Over 130 Airmen return home in Delaware; 14 Deploy

Approximately 130 returning Airmen and 14 departing Airmen of the Delaware Air National Guard were recognized at a Welcome Home and Departing ceremony Sunday afternoon.

The 130 Airmen returned home from Southwest Asia in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. They are returning from up to a 120 day rotation in Southwest Asia. Four of our eight C-130H aircraft returned back from Southwest Asia as well.

The 14 Aeromedical Airmen are deploying to various overseas and stateside locations.

There are more than 150 Airmen still deployed and will be returning over the next six months. This year had one of the largest deployments of over 320 Airmen in Delaware history.

Their mission included flying cargo and troops throughout Iraq, Afghanistan and Southwest Asia.

Governor Jack Markell, Senator Chris Coons, Senator Tom Carper, Congressman John Carney and Adjutant General Frank Vavala were among those in attendance.

The 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard, has more than 1,100 men and women at the New Castle ANG Base in New Castle, Del. The 166th provides tactical airlift and airdrop of troops and cargo using C-130H2 aircraft, plus aeromedical evacuation, civil engineer and network warfare functions.