Delaware Air National Guard Wing Commander takes final flight tonight before moving to new assignment Published Feb. 19, 2009 By 020907 NEW CASTLE, Delaware -- Delaware Air National Guard Headquarters, 166th Airlift Wing 2600 Spruance Drive New Castle, DE 19720-1615 News media are invited. Takeoff planned for 5:00 p.m.; landing 6:30-7:00p.m. Call Sgt. Matwey at cell 302-593-2126 to confirm or for any questions. Contact: Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Matwey Public Affairs Specialist, 166th Airlift Wing Cell 302-593-2126, or office 302-323-3369 E-mail: Benjamin.Matwey@denewc.ang.af.mil Release No. 2007-09-002 Sept. 20, 2007 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW CASTLE, Delaware - The Delaware Air National Guard's 166th Airlift Wing Commander, Col. Bruce Thompson, will command his last C-130 aircraft military flight tonight, Sept. 20. Takeoff is planned for 5:00 p.m.; landing at or close to 6:30 p.m. This occurs at Headquarters, Delaware Air National Guard, 2600 Spruance Drive, New Castle, DE 19720. Traditionally, after the final (called "fini") flight, aviators are hosed down with a spray of water from a fire truck, and a celebratory bottle is opened; in this case, a bottle of sparkling apple juice. Effective Oct. 1, Col. Thompson, a resident of Cochranville, Pa. and a commercial airline pilot, will relinquish command of the 166th Airlift Wing, which he has led since May, 2005 through numerous overseas deployments to combat zone ins and around Iraq and Afghanistan, and through the Base Realignment and Closure battle. Col. Thompson moves to a new assignment in charge of operations for the Delaware Air National Guard in Joint Force Headquarters, working under Brig. Gen. Hugh Broomall, the Deputy Adjutant General for Air, Delaware National Guard. A wing change of command and introduction of a new wing commander occurs this fall. This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written. -- 30 --