Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base

Mansfield Lahm Regional Airport, identified by IATA code MFD and ICAO code KMFD, is located three miles north of Mansfield, Ohio. The airport is named after Frank P. Lahm, a balloonist. Commercial airline operations commenced in 1947 with TWA, followed by Lake Central and Allegheny, and later Allegheny Commuter until 1969. The Mansfield Aviation Club was established at the airport in 1949. In 2021, the airport began receiving an annual federal subsidy from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. As of 2023, the city of Mansfield is involved in a lawsuit against 81 companies and individuals concerning potential chemical contamination from firefighting foam used by the Air National Guard.

The airport serves as the home for the Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard Base and the 179th Airlift Wing (179 AW), an Ohio Air National Guard unit operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command. This unit, comprising approximately 1000 personnel, has been active at the base since 1948. The 179th Airlift Wing initially operated fighter aircraft until 1976, when it transitioned to an airlift mission with C-130 Hercules aircraft. From 2009 to 2013, the unit flew the C-27 Spartan before transitioning back to the C-130. The wing has participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, Southern Watch, Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom.

The airport spans 2,340 acres and features two asphalt runways: 14/32, measuring 9,001 by 150 feet (2,744 m × 46 m), and 5/23, measuring 6,819 by 150 feet (2,078 m × 46 m). Niss Aviation operates as the fixed-base operator, offering fuel, maintenance, hangars, and other services. The airport is capable of handling large aircraft, including the USAF C-5 and the Antonov 124-100. In 2022, the airport received nearly $7 million for facility rehabilitation, including upgrades to the overflow parking ramp and taxiways. In 2023, funding was allocated for the construction of a restaurant, with plans for construction to begin in spring 2024. For the year ending January 31, 2023, the airport recorded 18,780 aircraft operations, with military operations accounting for 8% of the total.