CTWG: Visits Westover Air Reserve Base

Six Officers and seven Cadets of the Thames River Composite Squadron, Groton, CT visited Westover Air Reserve Base, Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts under the leadership of Lt Col Richard Doucette, Assistant Operations Officer. Col Doucette arranged a tour of the facilities of the 429th Airlift Wing with which he served during the latter part of his Air Force career. Squadron members were briefed by personnel at the Fire Department, the 337th Airlift Squadron, the FAA
Control Tower, and the 439th Aerospace Medical Squadron.

The Westover Department is manned by a corps of civilian firefighters who work 24 hour shifts. Wayne Wood, Ken McMorris, and their colleagues explained the operation of the department and pointed out the features of the standard and specialized equipment which are used to meet with the wide range of emergencies which might be expected at a military airbase. While we were there, a fire was reported at the base of the water tower and we observed a muster of the firefighting crew and the dispatch of their engine. The reported fire was actually a smoke-like cloud caused by sandblasting and the engine soon returned to its bay.

We next visited the flight line and boarded a Lockheed C-5B Galaxy and were briefed by Lt Col Carroll, MSgt Carroll, and TSgt Diwan on the duties of pilots, loadmasters, and flight engineers, and the details of the aircraft itself. The aircraft is as long as a football field and the cargo space on the C-5 is roughly equal in length to the first flight of the Wrights at Kitty Hawk. Fixtures for the loading and securing of cargo were shown and we visited the passenger compartment
located on an upper deck aft which can seat 73 passengers. The nose and tail hatches fully open rendering the cargo compartment into an open tube and loading can be further facilitated by a "kneeling" mechanism which allows the aircraft to lower its hatches to truck-bed height. A ramp allows wheel powered and tracked vehicles to drive on board. Other cargo, such as a helicopter or pallets can be loaded using a winch which is built into the aircraft hold.

The flight crew area on the upper deck contains bunk space and kitchen facilities to accommodate the crew which might number eight: three pilots, two flight engineers, and three loadmasters. Squadron members were allowed to study the various stations including the navigation position, now redundant since the installation of GPS as part of the glass cockpit.

The tower is an FAA facility manned by civilians. The crew explained the use of the various equipment, surveillance radar, radios, computers, runway and taxiway lighting system and the ubiquitos "biscuit gun" used to signal aircraft in the event of radio failure.

Our final stop was at the building which housed the Aero Medical Evacuation Squadron offices and equipment storage. Lt Col Marie Dufault, the Chief Flight Nurse, explained the mission of Aero Medical Evacuation and demonstrated some of the medical devices adapted for aircraft use.

All Squadron members benefited from the visit which increased our knowledge of four of the operational units which are necessary organs contributing to the global reach of the USAF Air Mobility Command.

Post from Capt Stephen M.Rocketto, Director of Aerospace Education, CTWG