Honoring history through blues: 43rd reactivates at Pope Published March 30, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Jessica Tope 43rd Airlift Wing historian POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- The 43rd Airlift Wing traces its roots back to the 43rd Bombardment Group (Heavy), which was constituted Nov. 20, 1940, and activated Jan. 15, 1941, at Langley Field, Va. The wing has a rich heritage, to include being one of only two wings in the United States Air Force to fly the B-58 Husler supersonic bomber. The wing was in inactive status between October 1996, and April 1, 1997, when the 43rd Bomb Wing was once again returned to active status when Air Mobility Command activated and redesignated the wing as the 43rd Airlift Wing. Since it's reactivation at Pope, the 43rd AW has continued to support our national military objectives around the world. From July to December 1999, the 43rd AW supported numerous contingencies, including Operations ALLIED FORCE, SOUTHERN WATCH, NORTHERN WATCH, DESERT STORM, DESERT CALM, JOINT GUARDIAN, JOINT FORGE, NOBLE ANVIL and CONSTANT VIGIL. In addition to these operations, the 43rd AW also continued to support exercises of the 23rd Fighter Group at home station with maintenance and support personnel. In May 2000, the 43rd AW hosted the Airlift Rodeo, an Air Mobility Command sponsored biennial international mobility readiness competition. Gen. Charles T. "Tony" Robertson, cited the event as the "the best Rodeo ever." The 43rd AW won honors as the World's Best C-130/C-160 Wing, and the World's Best Airdrop Wing. The 43rd AW ended 2000 serving again as one of the Air Force's lead mobility wings, when the 41st Airlift Squadron provided forces in support of aerospace expeditionary force taskings in Germany and Southwest Asia. Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, the 43rd AW deployed in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM in Afghanistan, then in March 2003, the wing transitioned its operations to support Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Since then, the 43rd AW has maintained a constant presence in the Southwest Asia area of operations in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM providing combat airlift throughout the theater, and helping keep convoys off of the dangerous highways in Iraq. Not only has the wing supported our war time contingencies, but contributed to humanitarian relief when called to duty. Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Buras, Louisiana, Aug. 29, 2005, and nearly 2,000 people died while many more were left without homes. The 43rd AW was once again called upon to deploy personnel and equipment to help with the disaster relief effort. The 43rd AW continues to answer the nation's call supporting Department of Defense military and humanitarian operations around the world, reaffirming its motto: Volens, Potens, Paratus or Willing, Able, Ready. Wear your blues Monday in honor of our wing's heritage.