| This web site is dedicated to the thousands of men and women and their families assigned to Westover Air Force Base, Massachusetts, since its opening more than 70 years ago. |
| 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 IS AN UNOFFICIAL WESTOVER WEB SITE! To see what is going on at today's Westover Air Reserve Base, click on: Westover ARB 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, just the webmaster's opinions and research! |
Lee Askern
pauli5500@yahoo.com
8 RTS
1966-67
I remember always being in trouble.
I worked at the base photo lab and got a p/t
job for Channel 22 in Springfield which
became more important to me than my base
job. I remember lots of drinking at Sweet
Charities in West Springfield with Ralph
Fetzer..tormenting my roomie Frank Ferrara. I
also remember getting out of a speeding
ticket on base by meeting the AP with his
family and taking a family portrait of them
(using the Sgt's camera, of course!). Anybody
know me, email to: pauli5500@yahoo.com
Frank Ostrozinski
Email link: faovette@verizon.net
99th AEMS 1960-1964
I joined the 99th in January 1961.
I was assigned there after basic at Lackland.
I was clerk in the 99th AEMS orderly room. I
have many fond memories of the base.
The unit I was assigned to had some of the
greatest guys you would ever want to meet
and work with.
My favorite thing to do was sit on the taxi way
and watch the 52s take off on their sorties.
The base was very big. I heard someone say
that it was 10 miles square. Some of my
fondest memeories are of the service club
and all the girls that came to the
dances. I was there for the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
Boy we were on alert for a long time. I wish I
could get hooked up with some the guys that
were in my squadron.
John Rychick
814th Supply Squadron
Looking for contacts from May 1963 through
August 1965. Email link: imchex@aol.com
pauli5500@yahoo.com
8 RTS
1966-67
I remember always being in trouble.
I worked at the base photo lab and got a p/t
job for Channel 22 in Springfield which
became more important to me than my base
job. I remember lots of drinking at Sweet
Charities in West Springfield with Ralph
Fetzer..tormenting my roomie Frank Ferrara. I
also remember getting out of a speeding
ticket on base by meeting the AP with his
family and taking a family portrait of them
(using the Sgt's camera, of course!). Anybody
know me, email to: pauli5500@yahoo.com
Frank Ostrozinski
Email link: faovette@verizon.net
99th AEMS 1960-1964
I joined the 99th in January 1961.
I was assigned there after basic at Lackland.
I was clerk in the 99th AEMS orderly room. I
have many fond memories of the base.
The unit I was assigned to had some of the
greatest guys you would ever want to meet
and work with.
My favorite thing to do was sit on the taxi way
and watch the 52s take off on their sorties.
The base was very big. I heard someone say
that it was 10 miles square. Some of my
fondest memeories are of the service club
and all the girls that came to the
dances. I was there for the Cuban Missile
Crisis.
Boy we were on alert for a long time. I wish I
could get hooked up with some the guys that
were in my squadron.
John Rychick
814th Supply Squadron
Looking for contacts from May 1963 through
August 1965. Email link: imchex@aol.com
| 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 |
| Andrew Biscoe |
Although we might not see the Westover so many of us remember in its heyday of the Cold War ever again, but 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.
To view my gallery of photos from such collectors and former Airmen of Westover like Stan Lukasiewicz, Alan Hayes, and Tom Hildreth, click here.
Check out my new "NOW AND THEN" photo section below this 1957 aerial photo of the base!
NOW
THEN
Airman’s barracks, on Johnson Road (now
the Westover Job Corps, October 2010.
the Westover Job Corps, October 2010.
Steam plant demolition, October 2005
Sheridan Street water tank is
disassembled, spring 2006. This
water tank was actually young in
the context of Westover. It had
stood over the former southeast
end of the base near the
Christmas Tree alert area since
1971. The day I shot this, I learned
its disassembly was to be short
lived. The tank was scheduled to
enjoy a second “life” somewhere
near Chicago!
disassembled, spring 2006. This
water tank was actually young in
the context of Westover. It had
stood over the former southeast
end of the base near the
Christmas Tree alert area since
1971. The day I shot this, I learned
its disassembly was to be short
lived. The tank was scheduled to
enjoy a second “life” somewhere
near Chicago!
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)
The old fuel farm, spring 2006. This
landmark, which stood unused after SAC's
departure in 1974, was removed entirely in
2011.
landmark, which stood unused after SAC's
departure in 1974, was removed entirely in
2011.
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?) circal late 1960s( (photo
from Boone Publications base guide)
the old control tower?) circal 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.
Sheridan Street water tank is
disassembled, spring 2006. This
water tank was actually young in
the context of Westover. It had
stood over the former southeast
end of the base near the
Christmas Tree alert area since
1971. The day I shot this, I learned
its disassembly was to be short
lived. The tank was scheduled to
enjoy a second “life” somewhere
near Chicago!
disassembled, spring 2006. This
water tank was actually young in
the context of Westover. It had
stood over the former southeast
end of the base near the
Christmas Tree alert area since
1971. The day I shot this, I learned
its disassembly was to be short
lived. The tank was scheduled to
enjoy a second “life” somewhere
near Chicago!
GENERATIONS AT WESTOVER -- My good friend and retired SMSgt
Chris Doyle, left, pauses for a photo with retired MSgt Larry Raines,
April 14, 2012. MSgt Raines was a B-52 mechanic at Westover in
1963, and later served several more years with the Air Force
Reserve at Westover. SMSgt Doyle was with the 439th Maintenance
Squadron for many years.
Chris Doyle, left, pauses for a photo with retired MSgt Larry Raines,
April 14, 2012. MSgt Raines was a B-52 mechanic at Westover in
1963, and later served several more years with the Air Force
Reserve at Westover. SMSgt Doyle was with the 439th Maintenance
Squadron for many years.
Sheridan Street water tank is
disassembled, spring 2006. This
water tank was actually young in
the context of Westover. It had
stood over the former southeast
end of the base near the
Christmas Tree alert area since
1971. The day I shot this, I learned
its disassembly was to be short
lived. The tank was scheduled to
enjoy a second “life” somewhere
near Chicago!
disassembled, spring 2006. This
water tank was actually young in
the context of Westover. It had
stood over the former southeast
end of the base near the
Christmas Tree alert area since
1971. The day I shot this, I learned
its disassembly was to be short
lived. The tank was scheduled to
enjoy a second “life” somewhere
near Chicago!