Civic leaders tour Davis-Monthan AFB, famous 'boneyard'

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Biscoe
  • 439 AW/PA
DAVIS-MONTHAN Air Force Base, Ariz.- --  Twenty-six area civic and business leaders flew aboard a Patriot Wing C-5 in February to tour a major active-duty Air Force base and to see the famous final resting place for military aircraft.

Just minutes after getting airborne from Westover Feb. 15, groups of the civic leaders huddled in the C-5 flight deck to watch an in-flight refueling demonstration with a KC-10 tanker before the C-5 flew on to Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Because there were passengers on board, no fuel came into the C-5 from the KC-10. Nevertheless, the sight of the tanker only 20 feet from the C-5 and the overall tour of Davis-Monthan left an impression of the military that at least one civic leader said he won't forget.

“This was truly an outstanding job by everyone involved and an excellent opportunity to learn more about the roles, responsibilities and needs of our citizen airmen,” said Michael Blanco, president and chief executive officer of Resolute Partners from Southington, Conn.

Retired Col. Charles A. Brown, a former POW, maintenance group commander and B-52 pilot at Westover, provided the tour of the Air Force "boneyard." The group saw more than 4,200 aircraft parked in the Arizona desert. The aircraft included 13 C-5A Galaxies retired from the Air Force, two of which still bore Westover markings.

The civic leaders, escorted by public affairs staffs from Westover and at Davis-Monthan, also visited the control tower, an A-10 hangar and toured the facilities of an Air Force Reserve helicopter rescue unit, before it returned to Westover Feb. 16.

The 26 civic leaders were people from all walks of business and civic organizations including the United Way, Bay State Gas, and many others.

“I gained additional insight and appreciation every step along the way,” Mr. Blanco added.

“The experience was priceless and I have not stopped talking about the trip yet,” said Carol F. Campbell, president and CEO of Chicopee Industrial Contractors. I enjoyed speaking with everyone from Westover and meeting others from Western and Eastern Massachusetts. Again, thank you for the experience and for the job that you and the team at Westover do every day.”