Connecticut Guard’s flying mission settles in

East Granby — The Connecticut National Guard moved closer Wednesday toward securing its permanent flying mission with C-130 cargo planes for years into the future.

State and Guard officials held a ceremony to mark the opening of a new, federally funded, $14.3 million maintenance facility for the aircraft stationed at the Bradley Air National Guard Base in East Granby. The unveiling of the Fuel Cell and Corrosion Control Facility came three weeks after the Guard welcomed home 130 airmen and four of the eight C-130s back from the Guard’s first large-scale, overseas deployment with the aircraft in southwest Asia.

“This project proves the federal government is committed to recapitalizing their investment in the Connecticut Air National Guard,” Major General Thaddeus Martin told the crowd on Wednesday, referring to the 30,000 square-foot-facility.

The Connecticut Air National Guard’s flying mission was put in limbo in 2005 when the federal Base Realignment and Closure Commission recommended stripping the Guard’s A-10 fighter planes.

Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy said he’s hopeful Connecticut has done what it can to help prevent the Air National Guard base, as well as the U.S. Submarine Base in Groton, from appearing on any potential BRAC closure lists in the future by helping to make improvements.