AIR NATIONAL GUARD of NORTH CAROLINA

• Founding Date: The North Carolina Air National Guard (NCANG) was officially established on March 15, 1948, making it one of the oldest Air National Guard units in the United States. • First Aircraft: The initial aircraft flown by the NCANG was the P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II-era fighter, before transitioning to more advanced models. • 145th Airlift Wing: The primary unit of the NCANG is the 145th Airlift Wing, based at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, which has a long history of providing airlift support both domestically and internationally. • Hurricane Relief: The NCANG has played a vital role in hurricane relief operations for decades, including major responses to Hurricane Floyd in 1999 and Hurricane Florence in 2018. • Global Deployments: Members of the NCANG have been deployed to support military operations in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, and many other locations worldwide since the 1990s. • Medal of Honor Connection: Colonel James H. Howard, a Medal of Honor recipient from World War II, served as a commander in the North Carolina Air National Guard in the postwar years. • C-130 Hercules Era: For over 40 years, the NCANG operated various versions of the C-130 Hercules, a versatile cargo aircraft used for both military and humanitarian missions. • Transition to C-17: In 2018, the 145th Airlift Wing transitioned from the C-130 to the more advanced C-17 Globemaster III, greatly expanding its strategic airlift capabilities. • Wildfire Support: The NCANG has frequently assisted with wildfire suppression, providing critical airlift and logistical support during major forest fires in the Southeastern United States. • First Female Wing Commander: In 2022, Colonel Kristine Smith became the first woman to command the 145th Airlift Wing, marking a significant milestone in the unit’s history.