Ohio lawmakers urge Congress to support 179th Airlift Wing

MANSFIELD - Ohio lawmakers are urging Congress and the U.S Department of Defense to keep the 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield while the unit awaits news of whether it will transition to a new mission.

The Ohio House of Representatives last week unanimously passed a resolution sponsored by State Reps. Marilyn John, who represents all of Richland County, and Darrell Kick, whose district abuts John's.

“Given the unique history, personnel, facilities, and capacity of the 179th Airlift Wing, I strongly believe it should be kept in Mansfield and continue to support the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft or the Air National Guard Cyber Wing,” said John, a former Richland County Commissioner, in a news release. “I sincerely thank my colleagues in the House for passing this important legislation.”

Mansfield-Lahm Airport is one of two sites under consideration to host an Air National Guard Information Warfare Cyber Wing, the other being Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

But the U.S. Air Force is also planning to replace aging C-130H aircraft with the C-130J Super Hercules, and Mansfield is not among those listed to receive the newer model, according to John.

The resolution now heads to the Ohio Senate for consideration.

The 179th Airlift Wing was organized in Mansfield in 1948. Its tactical fighter mission closed in 1976 and the unit transitioned to the C-130B Hercules aircraft. Since then, the 179th Airlift Wing has been supporting variations of C-130 aircraft for over 40 years.

“Over the past 73 years, the men and women of the 179th Airlift Wing have honorably served the United States through many missions and countless deployments, home and abroad,” John said in the release. “They have proven to be a great community partner for Richland and Ashland counties and an economic driver in our region.”

John, in her release, also noted the 179th Airlift Wing has been recognized for numerous awards and participated in humanitarian efforts around the world, including Restore Hope in Somalia, Operation Provide Promise in Bosnia, UN relief efforts and Operations Joint Guard and Forge in support of NATO operating out of Rhein-Main and Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as well as relief to those affected by hurricanes Hugo, Andrew, and Katrina.