Cleared to land at Westoveryesterday.com!
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 67 years ago
Full stops:
Counter
Aircraft gallery
See the mighty SAC
armada that once
thundered at Westover
Famous generals
Gen. Curtis E. LeMay
was assigned to
Westover as a
lieutenent colonel in
1941-42. Click on the
thumbnail of the Air
Force icon to see more
about his rise through
the ranks after  his stay
at Westover
Click on the thumbnail
to view one of
Westover's 8th Air Force
support aircraft, a C-54
Skymaster. According to
photographer Tom
Hildreth, this aircraft
was built in Chicago as
one of 380 C-54Ds. This
example, 42-72528,
shown in  1962 by the
DC Hangar, may have
been a VC-54D for VIP
duty. It had a white
radome and roof, as
well as window line.
Note the 8th AF emblem
on the tail.
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Westover was largest
Northeast air base
during Cold War
Westover AFB was among
many large Air Force
bases that dotted New
England and New York
during the Cold War era.  
With 8th Air Force
headquarters, the 57th Air
Division, the 99th
Bombardment Wing, and
the 4050th Air Refueling
Wing all assigned at the
base, it was by far the
largest military base in
New England.
By 1960, there were as
many as eight major
military bases in the New
England region. Compare
that with today: Only one
active-duty base remains
-- Hanscom AFB, located
near Boston. It does not
have a flying mission.
Click here to read more
about some of New
England's former military
bases.
TEN-HUT! >> Members
of the 8th
Reconnaissance
Technical Squadron
stand at attention for an
October 1955 photo in
front of the brand-new,
super-secret building.
Click on the photo to
see other shots of this
unique squadron, which
made history in
1962during the Cuban
Missile Crisis. The 8th
RTS was assigned to
Westover from 1955 to
1970.                                  
                                          
(photo courtesy of Dick
Miller, Recce Tecce at
Westover).
James Street Gate, circa 1959
Click on this link to see other photos of Westover (photo provided by Alan Hayes)
Guards assigned to the
814th Air Police
Squadron direct traffic
through the Industrial
Gate on Westover Road
in 1960. Click on Alan
Hayes'  excellent 814th
site for more
information about the
814th CDS. (photo
provided by Alan Hayes)
This is not an official
Westover web site. Please
click on
www.westover.afrc.af.mil to
view the official site of
Westover Air Reserve Base.  
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!
ON GUARD >>Airman Second Class John Meakin Jr., 814th Combat Defense Squadron, maintains his watch
over Westover B-52s in 1965. This excellent photo is also featured on Alan Hayes' web site. (photo provided
by John Meakin)
(photo from Wilton Curtis)
FAMILY PORTRAIT >> The
family of Capt Wilton Curtis,
who flew with the Looking
Glass EC-135s at Westover,
stands in front of a 99th Air
Refueling Squadron
KC-135A, tail number
61-0307, during the 1964
Armed Forces Day. Note the
Ramrod mission nickname.
BEAUTIFUL BUFF >> A 99th Bombardment Wing B-52C is lined up for final approach to Westover in this superb
photo taken by Stan Lukasiewicz, circa late 1950s. Stan notes that the contrail above the bomber is from another
B-52! The aircraft pictured landing is tail number 54-2674. Note the 3,000-gallon drop tanks near the wingtips.
.... INTO THE WILD BLUE YONDER
Holyoke-Transcript Telegram coverage of the 1959 Armed Forces Day.

                                                                                                                      (Clipping provided by Stan Lukasiewicz)