Sen. Brown Celebrates New Mission at 179th Airlift Wing in Mansfield
Base's Future Was in Jeopardy; Senator Fought to Add Red Horse Squadron and C27 Aircraft to Keep Base Open
MANSFIELD, OHIO - U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) today celebrated a new mission for the Mansfield Ohio National Guard Base. The 179th Airlift wing will be home to the new, long-term flying mission of the C-27J "Spartan". The 179th Airlift Wing is the first unit to convert to C-27J operations. The 200th Red Horse Detachment calls Mansfield home and consists of 200 people located at the 179th Airlift Wing and an additional 200 people located in Port Clinton.
"The base's long record of outstanding service not only helped us keep the base open, but it also ushered in a new day that will help spur the growth of an expanded base," Brown said. "This Base will continue to grow as new units and missions are added at the 179th Airlift Wing in the years to come."
The 179th Airlift Wing recently became a Joint Air-Army base with the addition of the Army Ohio National Guard's new fire station in May. In 2005, the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) recommended that the 179th Airlift Wing be dismantled. The bases record and actions by the Ohio Congressional delegation have kept the base open and spurred its growth to a joint base.
Since Brown took office in 2007, he has been working alongside Governor Strickland to keep the base open by adding a new mission and to replace the C130 Hercules mission. For more than three years, Brown has worked with the White House, administration officials and Air Force and National Guard personnel to secure a new mission for the Mansfield ANGB.
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