WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kit Bond called the closure of the 131^st Fighter Wing at Missouri’s Lambert Field a sad day for St. Louis and bad for national security.   

 

            “It’s hard to say goodbye to the 131^st, this Fighter Wing has long been an important part of St. Louis’ history and hearts,” said Bond.   “For our national security, the closure of the 131^st is even more serious, with this foolhardy decision the Pentagon has weakened our ability to protect critical regional infrastructure.”

 

            As one of the strongest opponents to the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) decision to eliminate the 131^st Fighter Wing, Bond warned that closure of Missouri’s Lambert Field is not in our national security interests.  In 2005, Bond testified before the Commission on behalf of the 131^st and other Missouri military installations and voted in Congress against the BRAC plan. 

 

            Bond, the long-time co-chair of the National Guard Caucus, pointed out that post-9-11 the Air National Guard’s responsibilities have dramatically increased.  The Air Guard now as the primary role of policing the nation’s air-space.  Bond noted that this mission is especially critical to the St. Louis region which is home to nuclear power reactors, dams and railroad lines, and a Boeing plant that produces our fighter jets.  The region also has stadiums, monuments, large chemical storage facilities, and the uranium enrichment facility in Paducah, Kentucky – not to mention Whiteman Air-force Base and its B-2's.

 

            Despite the need, as a result of the BRAC decision and the elimination of the 131^st our military will be securing less of the skies over our major metropolitan areas, historic monuments, and our nation’s critical infrastructure than they do today.  The 131^st is critical to policing our air-space and with these fighter jets gone there will now be a regional vulnerability.

 

            Bond blamed this bad decision on the lack of coordination between the Air Force and the Air National Guard as the Air Force developed its Future Total Force strategy, which was the basis for many of the BRAC recommendations. 

 

            For St. Louis community, the loss of the 131^st is also the loss of a significant piece of history.  Since the days of Charles Lindbergh the 131st Fighter Wing has been a highly decorated unit and a source of St. Louis pride.  One bright spot, Bond noted, is the decision to transfer many of the131st members to the new 131^st Bomb Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base.  This move will preserve some of the 131^st’s incredible experience and these members will be performing one the Air Force’s most exclusive and important missions flying the B-2 stealth bomber.

           

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