If the 205th Tactical Operations Wing and the 15th Strike Wing are the operators, the 220th Airlift Wing is the runner. Stationed in Benito Ebuen Air Base, Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, the 22oth Airlift Wing primarily runs the daily cargoes of the Air Force, disgorging tons of supplies and equipment necessary for air operations, and ferrying AFP personnel including authorized civilian passengers. It literally acts as the main support conduit for the AFP, linking ground forces, transporting their needs and their families, and helping in no small-scale government agencies during emergencies.

The 220th Airlift Wing supports all these air transport needs through its fleet of C-130 Hercules aircraft, F-27 Fokkers, and N-22B Nomads. The C-130 is the main transport carrier, delivering as many as a battalion of troops at one time. The F-27s take care of the medium transport requirements, and the smaller N-22Bs clean up the light and short hauls.

The 220th Airlift Wing was organized as a provisional unit of the Philippine Air Force on the first of June 1973. Two later the 220th Airlift Wing was activated as a regular unit of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

The C-123K Provider aircraft manufactured by Fairchild became the initial workhorse. Nostalgic memories of this unforgettable birds brings back the years we almost lost Mindanao. Countless resupply missions were flown by this giant.

When the C-123K became fully operational, the Australian made N-22 B/C Nomad aircraft arrived in 1975. The cargoes were shouldered by the Provider while the Nomad was enhanced further with the arrival of three C-130 Hercules on March 1977. In 1982, the F-27/RF-27 were added to the inventory of the wing. On that same year, the C-123K were phased out.

The 220th Airlift Wing composed of three tactical squadrons and five support squadrons is mandated to conduct tactical airlift operation in support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Inherent to its missions is its function to provide airlift and air transport to all AFP units, air reconnaissance and aerial searches, aeromedical evacuation for the sick and wounded AFP personnel and their dependents, air transport assistance to civil government agencies to support the country's socio-economic development, training for aircrew and support personnel, organizational and field level maintenance to organic aircraft.

The 220th Airlift Wing has an impressive record of providing resue not only in the country but even beyond its boundaries. The unit was quick in responding to the needs of the beleaguered overseas contract workers.

 (Source as edited: The Philippine Air Force Story, Editorial Board, Office of the Commanding General Philippine Air Force, Kaunlaran Trading & Printing Co., Inc., August 1992.)