,753 flying h
Minnesota’s Air National Guard: A century in the sky
A 1,600-mile journey not only set a course for military aviation in Minnesota but also for the United States. 3:23 pm, Jan. 17, 2021 ×
Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Greg A. Haase, left, former commander of the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 133 Airlift Wing, and Lt. Col. Dana Novinskie, commander of the Minnesota Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Squadron, with a C-130 Hercules transport plane at the Wing’s home at Minneapolis – St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 13, 2021. Sunday, Jan. 17, will mark exactly 100 years since a squadron at the 133rd Airlift Wing received federal recognition, creating the first Air National Guard unit in the country. (John Autey / St. Paul Pioneer Press)