A history of Westover AFB's flying units

[BobTou]

For anyone interested, I've posted to my blog a three-part history of the flying units based at Westover Field / AFB / ARB. The links are:

- Part 1 (an introduction to the three-part series, and a history of Westover's role as a regional and strategic defense installation): https://bobtourville.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-history-of-flying-units-at-westover.html
- Part 2 (a history of Westover's role as a military training center): https://bobtourville.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-history-of-flying-units-at-westover_1.html
- Part 3 (a history of Westover's role as a military transportation hub): https://bobtourville.blogspot.com/2016/12/a-history-of-flying-units-at-westover_4.html

I'd love to get any corrections (please cite your source), as well as any new information or photos that I can post.

Cheers,
Bob Tourville

[JohnB]

Westover had quite a history....seems like it was home to every type of unit.
After years of hearing about it, a few years back I finally got to visit it, flying in a C-130 from Dyess.

[quemerford]

Minor clarification: 324th FIS didn't operate its F-86Ls overseas, there being no ground network to support the datalink features. In early 1958, the unit was alerted for a permanent move to Sidi Slimane AB in Morocco, and from early March the unit’s F-86Ls were transferred to other USAF and ANG units.

Once it arrived in Morocco, the squadron’s new (maybe "old" would be a better term!) compliment would be formed by F-86D-41 and –45 aircraft ferried by sea from Brookley AFB specifically for 324th FIS. The move was officially completed on 1 July 1958, but most of the Sabres did not arrive at Sidi Slimane until the first week in August. Concurrent with the move to Morocco, 324th FIS was reassigned to 316th Air Division control on 1st July.

Source: IARC (individual aircraft record cards), aircraft TO etc.

You have done a great job there!

[BobTou]

Thanks, John B and quemerford! I'll correct the 324th FIS info in today's update.

Cheers,
-Bob