BILLINGS, MT – Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, contacted Air Force Secretary Michael Donley and National Guard Chief, General Craig McKinley reiterating his strong support for maintaining the Montana Air National Guard (MANG) F-15 C/D mission in Great Falls.  The letter comes as many leaders may be re-thinking the decision to move this mission to Fresno, CA as a result of environmental and cost hurdles.

“As the effort to move our F-15s to California gets more and more difficult, I’m going to continue to make the case that Great Falls is still an affordable, convenient and – most importantly – time-tested alternative,” said Rehberg.  “It just doesn’t make sense to take a square peg out of a square hole to try and force it into a round hole.”

In addition to the significant cost of re-locating the current mission from Great Falls to Fresno, officials have recently hinted at concerns related to Fresno’s failure to complete its Environmental Impact Statement.

Like Great Falls, Fresno is converting from single-engine F-16s to twin-engine F-15s which are significantly louder.  But while in Great Falls the jets take off to the south west – away from town – in Fresno they would take off over highly populated areas of town.

In a letter to Donley and McKinley, Rehberg stated: “Montanans are proud of our contributions to America’s national defense and the hard work and excellent operations run out of MANG.  I urge you to keep the MANG F-15 mission in Montana, where it belongs.”

The full letter is below:

Dear Secretary Donley and General McKinley,

I am writing to express my support in keeping the F-15 C/D mission at Great Falls International Airport, home to the Montana Air National Guard (MANG).

As you know, last year an announcement was made that MANG’s F-15 mission would be moved from Great Falls, MT to Fresno, CA.  At that time, I expressed my disappointment in this decision and I followed that up with a letter concerning the taxpayer waste that would result from the move and Fresno’s inability to pass the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process.  Those concerns are as relevant today as they were back in July.

My understanding is there are multiple challenges prohibiting the EIS from being approved in Fresno.  In addition to noise restrictions that present effective use of this location, there are hurdles regarding the munitions clear zone.  It has also come to my attention that the National Guard Bureau supports leaving the F-15 mission in Montana.

Montanans are proud of our contributions to America’s national defense and the hard work and excellent operations run out of MANG.  I urge you to keep the MANG F-15 mission in Montana, where it belongs.

Thank you for your consideration of this request, and please don’t hesitate to contact my office if I can be of further assistance.

Sincerely,