| Cleared to land at Westoveryesterday.com! |
| Welcome back, Airmen! See reunion notices below! Please click on this link to see photos of Westover's heyday as a major SAC installation. Please click on this link if you would like to receive e-mail updates that inform you of new articles and photos added to this site. I will update my e-mail distribution list accordingly. THIS UNOFFICIAL WEB SITE IS DEDICATED TO THE THOUSANDS OF MEN AND WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES WHO HAVE SERVED -- AND SERVE TODAY -- AT WESTOVER This web site is not affiliated with the United States Air Force and as such does not reflect the beliefs or values of the USAF. It's solely this webmaster's opinions and research! |
Looking for an old friend from Westover? Since launching this site in January 2006, more than 40,000 visitors have visited this site. I have more than 100 people listed in my e-mail distribution list. For privacy considerations, each time I send out an e-mail notifying people of an update to the site, I "blind cc" everyone to keep e-mail addresses confidential. Here's how this page works: 1. If you would like to find someone through this site, or would like your name added to the list below, simply e-mail me by clicking here. Please be sure to include when you were assigned to Westover. 2. I'll add your name below as soon as possible and will link your e-mail address from my site (using your first and last name) so that friends you may be seeking may reach you. 3. I have linked some of these units to names of unit members whose photos are on pages in my site. HQ Eighth Air Force 814th Combat Defense Squadron 814th Civil Engineering Squadron 8th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron 99th Bombardment Wing 99th Air Refueling Squadron 99th Civil Engineering Squadron 99th Armament and Electronics Maintenance Squadron 99th Field Maintenance Squadron 99th Organizational Maintenance Squadron Frank Malone, 1969-'73 57th Air Division 337th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 1856th AACS 18th Communications Squadron Jim Musser, December 1962-September '65 Robert and Rita Petty, December 1955-December '59 1917th Communications Squadron |
LINKS
Westover Air Force Base, Mass. (Taken April 1957, photographer unknown.)
Click on the location links to see more!
Photo donated from Bill Sheehan
Click on the location links to see more!
Photo donated from Bill Sheehan
| Runway 15/33 >> 7,050 feet Built in 1942 |
| << KC-97 tanker |
| North Ramp >> KC-97 tankers 4050th Air Refueling Wng |
| KC-97 tankers >> 4050th Air Refueling Wing |
| << Runway 5/23 11,597 feet Built 1955 |
| << East Ramp, B-52s and B-47 Stratojet |
| Nosedocks built in 1956 >> |
| Nosedocks built in 1956 |
| << Westover Road |
| Former Runway 1/19 >> |
| << Eighth Air Force NCO Leadership School |
Although we might not see the Westover so many of us remember in its heyday
of the Cold War ever again, we can re-capture it -- thanks to today’s technology!
This web site serves two primary purposes:
-- Helping bring back those special years for those who were stationed at the
base through photos and interviews, so that these memories of their service to
our country may be preserved for their families and generations to come.
-- To inform people of the base’s continued role in national defense. Although it
is half the size of its former active-duty operation, Westover is the nation’s
largest Air Force Reserve base, covering 2,500 acres.
Check out my new "NOW AND THEN" photo section below this 1957 aerial
photo of the base!
NOW
THEN
Alert barns for fighter squadrons (pictured in
February 2011; they were torn down shortly
after this was taken).
February 2011; they were torn down shortly
after this was taken).
Alert barns circa late '60s. after the fighters
had left. Westover housed as many as three
fighter squadrons during the late 1950s.
Click here to read more (photo by Tom
Hildreth).
had left. Westover housed as many as three
fighter squadrons during the late 1950s.
Click here to read more (photo by Tom
Hildreth).
Alert facility in 2010 (now houses Westover
Metropolitan Airport and Massacahusetts
State Police)
Metropolitan Airport and Massacahusetts
State Police)
This Holyoke Transcript-Telegram photo
spread covers the opening of the alert facility
in 1959 (clipping courtesy of Stan
Lukasiewicz)
spread covers the opening of the alert facility
in 1959 (clipping courtesy of Stan
Lukasiewicz)
General's Row, spring 2008
General's Row, 1961 (photo courtesy of Lisa
Szatkowski)
Szatkowski)
This is looking down James Street towards
the base from Sentry Cleaners, 2008. The
gate is now much closer to the base and
located near the ellipse.
the base from Sentry Cleaners, 2008. The
gate is now much closer to the base and
located near the ellipse.
The photo above shows the bustling James
Street gate in the winter of 1958 (photo
courtesy of Loyal Madden, 3084th Aviation
Depot Group).
Street gate in the winter of 1958 (photo
courtesy of Loyal Madden, 3084th Aviation
Depot Group).
My good friend and former 57th Air Division Airman, ret.
SMSgt Stan "Luke" Lukasiewicz, holding his C-5A model,
2007.
SMSgt Stan "Luke" Lukasiewicz, holding his C-5A model,
2007.
Luke standing next to a Westover B-52
54-2685, 1957 Armed Forces Day.
54-2685, 1957 Armed Forces Day.
View from nearly same vantage point (perhaps
the old control tower?) circa late 1960s( (photo
from Boone Publications base guide)
the old control tower?) circa late 1960s( (photo
from Boone Publications base guide)
I shot this looking towards Mount Tom and South Hadley,
December 2011. To the upper right pf the Base Ellipse is the
new Armed Forces Reserve Center. Bldg 1520, the former
police and fire station, is in the foreground to the right.
December 2011. To the upper right pf the Base Ellipse is the
new Armed Forces Reserve Center. Bldg 1520, the former
police and fire station, is in the foreground to the right.
>> Air Force Special Projects Production Facility Reunion 28 Sept-3 October, 2014 Dayton Ohio.
Reunion includes former members of the AFSPPF, 6594th Test Squadron, 8RTS, OL-1 1814 Comm Gp ,
497RTS, 7405th Spt Gp, 7499 Spt Gp: spouses, families and friends
Contact:
Dick Temple dick.temple@faa.gov
I was at Westover from April '66-Feb.'70. I was in the 814th CES as a Construction Equipment Operator. We
plowed all that snow on the flight line!!!
Tommy Martin, Sgt, USAF
tmartin21@triad.rr.com
*********************************************
Great Page on Westover AFB. My Name is Gary Thomas email address is stlgary@gmail.com
Stationed at Westover AFB 1971-1972. I worked in the Fuels Branch (POL).
*********************************************
Thank you, Andrew. My unit was 814 FFS.
I am particularly looking for info on the DJ at the service club, which was directly across the street from my
barracks. His name is Sgt. Bryan McCortney., as well as any others in food service during that time.
Thank you for this great website...a real tribute to Westover as it was.
Pete
*********************************************
I want to still be connected to Westover AFB. Even though it was a short period of time ( 3 ½ years ), I
consider it to be the best time of my life, even though I didn’t know it @ the time. I was part of the 99th FMS ,
jetmac flight line from March 1967 to September 1970 , went TDY three times, Guam, Thailand and
Okinawa (ARC LIGHT MISSIONS).
NAME: JOHN MUCCI E-4 ,
E MAIL: JETMANB52@COMCAST.NET
*********************************************
I had sent you some info a while back of when I was at WAFB from 1959 to 1962, in the 99th field maint. sq.
I would be interested in contact with former work mates in 99th hyd. shop. So add my e-mail address to
your list.. Thanks. A1C Charles T Sims
Simschz@aol.com
I WAS STATIONED AT WESTOVER AFB JANUARY 1952 UNTIL DECEMBER 1955. I WORKED IN THE FIRE
AND AIRCRAFT CRASH RESCUE. MY DUTY WAS AT THE MAIN FIRE STATION AND THE CRASH STATION
NEAR THE BASE HANGAR.
WILBUR MERRITT
CANDOWIL @ AOL.COM
Served @ Westover from 4-60 till 4-62 @ the LOX plant which was @ the Northwest end of the base. My
Squadron was 814 Aircraft Support.
Thanks Hank Kolb
hfkoly@yahoo.com
*********************************************
Beverly a.(Romblad) Moran
okbam39@yahoo.com
18th communications Sq.
1962 till sep. 1965
I served at both the base switchboard and the 8th A.F. switchboard at the Notch. I met my husband at
Westover and we are still married 44 years later. I met a lot of wonderful people at Westover and have
many fond memories of my time there.
Westover Air Reserve Base -- official base web site
http://www.westover.afrc.af.mil/
Notch (SAC command bunker)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZrPqE4BkXQ&feature=related
Photos of 1958 construction at the Notch
http://www.westoveryesterday.com/TheNotch.html
814th Combat Defense Squadron -- former 814th CDS member Alan Hayes' superb web site, tons of awesome pictures, memories of duty at Westover
http://www.814thcds.com/
1955 Yankee Flyer base newspapers (SAC took over operations of Westover on 1 April, 1955)
http://www.westoveryesterday.com/YankeeFlyers.html
Milestones at Westover
http://www.westoveryesterday.com/milestones.html
In Memoriam: Dedicated to those lost their lives while serving at Westover
My Facebook photos of Westover's history
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1783109421905.2101957.1364562535&type=3
Historic photos of SAC's heyday at Westover
http://andrewsb.smugmug.com/Military/Westover-AFB-The-Heyday-Years/19172699_vMhJFk#!i=1494128457&k=636wngK
Loring Air Force Base, Maine (closed in 1994)
http://www.loringairforcebase.com/
http://www.westover.afrc.af.mil/
Notch (SAC command bunker)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZrPqE4BkXQ&feature=related
Photos of 1958 construction at the Notch
http://www.westoveryesterday.com/TheNotch.html
814th Combat Defense Squadron -- former 814th CDS member Alan Hayes' superb web site, tons of awesome pictures, memories of duty at Westover
http://www.814thcds.com/
1955 Yankee Flyer base newspapers (SAC took over operations of Westover on 1 April, 1955)
http://www.westoveryesterday.com/YankeeFlyers.html
Milestones at Westover
http://www.westoveryesterday.com/milestones.html
In Memoriam: Dedicated to those lost their lives while serving at Westover
My Facebook photos of Westover's history
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1783109421905.2101957.1364562535&type=3
Historic photos of SAC's heyday at Westover
http://andrewsb.smugmug.com/Military/Westover-AFB-The-Heyday-Years/19172699_vMhJFk#!i=1494128457&k=636wngK
Loring Air Force Base, Maine (closed in 1994)
http://www.loringairforcebase.com/
NEWS NOTES
>> Westover's next Great New England AIr Show is set for May 16-17, 2015. The air show will honor Westover's 75th anniversary. The US Navy Blue Angels will
headline this event. This is the first time in the base's history that the Navy's demonstration team will perform. The Blue Angels did visit Westover in the late 1950s, but
used the base for a staging location as they performed over the annual Springfield "Big E."
>> Click on Westover ARB to get up-to-date information on today's operations at the base.
>> Westover's next Great New England AIr Show is set for May 16-17, 2015. The air show will honor Westover's 75th anniversary. The US Navy Blue Angels will
headline this event. This is the first time in the base's history that the Navy's demonstration team will perform. The Blue Angels did visit Westover in the late 1950s, but
used the base for a staging location as they performed over the annual Springfield "Big E."
>> Click on Westover ARB to get up-to-date information on today's operations at the base.
LINKS
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LINKS
BULLETIN BOARD
| Photo provided by Al Crane, who worked in this building shows the Air Force Special Projects Production Facility, circa 1970. This building was also known as P-1900, and before AFSPPF, also housed the 8th Reconnaissance Technical Squadron (Recce Tecces) which developed top-secret film for SAC leadership to review. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, film developed here by these Air Force technicians was sent to President John F. Kennedy and showed the Soviet Union's buildup of missiles in Cuba. According to Mr. Crane, AFSPPF has been recognized for its role as the primary production facility for National Reconnaissance Program satellite and selected airborne photographic systems from 1961-1976. . |
REUNION NOTICE
EMAILS
Alert barns for fighter squadrons (pictured in
February 2011; they were torn down shortly
after this was taken).
February 2011; they were torn down shortly
after this was taken).
Inset photo shows the B-36 Peacemaker, the largest aircraft in the Air Force inventory at the time, parked at a Westover AFB
Armed Forces Day in 1955. The bomber was from Loring AIr Force Base, Maine. Larger photo features today's largest Air
Force aircraft, a C-5B Galaxy preparing to land at today's Westover Air Reserve Base (photo by Andrew Biscoe). There are 16
C-5s assigned to the base, which is about half of the size of the former Air Force base.
Armed Forces Day in 1955. The bomber was from Loring AIr Force Base, Maine. Larger photo features today's largest Air
Force aircraft, a C-5B Galaxy preparing to land at today's Westover Air Reserve Base (photo by Andrew Biscoe). There are 16
C-5s assigned to the base, which is about half of the size of the former Air Force base.
THEN
This 2009 photo of the KC-135A model shows its placement near the Base Ellipse. As of this writing, Westover
maintenance Airmen are repainting and refurbishing the model inside one of the hangars. The model is a replica of KC-
135A 56-3630, one of two tankers assigned to SAC's 99th Air Refueling Squadron and which participated in the command's
Operation Topsail in June 1958.
maintenance Airmen are repainting and refurbishing the model inside one of the hangars. The model is a replica of KC-
135A 56-3630, one of two tankers assigned to SAC's 99th Air Refueling Squadron and which participated in the command's
Operation Topsail in June 1958.