Final N.D. Air National Guard plane reaches museum

FARGO, N.D. — The final manned airplane at the North Dakota Air National Guard base in Fargo is now in the hands of officials at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

The C-21 Learjet left the home of the 119th wing on Tuesday, ending more than 65 years of manned flying missions for the Happy Hooligans. It leaves North Dakota as the only state without a manned military flying mission.

Col. Kent Olson, commander of the 119th Wing, piloted the aircraft during its final flight. He called it a bittersweet moment after the unit’s proud history with mostly fighter planes.

Retired Lt. Gen. Jack Hudson, director of the museum, said the addition of the C-21 will allow historians to “better interpret the diversity of the Air Force’s airlift mission.”