182d Airlift Wing The 182d Airlift Wing ( 182 AW ) is a unit of the Illinois Air National Guard , stationed at Peoria Air National Guard Base , Peoria , Illinois . If activated to federal service , the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . Overview . The 182nd Airlift Wing ' s C - 130 Hercules mission is to perform the tactical portion of the airlift mission . The aircraft is capable of operating from rough , dirt strips and is the prime transport for air dropping troops and equipment into hostile areas . The C - 130 performs a diverse number of roles , including airlift support , Antarctic ice resupply , aeromedical missions , weather reconnaissance , aerial spray missions , firefighting duties for the U . S . Forest Service and natural disaster relief missions . Units . The 182d Airlift Wing consists of the following units : History . On 15 October 1962 , the Illinois Air National Guard authorized the 169th Tactical Fighter Squadron to expand to a group level , and the 182d Tactical Fighter Group was established by the National Guard Bureau on 15 October 1962 . The 169th TFS became the group ' s flying squadron , equipped with F - 84F Thunderstreak s . Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 182d Headquarters , 182d Material Squadron ( Maintenance ) , 182d Combat Support Squadron , and the 182d USAF Dispensary . During the 1960s the squadron continued to operate its F - 84F Thunderstraks , and the unit was not activated during the Vietnam War . In May 1969 , the F - 84Fs were retired and 182d TFG was re - designated as the 182d Tactical Air Support Group ( TASG ) ; flying Forward Air Control ( FAC ) missions . The 169th was equipped with light observation U - 3A / B Blue Canoe and in January 1970 , the O - 2A Skymaster aircraft . The group ' s mission being to perform visual reconnaissance , as the FAC flew light aircraft slowly over the rough terrain at low altitude to maintain constant aerial surveillance over a combat area . By patrolling the same area constantly , the FACs grew very familiar with the terrain , and they learned to detect any changes that could indicate enemy forces hiding below . Members of the 182d TASG provided relief assistance during state active duty for the Canton tornado disaster in July 1975 . In 1976 , the 182d TASG was awarded its first Air Force Outstanding Unit Award . In 1979 , the squadron received OA - 37B Dragonfly jet FAC aircraft from the New York and Maine Air National Guard , continuing the FAC mission . The 182d TASG received an " Excellent " rating on its first Operational Readiness Inspection ( ORI ) under the 12th Air Force , and the group was awarded its second Air Force Outstanding Unit award in 1985 . In January 1991 , 138 group personnel were called to active duty during the 1991 Gulf War and deployed to United States Central Command Air Forces ( CENTAF ) . Post Cold War era . In March 1992 the A - 37s were finally retired . and the group received the Block 15 F - 16A / B Fighting Falcon Air Defense Fighter ( ADF ) . It was re - designated as the 182d Fighter Group on 15 March . In June 1993 , members served on state active duty in response to the Mississippi River flooding of southern Illinois . Due to government budget constraints and military restructuring after the Cold War , the 182d FG converted to the C - 130E Hercules and was re - designated the 182d Airlift Wing ( AW ) effective October 1 , 1995 . In 1996 , the wing began participation in ongoing flying missions for Operation Joint Endeavor in Bosnia . In 1997 , the 182d AW celebrated its 50th anniversary and received an " Excellent " in its first Air Mobility Command ( AMC ) ORI . Global War on Terrorism . After the 9 - 11 terrorist attacks , members of the wing were called up to support the Air Force at various locations around the world . During a September 2002 deployment to Oman , wing aircraft flew combat supply missions into Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom . On March 29 , 2003 , SSgt Jacob Frazier of the 169th Air Support Operations Squadron ( ASOS ) was killed in action while serving with Army Special Forces in Afghanistan . He was the first member of the wing to die in combat . In March 2003 , immediately following mobilization , six aircraft and over 350 personnel were deployed to Minhad , United Arab Emirates , for Operation Iraqi Freedom . These airmen returned in August after providing airlift support throughout the theater . Since that mobilization , smaller numbers of wing personnel and aircraft have continually supported Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom . On December 28 , 2003 , a wing crew delivered earthquake relief supplies to Iran , becoming the first US aircraft to land there since 1981 . Beginning in January 2005 , the wing converted from the C - 130E to the newer H3 model . In October 2006 , the wing received a rating of " Excellent " after serving as the lead wing during an AMC ORI . On February 3 , 2007 , the wing was awarded its third Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for the period from August 1 , 2003 to July 31 , 2005 . Some personnel remain deployed to combat zones as part of Air and Space Expeditionary units while other members of the wing continue routine worldwide support to the Air Force .