Upgrade Of 139th Airlift Wing Planes Gets Boost From Congressional Delegation

(MISSOURINET) – Missouri has placed the full weight of its Congressional delegation behind efforts by the 139th Airlift Wing to acquire the latest C-130 cargo planes. The 139th, based at Rosecrans Memorial Airport in St. Joseph, flies C-130H planes and has put in a bid for the latest C-130J planes. Northern Missouri Congressman Sam Graves, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, says recent investments at Rosecrans by local and state governments to build a new runway as well as a new terminal and air traffic control tower will help in that bid. . .

Washington has cleared the 139th to move forward to the next step of the C-130J basing decision process. The entire Missouri Congressional delegation has signed a letter to the Air National Guard Director, urging him to base eight new planes at Rosecrans.