166th Airlift Wing The 166th Airlift Wing ( 166th AW ) of the Delaware Air National Guard is stationed at New Castle Air National Guard Base , Delaware . If activated to federal service , the Wing is gained by the United States Air Force Air Mobility Command . Overview . The 166th Airlift Wing is based at the New Castle County Airport just outside Wilmington , Delaware . Operating eight permanently assigned , Lockheed C - 130 H2 Hercules transport aircraft , the wing provides the U . S . Air Force with tactical airlift , airdrop capability of paratroops and cargo and aeromedical evacuation of patients anywhere in the world . Additionally , the wing has a civil engineer function and a network warfare unit ( the 166th Network Warfare Squadron ) . Under command of the Governor of Delaware , the wing is prepared to support the State of Delaware with trained personnel and equipment for various humanitarian missions to protect life and property and to preserve peace , order and public safety . The wing ' s gaining command is the Air Mobility Command , U . S . Air Force . Units . The 166th Airlift Wing consists of the following units : History . On 7 April 1962 the Delaware Air National Guard , with the 142nd Tactical Fighter Squadron , enlarged to " group status " as the 166th Air Transport Group and the was reassigned from the Tactical Air Command to the Military Air Transport Service . The Delaware Air National Guard gave up its F - 86 Sabrejet s for the four engine C - 97 Stratocruiser cargo planes . Dr . Harold Brown , Secretary of the Air Force , announced that effective 1 January 1966 , the Military Air Transport Service would be redesignated as the Military Airlift Command . In addition to the name change certain Air National Guard units were also redesignated , including Delaware ' s . The unit was named the 166th Military Airlift Group . During the period from 1964 - 1974 the Delaware Air National Guard flew missions to Vietnam . On 9 April 1968 , the Delaware Air National Guard was called to state duty to quell civil disturbance and violence in the city of Wilmington , Delaware . The unit was released from state duty after several weeks . However , many individuals remained on state duty through 20 January 1969 . On 12 May 1971 the Delaware ANG changed its name from the 166th Military Airlift Group to the 166th Tactical Airlift Group and replaced its C - 97s with C - 130A Hercules turboprop cargo plane , and began transition from the Military Airlift Command to the Tactical Air Command . On 16 October 1985 , the Delaware Air National Guard began replacing its aging , antiquated C - 130A ' s with the delivery of a brand new factory fresh C - 130H . The last new C - 130H aircraft arrived in January 1986 . On 25 January 1991 selected units of the Delaware Air National Guard were activated for the Persian Gulf War known as Operation Desert Storm . A majority of the unit was stationed at Al Kharj Air Base , Saudi Arabia . Over 150 personnel deployed to six other locations in Europe and two stateside bases . The 166th Civil Engineer Squadron voluntarily deployed to Dover Air Force Base , Delaware and performed the monumental accomplishment of enlarging Dover ' s Mortuary capacity - the assignment was completed in a record 23 days . On 30 June 1991 the units / personnel were released from active duty performed in support of the Persian Gulf War . Another name change occurred on 16 March 1992 , with the 166th Tactical Airlift Group being redesignated the 166th Airlift Group . In 1993 an Air Force reorganization placed the 166th under Air Combat Command . On 1 October 1995 , the 166th Airlift Group was renamed the 166th Airlift Wing and was gained by the Air Mobility Command .