C-130s and Airmen Return from Afghanistan

By Senior Master Sgt. Mark Moss, 133rd AW Public Affairs / Published January 15, 2009

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A C-130 Hercules from the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, taxis down the runway at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport January 14, 2009. The aircraft carried the last 29 members of the wing home after being deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. This return marks the end of the aviation support to the Operation Enduring Freedom rotation by the 133rd Airlift Wing for this cycle. The C-130s provide intra-theater heavy airlift, delivering tons of cargo and transporting passengers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson)

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Master Sgt Anthony Harrington a loadmaster with the 109th Airlift Squadron receives a group hug from his family upon return to Minnesota. Harrington was one of 29 members of the 133rd Airlift Wing Minnesota Air National Guard to return from deployment to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan 14 January 2009. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson)

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A C-130 Hercules from the 133rd Airlift Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, flies by in the clear cold sky over the Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport January 14, 2009. The aircraft carries the last 29 members of the wing home after being deployed to Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan. The C-130s provide intra-theater heavy airlift, delivering tons of cargo and transporting passengers in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson)

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133rd Airlift Wing Commander Colonel Greg A. Haase (right) shakes hands with Maj. Jeffrey Wong (left) upon arrival at the 133rd Operations building 14 January 2009. Major Wong piloted the Minnesota Air National Guard C-130 Hercules that returned from deployment to Afghanistan supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Erik Gudmundson)

St. Paul -- The Minnesota Air National Guard saw the last of its C-130 "Hercules" aircraft touch down at the Minneapolis, St. Paul International Airport on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2009, marking the end of a six-month deployment cycle to Afghanistan.

The aircraft today had 29 Airmen aboard and another C-130 last week brought 23 aircrew members and maintenance workers home. This return marks the end of the aviation support to the Operation Enduring Freedom rotation by the 133rd Airlift Wing for this cycle. The Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) cycle that began with our first C-130 deployment in August 2008 has come to a close with the arrival of today's mission. We supported three packages of two aircraft each on 45-day rotations from August 2008 through January 2009.

The 133rd AW still has over 50 Airmen who are in other support jobs such as communications and logistics in Southwest Asia supporting the mission. They are scheduled to return by mid-February.