The 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, will celebrate its 65th year in existence.

 The Airlift Wing, which currently flies the venerable C-130H cargo aircraft, came into existence following World War II in 1946.  First a fighter aircraft group, the unit has flown many variances of fighter aircraft until it switched to cargo aircraft in the 1960s.  The unit has flown support missions in most combat theaters since its inception and was officially mobilized first for the Korean War and then for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Almost 1,000 Air Guardsmen serve in the Wing located at the Savannah International Airport.

The unit will have a commemoration ceremony Thursday at 9:30 a.m. at the Airlift Wing base located off Dean Forest Road. The public is invited.