Westover Air Reserve Base / Metropolitan Airport (CEF) (Chicopee, Massachusetts)

USA / Massachusetts / Chicopee / Chicopee, Massachusetts
 airport, military
Westover Air Reserve Base / Metropolitan Airport (IATA: CEF, ICAO: KCEF)[1][2] is a "joint use" military and general aviation airport located in Chicopee, Massachusetts, near the city of Springfield.

The Westover Metropolitan Airport is owned and managed under an agreement with the Department of Defense by the non-profit Westover Metropolitan Corporation, established in 1974 to develop property surplused by the General Services Administration at the former Westover Air Force Base. Ninety-one acres of the property has been operated since that time as a public use, regional civilian airport.[3]

This military center was one of the Soviet Union's top targets during the Cold War. The air base was the former home of the 8th Air Force and is one of the biggest employers in the Springfield area.
It is known for its long runways and backup space shuttle capability.
Facilities

Westover ARB/Metropolitan Airport covers 2,500 acres and has two runways:

* Runway 05/23: 11,597 x 301 ft. (3,535 x 92 m), Surface: Asphalt
* Runway 15/33: 7,082 x 150 ft. (2,159 x 46 m), Surface: Asphalt

439th Airlift Wing (Air Force Reserve)
337th Airlift Squadron [337th AS]
16 x C-5B

www.globalair.com/airport/airport.aspx?aptcode=CEF
See also www.westover.afrc.af.mil/
See also www.wmass-arptcef.com/
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westover_Air_Reserve_Base
Nearby cities:
Coordinates:   42°11'44"N   72°32'6"W

Comments

  • Westover AFB was also one of the four bases in the United States capable of independently launching and controlling SAC Missiles and Bombers via "The Notch" Command Post just a few miles North of here. After the Cuban Missile Crisis the USAF realized that the Soviets had the capability of reaching far enough into the main land to vaporize this site so the activities relative to strategic weapons was moved to a more secure loaction. This site was home to one of the four major 465L EDTCC's in the SACCS/SACDIN systems, and PACCs facilities.
  • I have been here in 09/2009
  • not far from my house....fun to drive around and see
This article was last modified 8 years ago