Westover Air Reserve Base

Good (rainy) morning!

Another round of EOD training for Wednesday, Aug 7. Please be advised the team will be on the range from 1pm-6pm today.

Patriot Wing C-5M Super Galaxy shout out to this Citizen Airmen!

Heroism in Action

Major Michael Medrano, C-5 functional manager within HQ AFRC’s Directorate of Operations, was awarded the prestigious Airman's Medal during a ceremony last week. Last summer, Maj. Medrano risked his life to save two children from drowning after a strong wave unexpectedly pulled them into the Gulf of Mexico.

Congratulations Maj. Medrano, your quick thinking and selflessness exemplify the highest standards of heroism.

| | | | United States Air Force

EOD will be conducting detonations until 11 a.m. today, August 5! Expect to hear some noise. Thank you

We were glad to welcome Col. McDonald from Dover Air Force Base at Westover Air Reserve Base. It was a great opportunity to showcase what the maintenance group is working on.

Farewell and safe travels!

The Patriot Wing said good bye to Colonel Jon Baum, 439th Mission Support Group commander on July 31. He is transitioning to a new joint service position at the Pentagon, Washington D.C.

Baum's command tour at Westover, which began in April 2023, was his third time in Chicopee. He is a former Traditional Reserve flight commander as well as Air Reserve Technician Installation Deployment Officer.

Baum will be assuming responsibilities as Concepts, Capabilities and Wargames Division Chief, The Joint Staff Logistics Directorate.

Thank you for your dedicated service, selfless leadership and putting your Citizen Airmen first. You will be missed!

Westover ARB 🤝 Barnes ANG

Members of the Westover maintenance squadron visited Barnes Air National Guard base earlier this week to practice crash recovery on one of their decommissioned F-15. The Crash, Damaged, or Disabled Aircraft Recovery (CDDAR) team worked on getting the aircraft into a position to be towed away, which could not happen upon arrival due to the simulated crash.

The maintenance team is constantly training and honing their skills - something that is necessary to have adaptable and capable airmen that can face any challenge. Keep working hard, team!

Save the date!

Westover's 2024 Combat Dining In will be held during the September UTA!

Mark your calendars for Saturday, 7 September...

Combat Dining In next UTA! Coming soon to Westover on Saturday of the September UTA!

EOD will be conducting detonations from 0800-1200 today, July 28! Expect to hear some noise. Thank you!

Congratulations to Master Sergeant Gerald Overton, 337th Airlift Squadron flight engineer, for over 20 years of service. Overton celebrated his final flight on Saturday before retiring in a traditional fini-flight ceremony, marking his last flight while in uniform.

In keeping with honored tradition, Overton was met with water hoses, cheers and hugs from friends and loved ones.

Dating back to World War II, aircrew members have celebrated their last flights in similar fashion. Over the years, it has become an Air Force tradition for flyers.

(U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Airman Stephen Underwood)

The Patriot Wing's Rising Six Council hosted a car wash after duty hours on 27 July 2024. The Rising Six is dedicated to supporting the enlisted ranks, E-1 through E-6, and the goal of this council is to improve the enlisted experience and to prepare them to be effective lead­ers as they progress in their careers.

Thanks to all who made it out! 🚗 ✨

📸 : Senior Master Sgt. Trevor Saylor

⭐️ Welcome back, Brigadier General McMillian! ⭐️

Formerly a Westover Aircraft Maintenance Operations Officer, General McMillian is now the Mobilization Assistant to the Director of Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection out of Ramstein AB, Germany.

Westover was honored to showcase some of our innovative and resilient team members, and we are grateful to you for taking the time to recognize their hard work and accomplishments.

U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa 4th Air Force Headquarters Air Force Reserve

Expect to hear some noise coming from Westover today!

Patriot shout out to our neighbors to the East. Welcome to the area, Col. Jorge Jimenez, commander 66th Air Base Group. Good luck in new position at Hanscom Air Force Base.

Last week, Col. Jorge Jimenez accepted his new role as commander of the 66th Air Base Group during a ceremony held at the Aero Club Hangar.

Jimenez’s immediate priorities for the 66th Air Base Group focus on readiness and continuing to maintain high-quality support to mission partners and their families.

“I am dedicated to fostering an environment where every Airman can thrive and contribute to the 66th Air Base Group’s mission success,” he said.

To read more about the new installation commander visit https://www.hanscom.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3842895/new-abg-commander-focused-on-readiness-customer-service/

The EOD team will be conducting training today from 1:30pm until 4pm, so please expect to hear some noise if you are on/near the base. Thank you.

Joint contingency engineering!

On July 17 Colonel Jon Baum, 439th Mission Support Group commander recognized three civil engineers for their skilled work as part of the instal team for a new parking apron at Pad 19 in the Dogpatch readiness training district.

Coined and praised were USMC Cpl. Jake Bradley, Marine Wing Support Squadron 472, and USAF Senior Airmen Divin Ayaya and Rogerick Pugh, 556th Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron, Fla. Air National Guard, for going above and beyond to ensure heavy equipment was available during the project work.

Over three years in development, it took a full Patriot Wing effort to execute. Base Civil Engineers, Contacting Flight, Finance, Inspector General - Exercises, and staff at Air Force Reserve Command Headquarters dovetailed to bring the actual construction to fruition.

Florida National Guard Marine Forces Reserve

The hits just keep coming!

The Patriot Wing is proud to announce the 439th Contingency Response Flight has won the 2023 AFRC CR Unit of the Year!

In addition, there were two Citizen Airmen within the CRF who were also recognized at the AFRC level. Major John W. Archambeau, was named Expeditionary Operations Team of the Year - Field Grade Officer and Senior Master Sgt. James C. Grove Jr. was awarded the Expeditionary Operations Team of the Year – Senior Enlisted category.

The CRF's ready, resilient and agile warfighters are key cogs in the 439th Airlift Wing's ability to provide rapid global mobility.

Well done CRF!

The New England Air Museum is proud to announce the upcoming arrival of 85-0101, a F-15C Eagle from the 104th Fighter Wing from the Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts!

The F-15C Eagle was the premier fourth generation air superiority fighter used by the United States Air Force since it entered service in 1976. With its two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-220 engines, the Eagle can accelerate straight up with a thrust to weight ratio of 1.17 to 1. Across all engagements, the F-15 boosts a 104-0 record, and modified versions are still being used today.

This F-15C Eagle served in Operation Desert Strom and is credited with taking down a MiG-25 Foxbat. We will share more updates on the aircraft's arrival to the museum soon.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Ken Middleton

Resiliency = mission readiness!

The Patriot Wing has a new Resiliency First Sergeant. Head on over to the Westover news page to read an introductory profile of 1st Heather Chua.

(Photo Tim Jensen, 439 AW/PA)

https://www.westover.afrc.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3840201/5-questions-with1st-sgt-heather-chua-wing-resiliency-first-sergeant/

Remembering our local history!

On Saturday July 13 the Holyoke B-17 Memorial Committee held an annual remembrance ceremony at nearby Mt. Tom. Colonel Jordan Murphy, 439th Maintenance Group commander, was one of the featured speakers.

This year marked 78 years since the aircraft crashed on approach to then-Westover Field. Approximately 25 service members from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S. Public Health Service and American Red Cross lost their lives.

(Photo Dave Canton, Springfield Republican)

https://www.wwlp.com/news/local-news/hampden-county/78-years-since-25-men-returning-home-from-wwii-killed-in-mt-tom-b-17-crash/

Farewell Major Clawson!

On July 11 Col. Gregory Buchanan, 439th Airlift Wing commander, presented Major Paul G. Clawson a token of appreciation for his three years of service as Westover’s Staff Judge Advocate. Clawson is off soon to his next assignment as member of the Lackland AFB, Tex Environmental Law Field Support Center in Texas.

Clawson said his highlight of his time with the Patriot Wing was increasing interoperability with the Connecticut Air National Guard and Westover to "deepen our relationship and strengthen Westover's long-term role in national security."

Thank you, Major Clawson, and we wish you success in the Lone Star State!

Airlift Wing Heritage reaches back to 1943!

This week's Throwback Thursday article is all about the oldest ancestor of the 439th Airlift Wing. Head on over to our newspage to check out it out.

439th Airlift Wing's ancestry harkens back to 1943 The 439th Airlift Wing’s earliest ancestry takes us back to the 439th Troop Carrier Group, which was constituted in 14 May 1943.

Check out this line up of tails on Westover’s ramp!

This week airlift was well represented with a C-17, C-130s and our C-5M Super Galaxys all present and accounted for.

The C-17, with the 62nd Airlift Wing, Joint Base Lewis-McCord, Wash. was on the deck for a few hours for cargo drop off. The 103rd Airlift Wing C-130s spent the night while the parking ramp at Connecticut Air National Guard Base Bradley was being painted.

Our visitors amplified the 439th Airlift Wing’s ability to provide rapid global mobility.

More international airlifting!

It's National Logistics Day!

A shout out to the 439th Logistics Readiness Squadron, the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron and 58th Aerial Port Squadron. The Citizen Airmen of these three units are resilient warfighters that are the backbone of the Patriot Wing's rapid global mobility mission.

Logistics are an essential foundation of Air Force operations and strategy, and the Air Force relies on it more than any other military in history.

International Delivery!

A combined Patriot Wing team delivered two donated fire trucks from Boston Fire Department to the Paraguayan military during a mission June 20 - 23.

The donation and move was coordinated earlier this year by the Massachusetts National Guard — The Nation's First as part of the State Partnership program.

Citizen Airmen from the 337th Airlift Squadron, 439th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 439th Contingency Response Flight and 439th Aerospace Medical Squadron arrived and downloaded the vehicles at Silvio Pettirossi International Airport, Asuncion.

On hand to greet the Westover team was Santiago Pena, President of Paraguay, members of his staff, representatives from the U.S. embassy and local and regional media.

The 439th Airlift Wing leverages the C-5M Super Galaxy to provide unique humanitarian support as part of the rapid global mobility mission.

(Photos U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jennifer Yu, Mr. Christian Villalba)

Reaffirmation!

On Fri, June 21 Senior Master Sgt. Curtis Oliver, 439th Airlift Wing Chapel superintendent reenlisted at the C-5M static at Westover's main gate.

An active Guard Reserve member of the Patriot Wing, Oliver has been on station for nearly two years, and has completed 21 in the service of his country.

The Citizen Airman's family was on hand to bear witness to his commitment of four more year to the Air Force.

(Photos Tim Jensen, 439 AW/PA)

Mutual Aid on the summer solstice!

Last night our Fire Department was in the local community supporting Wilbraham Fire Department.

Engine 8 was called for a request for mutual aid 47 Cherry Drive for a structure fire - a townhouse unit at that location was struck by lightning.

When Engine 8 arrived, the team was tasked with salvage and overhaul, covering furniture from further damage, and opening ceilings/walls to check for any fire extension. The fire had been extinguished prior to the Westover personnel arrival.

https://www.westernmassnews.com/video/2024/06/21/crews-respond-house-fire-cherry-drive-wilbraham/

Crews respond to house fire on Cherry Drive in Wilbraham Eversource crews are working to repair the pole and restore power.

We join our nation in celebrating Juneteenth National Independence Day, honoring the end of slavery in the U.S. and the beginning of the fulfillment of the promise of life, liberty & the pursuit of happiness for all Americans.