167th Air National Guard

The 167th Airlift Wing, part of the West Virginia Air National Guard and based at Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base in Martinsburg, traces its origins to the 167th Fighter Squadron established in 1947. Originally flying fighter aircraft, the unit transitioned to airlift missions in the 1960s, operating aircraft such as the C-130 Hercules and later the C-5 Galaxy. In 2006, the wing began flying the C-5A Galaxy, significantly enhancing its strategic airlift capabilities in support of worldwide operations, including missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Today, the 167th Airlift Wing continues its global air mobility mission with the C-17 Globemaster III, supporting both federal and state requirements.