133rd Airlift Wing
Unit Information
The 133rd Airlift Wing is a Minnesota National Guard flying wing headquartered at the Minneapolis -Saint Paul International Airport. Utilizing the C-130H3 Hercules aircraft, the wing provides the U.S. Air Force with tactical airlift capabilities to transport troops, cargo, and medical patients across the globe in addition to providing the citizens of Minnesota with domestic operations and disaster response support.
2024 Objectives
The wing will complete its final deployment with the legacy C-130H3 Hercules aircraft and transition to the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Infrastructure projects are underway as is training for individuals in the new airframe. Two major Air Mobility Command inspections will take place, providing the opportunity for wing members to demonstrate why we are an elite unit in the National Guard.
2025 Accomplishments
The 133rd Airlift Wing demonstrated its standard of excellence as a tactical airlift unit in 2025. The wing deployed 370 Airmen globally and flew nearly 2,300 hours, the most hours of any combat-coded C-130 unit in the National Guard.
To start the year, the biggest effort for the wing was to prepare and deploy nearly 100 wing members to nine different locations throughout Central Command’s area of operations. 133rd Airmen played a critical role supporting operations during a volatile period involving Operation Midnight Hammer and the Iranian attack on Al Udeid Airbase in response.
In May, 68 members departed for Norway to participate in exercise Swift Response. This multi-national exercise was part of a larger 12-nation Defender 25 exercise. The 133rd executed over 100 flying hours while airlifting and airdropping 150 personnel from 5 countries.
They conducted interfly operations with foreign air forces and dissimilar aircraft. Five landings and take-offs were also conducted on a Swedish highway to demonstrate contingency operation capabilities.
July saw 70 wing members deployed around the Pacific theater as part of Exercise Mobility Guardian and Resolute Force Pacific. The exercise tested the implementation of a mission generating force element which reinforced the Department of Defense’s Indo-Pacific strategy and
demonstrated collective deterrence in response to regional threats.
Finally, as autumn arrived, we saw the return of 100 deployed Airmen and departure of 16 more, continuing the cycle of providing unparalleled support to our nation. In the meantime, the first four pilots departed for training on the new C-130J Super Hercules aircraft signaling the start of greater things for the 133rd Airlift Wing.
UNIT LEADERSHIP
HEADQUARTERS
Unit Address:
631 Minuteman Dr,
St. Paul, MN 55111
Unit Telephone:
612-713-1777