156th Airlift Wing

The 156th Airlift Wing is a unit of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, based at Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico. Established in 1966, it originally operated as the 156th Tactical Fighter Group, flying F-86 and later F-104 aircraft. The unit transitioned to an airlift mission in the 1990s, operating the C-130 Hercules to provide tactical airlift and support for both federal and state missions, including hurricane relief and humanitarian operations in the Caribbean. Over the decades, the 156th Airlift Wing has played a key role in both domestic disaster response and overseas deployments, demonstrating versatility and commitment to its dual federal and territorial responsibilities.