Joint-service air show/open house set for Aug. 4-5

Published Dec. 22, 2011
By MSgt. Andrew Biscoe
439th AW Public Affairs

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. -- Although a demonstration team won't attend next summer, organizers with the 2012 Great New England Air Show and Open House are seizing the opportunity to put Westover's joint-service mission on display.

Despite the absence of the Thunderbirds, there will still be plenty of aircraft and ground demonstrations for the thousands of spectators expected at the air show, said Col. Steven Vautrain, 439th Airlift Wing commander. The show is scheduled for Aug. 4-5.

So far, aerial performers include a U.S. Navy F-18 Hornet demonstration team and a Marine CV-22 Osprey flight demonstration. "Having so many joint-service tenants on the base gives us a lot of viability," said Col. Vautrain. "We may not have a premiere demo team this time around, but we have the opportunity to show the public our jointservice mission."

Westover has been home to the Air Force Reserve's 439th AW for nearly 40 years, but the base's joint-service role is well established. More than 2,100 Army, Navy, and Marine reservists have joined the 2,500-acre Westover landscape in the past decade.

This year's air show director is Lt. Col. David Heroux, who is working with the Galaxy Community Council, a non-profit organization that assists the base with sponsors, coordinating civilian and military acts, and working with services to bring in vendors for the show.The March issue of the Patriot (both print and online) will feature a comprehensive list of the military and civilian performers. The GCC also has information available at www.greatnewenglandairshow.com.