130th Airlift Squadron The 130th Airlift Squadron ( 130 AS ) is a unit of the West Virginia Air National Guard 130th Airlift Wing located at Charleston Air National Guard Base , Charleston , West Virginia . 130th is equipped with the C - 130H Hercules . History . The West Virginia Air National Guard was authorized to expand to two squadrons in 1955 by the National Guard Bureau . On 1 October , the 130th Troop Carrier Squadron had been organized at Kanawha Airport , Charleston and was extended federal recognition . The squadron was assigned to Tactical Air Command , which placed it under its Eighteenth Air Force . It was equipped with Grumman HU - 16 Albatross amphibians and C - 46 Commando troop transports . The mission of the 130th TCS was primarily Air Commando special operations missions . On 1 July 1960 , the 130th was authorized to expand to a group level , and the 130th Air Commando Group was established by the National Guard Bureau . The 130th being re - designated as an Air Commando squadron and becoming the group ' s flying squadron . Other squadrons assigned into the group were the 130th Headquarters , 130th Material Squadron ( Maintenance ) , 130th Combat Support Squadron , and the 130th USAF Dispensary . Aircraft assigned to the new group were upgraded to C - 119 Flying Boxcar s and U - 10D Super Courier combat observation aircraft . Continuing its mission and training with the Active duty 1st Air Commando Group in Northern Florida , in 1968 HQ USAF directed all Air Commando organizations be re - designated as " Special Operations " units to be more descriptive of their mission . Through the 60 ' s and into the 70 ' s the 130th participated in many international missions and received recognition for their performance . This included the 130th being awarded the Spaatz Trophy four times as the " Outstanding Flying Unit in the Country " and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award five times . In 1975 , the Flying Boxcars were retired , the 130th receiving the far more capable C - 130E Hercules transport , and being designated as a " Tactical Airlift " unit . The transition to the C - 130 moved the gaining organization from Tactical Air Command to Military Airlift Command , with the primary mission of the Group becoming tactical airlift , with the Special Operations mission becoming secondary with the end of the Vietnam War . A model upgrade to the C - 130H in 1986 was completed and in August and September 1990 , the 130th TAG commanded a " volunteer " package of 16 C - 130 ' s and support personnel from WV , TN , TX , MO and DE ANG units in support of Operation Desert Shield . October 1990 saw the Presidential Call of selected members from the 130th Tactical Airlift Squadron combining with the 181st Tactical Airlift Squadron , TX ANG to form the functional staff of the 1630th Tactical Airlift Squadron ( Provisional ) at Al Ain International Airport , Al Ain , United Arab Emirates . In December 1990 , the 130th Tactical Clinic and the 130th Mobile Aerial Port Squadron had selective members activated . They deployed to RAF Bicester , UK and Dover AFB , Delaware respectively , subsequent to Operation Desert Storm . All members were released from active duty by June 1991 . The members of the group located in the United Arab Emirates received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with valor . In April 1992 , some unit members and aircraft deployed to Rhein - Main AB , Germany in support of the Bosnian Airlift called " Operation Provide Promise " . The 130th has deployed several times since this date for " Provide Promise " , the latest being from 21 September 1998 to 29 October 1998 . In August 1993 , one aircraft and 2 crews were sent to Operation " Operation Support Hope " for 30 days in Rwanda , Africa . Organizationally , the 130th was expanded to a Wing status in 1995 . From January to March 1996 , the unit deployed 2 aircraft , 6 crews and maintenance support to Daharan , Saudi Arabia , in support of Operation Southern Watch . As of mid - 2000 , the 130th AW had recently sent several aircraft and support personnel to Panama for Coronet Oak . While there , wing personnel were heavily involved in Hurricane Mitch relief to Honduras and Nicaragua .