By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
The need for upgraded C-130 planes for the 139th Airlift Wing at Rosecrans Memorial Airport continues to be a hot topic.
St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce President Natalie Hawn spent her time at the Missouri State Fair during the Governors Ham Breakfast advocating for the 139th with state officials.
Hawn says she got the opportunity to speak with Missouri Adjutant General, Charles Hausman, as well as both Congressman Mark Alford and Senator Eric Schmitt.
“To remind them of our need to get the J model, so we need upgraded C-130’s,” Hawn says on the KFEQmunnity program. “And so it was a great time to get in front of them as a nice reminder since we do our fly in, we do some of the things in DC, but it’s nice to catch them in a casual setting where you can remind them of the needs that your community has in the state.”
Hawn says the reserve base at Rosecrans is often overlooked because of funding to the Air Force, which is understandable, but says the guard base that is a reserve base should also be a top priority
“And a lot of times we’re looked on equipment, though we will be the ones that will be serving with national security at home,” Hawn explains. “So, if the New Madrid fault for example would happen to go off in Missouri, we’re the ones that get deployed to help with those services, and if we don’t have adequate equipment to be able to serve our state, and our community, and the whole US appropriately, it does affect the residents of Missouri.”
Hawn says another reason they are fighting so hard for the “J” Model is the Air Tactics Training Center, where pilots come from around the world to train and need to learn how to fly those J model planes.
Hawn says it’s important to keep the 139th in St. Joseph, because obviously St. Joseph benefits from having them here at Rosecrans
“Because that means we have a reason that we’re getting a brand-new runway and a brand-new tower, that wouldn’t be happening without being the home of the 139th,” Hawn says. “So, the folks that use the airport on maybe the civilian or the business side they get the benefit of that as well, so we have to make sure that we continue to fight for the 139th, so they can continue to call St. Joseph home for many years.”
Hawn says anytime you’re not getting those upgraded planes she likes to say you’re one administration away from potentially losing your flying mission, so advocation for the 139th needs to continue to be a priority.
You can follow Matt on X @KfeqMatt and St. Joseph Post @StJosephPost.