The wartime 367th Fighter Group was reactivated and redesignated as the 133rd Fighter Group, and was allotted to the Minnesota Air National Guard, on May 24, 1946. It was organized at
Holman Field, Saint Paul and was extended federal recognition on August 28, 1947, by
Air Defense Command. In the fall of 1950, the
Air National Guard reorganized under the
wing base organization system, and the
133d Fighter Wing was activated on November 1, 1950, to command the 133d Fighter Group and its newly formed support organizations.
Air defense On March 2, 1951, the 133rd Fighter Wing was federalized and brought to active duty due to the
Korean War and assigned to
Air Defense Command (ADC). The 133rd Fighter-Interceptor Group controlled the 109th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Minneapolis and the 179th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron at Duluth. The 133rd Wing and Group were inactivated on February 6, 1952, and the squadrons reassigned to the
31st Air Division of Air Defense Command for the remainder of their federal service. The unit was reformed as the 133rd Fighter-Interceptor Wing under Minnesota state control on December 1, 1952. After the Korean War, the wing was reformed by January 1, 1953, and resumed its air defense mission. Was upgraded by ADC in 1954 to the dedicated
F-94A Starfire all-weather interceptor. With this new aircraft, the mission of the 109th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron changed from day interceptor to day and night all-weather interceptor. In 1958 the 109th again upgraded to the improved
F-89H Scorpion.
Strategic Airlift In 1960, the 133rd FIW was reassigned to
Military Air Transport Service (MATS) as its gaining command, trading in its air defense interceptors for 4-engines
C-97 Stratofreighter transports. With air transportation recognized as a critical wartime need, the unit was redesignated the 133rd Air Transport Wing, Heavy. During the
1961 Berlin Crisis, the wing was federalized on October 1, 1961. From Minneapolis, the 109th ATS augmented MATS airlift capability worldwide in support of the Air Force's needs. It returned again to Minnesota state control on August 31, 1962. Throughout the 1960s, the unit flew long-distance transport missions in support of Air Force requirements, frequently sending aircraft to
Hawaii, Japan, the Philippines, and during the
Vietnam War, to both
South Vietnam,
Okinawa and Thailand.
Tactical Airlift , Afghanistan in 2010 The C-97s were retired in 1971 and the 133rd TAW was transferred to
Tactical Air Command (TAC) as its gaining command. It transitioned to the
C-130A Hercules theater transport, flying missions in support of TAC throughout the United States and Alaska. In 1974 the unit was returned to
Military Airlift Command (MAC) when TAC transferred out its troop carrier mission. In the early 1970s, USAF's "Total Force" policy brought the wing into full partnership with its Air Force counterparts by mandating co-operation and teamwork between Air Guard and active duty Air Force units in all phases of military airlift operations. As a result, in succeeding years the unit's C-130s traveled to all corners of the world, airlifting troops, passengers, and cargo during training missions, exercise deployments, and real-world military operations to support Federal and State military airlift requirements. The unit has been upgraded over the years with newer C-130E aircraft in 1981 and currently flies the C-130H, which it received in 1995. 2011 marked the 90th anniversary of the 1921 decision to make Minnesota's 109th Aero Squadron the first federally recognized National Guard flying unit in the country. To commemorate the heritage of the Minnesota Air National Guard, the 133rd Airlift Wing hosted an Air Expo, welcoming upwards of 15,000 members of the community to the base to celebrate. During 2011, the 109th Airlift Squadron deployed 528 Airmen to 17 countries, serving in support of U.S. operations worldwide, including humanitarian missions to Africa, Honduras and Indonesia. The squadron provides combat-ready air crews, support personnel, and aircraft for the airlift of passengers and cargo anywhere in the world. Upon direction of the Governor, the unit furnishes personnel and equipment, including aircraft, to assist in natural disaster relief or to safeguard life and property in Minnesota. == Organization ==