MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Friday for the 1-67th Airlift Wing in Martinsburg to rededicate Fuel Maintenance Hangar 305. Maintenance Squadron Commander Major John Alexander talked about the importance of a dedicated hangar for fuel cell maintenance for the Wing’s C-17 Globemaster III fleet:
Commander Martin Timko says this will be a major time saver:
Senate President Craig Blair says its been a joy to watch the facility grow:
He spoke about the economic impact of the Airlift Wing in the region and the Mountain State as a whole:
Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, The Adjutant General of West Virginia Guard, joined leaders from the West Virginia Air National Guard for the ribbon cutting ceremony held Friday morning at Shepherd Air National Guard Base in Martinsburg.
The hangar opened in 2010, but shortly showed structural issues described as “foundational cracks and damage caused by inadequate vertical structures. ” It was shut down in 2018.
Work to repair it began in earnest in 2022 at a price tag of $5,765,606.00, according to a press release from the West Virginia Air National Guard.
Panhandle News Network Reporter Luke Wiggs contributed to this story.