The 145th Airlift Wing (145th AW) was established on March 15,1948 and resides at the Charlotte Air National Guard Base at Charlotte/Douglas International Airport as well as the Airport in Stanly County North Carolina. In 2018 the unit celebrated its 70th anniversary and transitioned from the C-130 Hercules to operating the C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, taking on a larger global airlift mission. The C-17 is the newest, most flexible cargo aircraft in the airlift force and can perform tactical airlift and airdrop missions.
As a North Carolina Air National Guard (NCANG) unit, the 145th AW is “operationally gained” by the Air Mobility Command (AMC) and maintains a worldwide deployment capability in support of both AMC and unified combatant commander tasking. The 145th AW is comprised of several wing staff agencies, including the 145th Operations Group, the 145th Maintenance Group, the 145th Mission Support Group, 145th Medical Group, and the 145th Combat Operations Group. In addition, the 145th AW supports the 156th Weather Flight at the Stanly County location.
The NCANG establishes an environment where change is welcome. An individual has the assets and the opportunities to achieve the mission and accomplish personal goals. The NCANG represents and support units in service to the nation, the state and the community. The NCANG establish policies, exercise command and control, oversees mobilization of operational units, facilitates family and employer support, and encourage active community involvement.
From 2001 to 2017 the unit has deployed 4,275 personnel in support of the Global War on Terrorism. After Hurricane Floyd in 1999, the unit flew 33,000 cases of food rations in 3 C-130’s to flood victims and erected a tent city for 80 people near Wilmington’s airport. In 2012 the 145th AW Airmen supported U.S. Africa Command with deployments in support of Operation Southern Accord and MEDLITE 2012 in Botswana. In 2017 the 156th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron a component of the 145th Operations Group, supported evacuation operations for Hurricane Irma and Maria, airlifting patients from the impact zone to safety. Additionally, the 145th Logistics Readiness Squadron, a component of the 145th Mission Support Group, assisted in providing disaster relief to the U.S. Virgin Islands, transporting 282 passengers, moving 1.1. Million pounds of cargo, and 77,000 pounds of food.
With the arrival of new aircraft, the 145th Airlift Wing will be able to increase its airlift support by a large margin within the coming years.