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The planned move of F-15 fighter jets from Great Falls to California has Montana's U.S. Senators looking at other missions for Montana Air National Guard.

Some say any additional jobs from a new mission with C-27J cargo planes will be well received here, once F-15s are sent to Fresno.

Others say the efforts completely miss the mark.

The Air Force plans to send four C-27J Cargo planes to nine Air Force bases across the country, including the Montana Air National Guard in Great Falls.

Only seven bases have been identified so far.

U.S. Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester, both Democrats, are asking the Air Force for at least one of the extra aircrafts or for a new aircraft.

Great Falls Area Chamber of Commerce President Steve Malicott calls the efforts "wonderful" and says the Chamber of Commerce is fully supporting a fifth plane.

Malicott said, "We're hoping that they don't fill those other two bases and they give those additional C-27J's to the seven bases that have already been identified."

Malicott says the Chamber has been told the F-15s will be gone as early as the beginning of 2012.

While the C-27J's cannot fully make up for the loss of jobs, he says, it's a start.

Malicott said, "We continue to search out new missions."

Still, not everyone is on board.

MT State Senator Ed Buttrey is a member of both the Central Montana Defence Alliance and Citizens for Montana's Military.

The Defence Alliance has shifted its priority to finding new missions like the C-27J's, but Buttrey is siding with the CMM, saying the fight is not over.

Buttrey said, "There are more and more people, including folks at the federal level that are jumping on board and understanding that it's a tremendous waste of jobs and money to move the mission."

Buttrey says the mission change will cost 200 jobs and $9 million in military payroll.

He also estimates the change will cost more than $500 million to bring in the new planes and send out the jets.

"Compare that with just leaving the mission here, which doesn't cost the tax payers anything," said Buttrey.

Still, Buttrey says he'll continue to fight until the last F-15 has left the state.

Buttrey said, "I feel that there's great opportunity for people in Washington D.C. to reverse this decision and make a better decision regarding the military."

C-27J's are expected to be useful in homeland security missions like fighting wildfires or floods.

Senators Baucus and Tester joined eight other lawmakers in sending a letter Tuesday asking for the fifth plane.