156th Airlift Wing The 156th Airlift Wing ( 156 AW ) is a unit of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard , stationed at Muñiz Air National Guard Base , in Carolina , Puerto Rico . If activated to federal service , the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . Overview . The 156th Airlift Wing supports The United States ' objectives by providing the Department of Defense with the highly skilled people and operationally ready equipment necessary to meet the Inter - theater airlift and expeditionary combat support commitments . The wing provides global airlift and agile force to execute and accomplish tasked mission . Support Southern Command in theater airlift and joint military exercises while displaying military capabilities and bolster United States ties with its Latin American neighbors . Units . The 156th Airlift Wing consists of the following major units : History . Tactical Fighter mission . On 15 October 1962 , the Puerto Rico Air National Guard was expanded to a Group status , and the 156th Tactical Fighter Group was recognized and activated by the National Guard Bureau . The 156th was transferred to Tactical Air Command , with the 198th Fighter - Interceptor Squadron being reassigned from Air Defense Command , becoming at Tactical Fighter Squadron assigned to the 156th TFG . Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 156th Headquarters , 156th Material Squadron ( Maintenance ) , 156th Combat Support Squadron , and the 156th USAF Dispensary . With the transfer to TAC , the 198th TFS received F - 86H Sabre tactical fighters . In 1967 , F - 104C Starfigher s ( and an F - 104D two - seat trainer ) were assigned to the 156th , upgrading the group to Mach - 2 supersonic tactical fighter - bombers , replacing the elderly F - 86H Sabre fighter - bombers . The F - 104C was equipped to carry bombs or rocket pods on under - wing and fuselage points . The upward - firing Lockheed C - 2 rocket - boosted ejector seat was standard . The internal 20 - mm rotary cannon of the F - 104A was retained , as well as the ability to carry an AIM - 9 Sidewinder air - to - air missile on each wingtip to fill an air defense interceptor mission . In 1975 , the F - 104s were retired , the 198th being the last USAF unit to fly the Starfighters . They were replaced by A - 7D Corsair II ground support aircraft . Although designed primarily as a ground attack aircraft , it also had limited air - to - air combat capability . On 12 January 1981 a group of terrorists destroyed and damaged ten A - 7D and a Starfighter F - 104 static display . The terrorist attack was the largest on American Air Force Base since the Vietnam War . The hostage situation in Iran at the time overshadowed this incident in the news media . The eleven National Guard planes at Muñiz Air Base were alleged by socialist organizations to be destined for use against popular insurgents in El Salvador . These allegations were never proven and may have been self - serving . At the time , the base had 25 pilots and 900 military personnel . This loss was calculated at $ 45 million . The security increased from 11 to 22 personnel with 100 percent federal funding . The Air Force / Air National Guard invested $ 5 . 5 million in Electronic Security Equipment ( ESE ) , a Master Surveillance Control Facility ( MSCF ) , and fencing to secure the flight line and operations area . In addition , Muñiz Air National Guard Base was provided a security police manpower package of 18 AGR security police personnel and 46 civilian contract guards . On 1 August 1987 , the 156th Tactical Fighter Group reorganized into a Four - Deputy structure according to the new Air National Guard policy . In 1992 the A - 7Ds were being retired , and they were replaced by Block 15 F - 16A / B Fighting Falcon s modified for Air Defense . The F - 16 ADF was a standard block 15 model converted to air defense fighters for the Air National Guard , and would take over the fighter interception mission , providing the primary defense of North America against bombers and cruise missiles . The unit took part , from 24 – 28 June 1991 , in Granada South exercise , Panama . From 11 – 18 August 1991 , it deployed to Iquique , Chile for Condor II Exercise and then from 18 – 24 August 1991 , to Asuncion with the Paraguayan Air Force for training . From 7 – 20 September 1991 , it deployed to Fortunata II , Volk Field , Wisconsin and then again from 2 – 6 December 1991 , to Granada South , Panama . In March 1992 , with the end of the Cold War , the 156th adopted the Air Force Objective Organization plan , and the unit was re - designated as the 157th Fighter Group . A few months later , on 1 June , Tactical Air Command was inactivated as part of the Air Force reorganization after the end of the Cold War . It was replaced by Air Combat Command ( ACC ) . From 20 February to 6 March 1993 , the unit took part in the " Caminos de Paz " exercise at Golfito , and then deployed from 12 – 21 August 1993 , to Asunción , Paraguay , marking its First F - 16 Deployment . From 5 – 13 November 1994 , the unit took part in the Condor III Exercise held in Iquique , Chile . In October 1995 , in accordance with the Air Force " One Base - One Wing " policy , the status of the 157th was upgraded to a Wing ; the 198th Fighter Squadron being assigned to the new 157th Operations Group . Airlift Mission . On 22 November 1997 , unit received its first C - 130s while celebrating its 50th federal recognition Anniversary . On 10 February 1998 , the Air Force announced conversion of the 156th Fighter Wing from its F - 16 fighter aircraft to C - 130E Hercules Airlifters . On 3 March 1998 the last F - 16 departed from the 156th Fighter Wing . On 11 September 1998 a ceremony was held to mark the arrival of the first C - 130 . On 1 October 1998 , the Department of the Air Force issued the official order designating the 156th Fighter Wing as 156th Airlift Wing . The 156th was transferred to Air Mobility Command , being re - designated as the 156th Airlift Wing . Beginning in June 1999 , the major mission for the Wing became support of Operation Coronet Oak , which was transferred from Howard AFB , Panama when the base was closed as part of the turnover of the Panama Canal . The main Coronet Oak mission is to deliver special forces to any location in theater as directed by Southern Command . Air Force Reserve Command and Air National Guard C - 130 aircraft , aircrews and supporting personnel deploy from the United States to Muniz AGB to provide theater airlift support for the U . S . Southern Command . One C - 130 of the unit is on alert 24 hours a day , seven days a week , 365 days a year , in order to deliver special forces as required . Coronet Oak shares the Muñiz flight line with the Puerto Rico Air National Guard , which also flies C - 130s . That makes for a good partnership , when C - 130s need repairs or spare parts . The mission also includes any other kind of contingency and logistics support . Aircrews provide theater mobility , embassy support and airdrops . They also fly people , food and mail .