the ang considered replacing the fighter squadrons in these instances with transport aircraft a viable option for overcoming runway issues or community objections and also was a way to keep experienced senior aviators in the cockpit. during the late 1950s, the air force allowed several air national guard units to trade in their aging piston-driven fighters for second-line transports. new jersey's newly organized 150th air transport squadron (light) became the first pure airlift unit in the air national guard on 1 february 1956. it received curtiss c-46d commandos. two other aeromedical transport squadrons followed that year, primarily because of the impracticality of converting their locations to modern jet fighter operations. in 1959, the air force, in order to save operating funds, planned to phase out 48 c-97 stratofreighters before their replacements were available to the active force. the air national guard requested these aircraft be sent to ang units, and in january 1960, units in california, minnesota, new hampshire, new york, and oklahoma began trading in their obsolete fighters for c-97s.