109th Airlift Wing

The 109th Airlift Wing (109 AW) is a unit of the New York Air National Guard, stationed at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Schenectady, New York. If activated to federal service, the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command.

The wing's mission is to provide airlift support to the National Science Foundation's South Pole research program by flying LC-130H Hercules airlifters, modified with wheel-ski gear, in support of Arctic and Antarctic operations. The 109th Airlift Wing is the only unit in the world to fly these aircraft. These resupply missions are part of Operation Deep Freeze, the U.S. military’s ongoing support of the National Science Foundation’s Antarctic research. Larger aircraft like C-17 can land at McMurdo Station on the Antarctic coast and the LC-130 can fly to remote research stations like the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station. 109th Airlift Wing operates 5 LC-130.

Along with the NSF mission, the 109th Airlift Wing also supported Operation Enduring Freedom. In addition to its combat airlift mission, particularly when placed in a Federalized status, the wing also provides domestic-related functions commonly associated with Air National Guard units, such as disaster or hurricane relief.