Westover C-5 flyover wows crowd of 175,000 at Plymouth, Mass., parade

For the first time in recent memory, a C-5B from Westover performed a flyover at a large parade.The aircraft carried 200,000 pounds of cargo on a mission bound for a base in the Midwest. But first, it flew a "positioning leg" up the Plymouth, Mass., coastline to the delight of a crowd that topped

Wing seeks Yellow Ribbon deployment cycle coordinator

A requirement for a technical sergeant or above exists to serve on an RPA tour in support of the 439th Airlift Wing Yellow Ribbon program as the deployment cycle support coordinator. The tour is available beginning on or about Dec. 6 through Sept. 30, 2011. Duties include coordinating all aspects of

Operations security officials cite Facebook tracking concern

Department of Defense Operations Security officials identified a tracking vulnerability that the social networking website Facebook has instituted.Facebook automatically tracks and posts your sign-on location, which could lead to personal and operational security problems. Officials recommend that

Air Force Jazz Band Plays Vet's Day Concert in West Springfield

The Airmen of Note, the Air Force's premiere jazz band, played a Veteran's Day tribute concert Nov. 11 here. The group is on a 15-day tour through Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New York and Pennsylvania. About 300 people attended the concert at the Chris Grammaticas Auditorium in the West Springfield

Westover adds $266 million to local economy

The 439th Airlift Wing here poured more than $266 million into the community, an increase of nearly $35 million over last year's figures. This marks the second year of near-record economic impact increases in recent years. Westover's financial impact in fiscal year 2009 was $231 million. In 2008,

Westover wins McNeil Award again

Westover's human resources development council earned national Air Force Reserve recognition for the second time in two years.The 439th Airlift Wing HRDC tied with the 445th AW at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, for the large wing category for the Maj. Gen. James McNeil Award for HRDC

AF civilian hiring process to change for applicants

Beginning Nov. 15, the application procedure for Air Force civilian jobs will change.In an effort to simplify and standardize civilian hiring across the Air Force, the Department of Defense announced a series of changes under the title, Air Force Single Staffing Tool.After Nov. 15, USAJOBS.gov will

Autumn hike

Westover's "Bosslift" wants your employer

Nearly 20 bosses rode on a C-5B in October when employers, civic leaders and Patriot Wing members flew aboard the U.S. military's largest aircraft for a tour of Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Georgia, as well as a tour of Lockheed Martin's C-5M Super Galaxy modernization facility.Employers in October

Eight-year-old checks in for UTA

"Let's go fly!"     That's what Brandon Hanechak heard when he "joined" the ranks of the 439th Airlift Wing for a day in October, and took in a day-long tour, including a "flight" in the C-5 simulator.     One of the first pilots to meet the young man was Lt. Col. Darcey Thureson, a 337th Airlift