Westover Air Reserve Base

Westover Air Reserve Base (IATA: CEF, ICAO: KCEF, FAA LID: CEF) is an Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) installation located in the Massachusetts communities of Chicopee and Ludlow, near the city of Springfield, Massachusetts. Established at the outset of World War II, today Westover is the largest Air Force Reserve base in the United States, home to approximately 5,500 military and civilian personnel, and covering 2500 acres (10 km²).[2] Until 2011, it was a backup landing site for the NASA Space Shuttle and in the past few years has expanded to include a growing civilian access airport (Westover Metropolitan Airport) sharing Westover's military-maintained runways.[3] The installation was named for Major General Oscar Westover who was commanding officer of the Army Air Corps in the 1930s.[4]

For civil use of this facility and airport information, see Westover Metropolitan Airport.

Westover Air Reserve Base
Part of Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
Located near: Chicopee, Massachusetts
A Westover C-5B Galaxy taxies in from a local training mission
Westover ARB
Location of Westover Air Reserve Base, Massachusetts
Coordinates42°11′38″N 72°32′05″W
Site information
Controlled by United States Air Force
Site history
Built1939
In use1939 – present
Garrison information
Garrison 439th Airlift Wing
Airfield information
Summary
Elevation AMSL241 ft / 73.5 m
Websitewww.westover.afrc.af.mil
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
5/23 11,598 3,535 Asphalt/Concrete
15/33 7,082 2,159 Asphalt/Concrete

The host unit is the 439th Airlift Wing (439 AW) of the Fourth Air Force (4 AF), Air Force Reserve Command. Outside of the AFRC command structure, the 439 AW and Westover are operationally gained by the Air Mobility Command (AMC).

Due to its location as one of the few remaining active military air bases in the northeast United States, Westover ARB is transitted by many different U.S. military aircraft of all the services.[5]

Westover AFB also boasts the longest Runway in Massachusett.

Units

439th Airlift Wing:

337th Airlift Squadron
  • 439th Maintenance Group
  • 439th Mission Support Group

Civil Air Patrol:

U.S. Army Reserve:

  • 302d Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
  • 304th Transportation Company (Cargo)
  • 655th Regional Support Group
  • 287th Medical Detachment, 804th Medical Brigade
  • 226th Transportation Company (Railway Operating)(assigned to the 757th Transportation Battalion (Railway),[6] Milwaukee, WI; battalion and all subordinate units inactivated by September 2015)

Navy:

  • Naval Mobile Construction Battalion 27

Marine Corps:

  • Marine Wing Support Squadron 472, Detachment B
  • Marine Air Support Squadron 6

Military Entry Processing Command (DOD):

  • Springfield Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS)

History

The field was constructed in anticipation of World War II.[7]

In 1951, Air Defense Command arrived, but then turned over the base in 1955 to Strategic Air Command, which sent the 4050th, later 499th Air Refueling Wing, to operate from the base. The 99th Bombardment Wing arrived in 1956. In case of nuclear war, an alternate SAC command bunker, called The Notch, was constructed deep within nearby Bare Mountain.[7]

Air Force Reserve
A C-123K Provider (731st Tactical Airlift Squadron) and a C-130B Hercules (337th Tactical Airlift Squadron) are in front of the Westover Air Force Base Hangar for a 1977 publicity photo.

The 2005 Base Realignment and Closure Commission ruled that Westover would absorb other military units in New England. The expansion proposed the transfer of all military operations at Bradley International Airport to Westover and the nearby Barnes Municipal Airport. The exception to this decision is the 103rd Airlift Wing, which will remain at Bradley. A$32 million building project is underway to accommodate the additional 1600 service members required by the plan.[8]

The new Armed Forces Reserve Center will host Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy Reserve operations. The Massachusetts Army National Guard will also make its debut at the base.[9]

The base celebrated its 75th anniversary with an air show on 16–17 May 2015, where the Blue Angels headlined the 2015 Great New England Air Show. During this time, it was announced that the Westover was in the running for a squadron of the new KC-46A Pegasus. Later that year, it was announced that the base would not be receiving the plane, which instead was given to the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base. Westover was also in competition with Tinker Air Force Base and Grissom Air Reserve Base for the plane.[10]

The local government credits Westover with spurring development of the Memorial Drive corridor, including several planned hotels and a high-end retail plaza.[9]

Facilities and aircraft

The portion of the Westover complex still under military control covers an area of 2,500 acres (10 km²) which contains two runways: 5/23: measuring 11,598 ft × 301 ft (3,535 m × 92 m) and 15/33 measuring 7,082 ft × 150 ft (2,159 m × 46 m).[11] A new Air Traffic Control tower was constructed in 2002 and the old tower was demolished. As a center for military air operations, Westover Air Reserve Base poses several hazards to local residents. These include air pollution, noise pollution, and water contamination hazards – all of which are shared with similar-sized commercial airports.[12] Westover's extended operations history has produced numerous hazardous waste sites.[13]

According to Federal Aviation Authority records for the 12-month period ending 31 October 2017, the airport had 16,213 aircraft operations, an average of 44 per day: 64% military, 33% general aviation and 3% air carrier. There were 40 aircraft at the time based at this airport: 16 military, 11 single engine, 5 multi-engine, 5 jet aircraft, 2 gliders and 1 helicopter.[1]

Military facilities are under control of Col. Craig C. Peters, Commander, 439th Airlift Wing.[14] The civilian portion of the airport is run by Michael Bolton, Director of Civil Aviation (an employee of the Westover Metropolitan Corporation).

Previous names

Major commands to which assigned

Major units assigned

See also

References
  1. FAA Airport Master Record for CEF (Form 5010 PDF), effective 30 July 2011
  2. "About Westover Air Reserve Base". Westover Air Reserve Base. United States Air Force. Archived from the original on 5 September 2019.
  3. Westover AFB, Mass – 99th Bomb Wing – B-52 – NEED INFO
  4. Bowers, Peter M., "Captain of the Clouds", Airpower, Granada Hills, California, July 1972, Volume 2, Number 4, page 33.
  5. "Presidential aircraft parked temporarily at Westover". 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs. 25 September 2012. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 17 July 2015.
  6. http://www.history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/lineages/branches/trans/0757trbn.htm
  7. Faulkner, Frank (January 1990). Westover: Man, Base and Mission (1st ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Hungry Hill Press. p. 160. ISBN 0-9616486-1-9.
  8. Groundbreaking held for new reserve center – MassLive.com
  9. Westover project good for economy – MassLive.com
  10. Secretary of the Air Force Public Affairs (29 October 2015). "Seymour-Johnson chosen for first Reserve-led KC-46A basing". Air Force Reserve Command. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  11. FAA Airport Master Record for CEF (Form 5010 PDF), retrieved 15 March 2007
  12. "ALLEY CITIZENS FOR A SAFE ENVIRONMENT, Plaintiff, Appellant, v. Edward C. ALDRIDGE, etc., et al., Defendants, Appellees".
  13. "Westover Air Force Base". Hampshire College, Amherst, Mass.: Military Waste Cleanup Project, Institute for Science and Interdisciplinary Studies. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  14. "COL. D. SCOTT DURHAM > Westover Air Reserve Base > Display". www.westover.afrc.af.mil. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
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