Airmen Who Died, Finally Honored in Memorial Ceremony Today

Speed run flyers preparing for fatal flight -- Ready for the KC-135 Stratotanker speed run between New York and London are members of the 405th Air Refueling Wing of the Eight Air Force at Westover Air Force Base. Crew members of this Strategic Air Command combat ready crew are, left to right, Lieutenant Col. George M. Broutsas, 39, Brattleboro, Vermont, aircraft commander; First Lieutenant Joe C. Sweet, 26, Chandler, Arizona, co-pilot; Captain James E. Shipman, 35, of Kansas City, navigator; and Master Sgt. Donald H. Gabbord, 38, Lasgatos, California, boom operator. Colonel Broutsas is the commander of the 99th Air Refueling Squadron of the 905th AR Wing.

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Airmen Who Died, Finally Honored in Memorial Ceremony

Published Nov. 7, 2009
By Technical Sgt. Troy Thibeault
439th Airlift Wing

WESTOVER AIR RESERVE BASE, Mass. --

A memorial dedication here honored 13 former Westover Airmen who lost their lives in three separate aircraft crashes in 1957, 1958 and 1963. The Airmen were assigned to the former Westover Air Force Base's 4050^th and 499^th Air Refueling Wings.

Family and friends of the deceased will join former and current service members to pay tribute at the ceremony, as part of the wing's Veteran's Day gathering. A plaque engraved with the names is embedded in a memorial stone and placed on the base ellipse in honor of their service and sacrifice.

Airmen Who Died, Finally Honored in Memorial Ceremony Today