Airmen Returning Home from Overseas Deployment Published March 4, 2016 New Castle, Del. -- ***UPDATE TO MEDIA ADVISORY*** The arrival of the last C-130H and 30 Airmen returning home from the Middle East scheduled to arrive on Thursday, March 10 at 12:00 p.m. has a new arrival time of around 1:00 p.m. This is the last of four C-130H aircraft and the last of 30 Airmen out of 120 to arrive home this week. Media should arrive to the Del. ANG Base no later than 12:45 p.m. Approximately 60 Airmen of the Delaware Air National Guard will be returning home to the New Castle Air National Guard Base via two C-130H aircraft from a 120-day deployment to the Middle East on Monday March 7, 2016. The first C-130H will arrive around 2:00 p.m. and the second will arrive around 3:00 p.m. The returning Airmen deployed in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel. Family and friends will be present and will greet their loved ones upon arrival. The returning Airmen are from the 166th Airlift Wing and while deployed flew daily missions via C-130H aircraft transporting personnel and cargo to multiple locations throughout the theater. The group includes pilots, crew, and maintenance teams necessary to operate the aircraft. "Once again, the Delaware Air National Guard was called to service and performed admirably," said Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, Adjutant General, Delaware National Guard. "While we are thrilled to have this group return, we must remember that hundreds of fellow Delaware National Guard men and women are still serving overseas," he said. Since last fall, the Delaware Air National Guard deployed more than 300 Airmen and four C-130H aircraft in support of the Air Force's Aerospace Expeditionary Force rotations. As a testament to their performance during the deployment, Airmen from the 166th Airlift Wing received formal recognition for moving the most personnel and cargo in their area of responsibility in the Middle East. Media are invited to attend the arrival on Sunday March 6, 2016 and will require an escort. Schedule of events: Monday, March 7, 2016 media arrival time 1:15 -1:45 p.m. C-130H estimated time of arrival: 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Times may change based on any delays the C-130H may occur in route to New Castle. Media will be notified of any delays in arrival. Please contact 1Lt. Valerie Harwood if attending at valerie.k.harwood.mil@mail.mil or at 302-387-2733. MORE RETURNS: *UPDATED The Del. ANG is expecting additional arrivals later this week and media can confirm their attendance of these arrivals as well. Schedule of upcoming arrivals is as followed: Monday, March 7, 2016, around 60 Airmen returning, two C-130H arrivals around 2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 8, 2016, around 30 Airmen returning, one C-130H, arrival around 1:00 p.m. Thursday, March 10, 2016, around 30 Airmen returning, one C-130H, arrival around 1:00 p.m. This release is in the public domain, and any part may be used as written. The 166th Airlift Wing, Delaware Air National Guard, has more than 1,100 men and women at the New Castle ANG Base in New Castle, Del. The 166AW provides tactical airlift and airdrop of troops and cargo using C-130H2 aircraft, plus aeromedical evacuation, civil engineer and network warfare functions. Delaware Air National Guard: Celebrating 69 years of service to our state and nation since 1946. 1Lt. Valerie Harwood, Chief of Public Affairs, 166th Airlift Wing, 302-387-2733 or 302-222-5517. - 30 -