| Maintenance masters keep 'em flying - page under construction! |
| 99th Field Maintenance Squadron |
| 499th Field Maintenance Squadron |
They're the "behind-the-scenes" people. This page is about the people who have put the planes in the air since Westover's first aircraft
landed and took off in 1940.
Today's maintainers of the 439th Airlift Wing comprise more than 600 men and women who have the demanding task of looking after the Air
Force's largest aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy. With its size comes the mammoth aircraft's complexities - and age.
The maintainers at Westover have built their credibility on more than ORI's and deployments. They have met the demands of major "real
world" operations like Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom - all while taking care of 16 of the Free World's largest
aircraft. The 439th -- also known as "The Patriot Wing" - has earned a place in the record books for launching and recovering record numbers
of C-5s from Westover.
This page is one way to tip my hat to these talented dedicated workers, who day in and day out, know all too well what "high maintenance" is
all about on those C-5s. These men and women take care of the huge transports like no one else in the Air Force, and during any season that
New England dishes out. As I build more onto the page, look for photos of today's C-5 maintainers, and below and to the right, the maintainers
who came before them at Westover.
See photos below of B-52 crew chief Noah Blizzard! More to follow!
landed and took off in 1940.
Today's maintainers of the 439th Airlift Wing comprise more than 600 men and women who have the demanding task of looking after the Air
Force's largest aircraft, the C-5 Galaxy. With its size comes the mammoth aircraft's complexities - and age.
The maintainers at Westover have built their credibility on more than ORI's and deployments. They have met the demands of major "real
world" operations like Operations Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and Enduring Freedom - all while taking care of 16 of the Free World's largest
aircraft. The 439th -- also known as "The Patriot Wing" - has earned a place in the record books for launching and recovering record numbers
of C-5s from Westover.
This page is one way to tip my hat to these talented dedicated workers, who day in and day out, know all too well what "high maintenance" is
all about on those C-5s. These men and women take care of the huge transports like no one else in the Air Force, and during any season that
New England dishes out. As I build more onto the page, look for photos of today's C-5 maintainers, and below and to the right, the maintainers
who came before them at Westover.
See photos below of B-52 crew chief Noah Blizzard! More to follow!
| 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron |
| 439th Maintenance Squadron |
FROM THE PAST ....
... TO THE PRESENT
WINGTIP PERCH -- Airman Noah Blizzard sits atop his B-52C Stratofortress at Westover, circa
1961. Click on the thumbnail to the left to see other pictures of these dedicated maintenance
workers who had the enormous responsibility of keeping the Air Force's mightiest bomber fleet in
the air! ( photo provided by Noah Blizzard )
1961. Click on the thumbnail to the left to see other pictures of these dedicated maintenance
workers who had the enormous responsibility of keeping the Air Force's mightiest bomber fleet in
the air! ( photo provided by Noah Blizzard )