Westover bridges airlift effort to Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Tom Allocco
  • 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. (AFPN) --  Westover's Air Force Reserve Command assets again stand at the critical junction of an air bridge across the Atlantic.

The base has become a hive of troops in desert camouflage, C-5 Galaxys filled with equipment and "controlled chaos" in the aerial port and passenger terminal operations hub.

A long anticipated message from Air Mobility Command officials came recently that announced the surge of aircraft was starting. Within hours, the first C-5s landed here, and Westover began moving troops and equipment to the Persian Gulf. They were followed by C-130 Hercules within the first week.

Twenty-four hour operations to accommodate troops and service aircraft started with teams of volunteers from the 42nd Aerial Port Squadron, augmented by 58th APS aerial porters. Westover's maintainers worked around the clock in 12-hour shifts with the help of 433rd Airlift Wing volunteers from Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. Services volunteers were on duty at all hours to feed passengers and prepare flight meals.

"An air bridge operation is a tremendous job for everyone involved," said Brig. Gen. Martin M. Mazick, 439th Airlift Wing commander. "To be a success, everyone has to pitch in together. That's what is happening here. People know that what they are doing is important. Everyone is coming together."

AMC planners at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., are channeling the armada of aircraft through Westover. Ideally, planes arrive at Westover spaced out at intervals and are on the ground for four hours for a "gas and go," including maintenance inspection and refueling.

The schedule can go awry for any number of reasons. Bad weather here or at the destination, missing a tanker over the Atlantic, a delay in diplomatic clearance for an overflight or a maintenance delay can stack up planes at Westover.

"If there is a weather or traffic problem over the Atlantic or their destination (has the maximum aircraft allowed on the ground), C-5s can be diverted here, causing more havoc with the schedule," said Lt. Col. James P. Carey, 42nd APS commander. "They can be 150 miles over the Atlantic and return here within 30 minutes of the time we get the 'divert' message."

Aerial porters are everywhere from the air terminal operations center to augmenting transportation as volunteer bus drivers.

"It never ceases to amaze me how people volunteer," Carey said. "Our people continually step up to the plate and do whatever is necessary to get the job done."

Another example of "stepping up" came from the 439th Services Squadron.

In the hangar are tents, cots, tables and a lounge with televisions, video tapes, video games and telephones. Services workers, with the help of reservists from other bases, offer midnight meals and boxed flight meals.

The 439th Communications Squadron donated computers to e-mail messages home. The family support center donated modems and paid for Internet services plus donated books, magazines, audio books and writing materials.

"We try to treat every individual as a welcomed guest," said Roy Green, family support center director.

Civilian employees across base pitched in to help. Base exchange officials set up a mini-exchange in which desert camouflage pillows unexpectedly became a fad item among troops who scooped them off the shelves.

Protestant Chaplain (Capt.) William Wiecher walked among servicemembers offering another kind of support. For those who feel a need to talk in private, the chaplain has set aside a quiet area.

"They've gone through preparing for deployment and the stresses of leaving," Wiecher said. "Waiting here, they may start thinking of things a little more. You can train for this, but when you actually do it, it's different." (Courtesy of AFRC News Service)