By BRENT MARTIN
St. Joseph Post
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson says while the state is concerned about the future of the 139th Airlift Wing in St. Joseph, it believes recent investments at Rosecrans Memorial Airport should ensure its future.
Parson acknowledges the state was worried a bit when the Pentagon passed over the 139th to award the first round of new C-130 cargo planes.
“Well, I don’t think there’s any question we’re concerned about it, but we do feel like we got a pretty good opportunity last time, because a lot of those orders were filled to other installations. So, we feel like we should be at the top of that list,” Parson tells KFEQ/St. Joseph Post. “But what we feel and what happens in Washington, D.C. are two different things. I think we have a good chance to get the C-130Js here.”
The 139th has a fleet of C-130H planes. It is awaiting word on whether it will receive the upgraded C-130J models.
Parson says erecting a new air traffic control tower and terminal building at Rosecrans should be enough for the Pentagon to upgrade the 139th’s cargo planes from the “H” model to the “J” model.
“All the upkeeps they’re doing, all the updates they’re doing and then just some of the new parts of the facility, new tower they’re going to build and things like that are important. You have a tower out there that’s 50 years old. It probably doesn’t even meet the height requirements you have today. Making those changes I think, showing that we’re real serious about making investments in our state, should be a signal to the military that, hey, we’re going to be here for the long haul.”
Parson visited the 139th as part of the Missouri Military Preparedness and Enhancement Commission quarterly meeting. He also held a book signing at the downtown St. Joseph Library and made a visit to Missouri Western State University.
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