OCR Text |
Show Pe HILL TOP TIMES 12 1 22. in.. I 1 (i ,' In ,f i i. JfiT -- Hyf A II? PAM11AT aPI vvimx iTi.xxm-- & 4 Col. Frank Noys A 'A COMMANDER Brig. Gen. William It. Sefton (above), is commander of WESTACS. - , He is from ort Wayne, ind., where he commands the 122d Tactical Fighter Wing. (right), from- Missouri, and Capt. Glen Watkins from Indiana, discuss comexercise at Wendover bat strategy during the month-lon- g 19 states. which involves 5.000 men from WEATHER Personnel from the weather flieht the hundreds of specialists at the once diwL w a?on u I Auxiliary Air Base. The tactical exercise w HI continueendover until T Aug. 3U. Wendover Air Bsise Darlene Galbraith Tribune Staff Writer States with a total of 1,800,000 acres. Something unique in Air National Guard summer encampments is bringing new life to Wendover Auxiliary Air In addition, the Wendover base is in a location where headquarters can readily command the activities of tactical By Rase. an Operation WESTACS known" actual tactical exercise officially as Western Tactical Air Control which involves some 5,000 men from 19 states will continue through August ao at the Utah base. Unlike most summer encampments for Air National Guard units where each operates a separate training program, WESTACS combines all participating units under one command. A total of :9 units including 37 Air National Guard, one Army National Guard and one Air Force unit comprise the operation. Brig. Gen. William R. Sefton, Commander of the 122d Tactical Fighter Wing based at Fort Wayne, Ind., is WEST-AC- S commander with Lt. Col. Joseph P. Andrews, also of the Indiana ANG. acting as base commander. 1,800,000 Acres Wendover iase was Auxiliary Air selected as head- quarters for the WESTACS operation because of its strategic location to the vast Wend- over Range Complex the largest range in the United VY v men on the base. In addition, it was necessary to provide facilities for all groups supporting the operation, General Sefton said. Tactical support groups are at Gowen Field, Boise, Hill Air Force Base, Ida.; Marana Air Park, Arizona; and Mountain Home, Ida. Supplies Moved Supplies and support equipment started moving in the latter part of July and personnel were moved in on Aug. 2. located Change from Bare Base Changing the Wendover facility from a "bare base" to a "ready" status was a complex which began in operation March, the commander said. From a population of seven one civil engineer and six firemen the base has grown to a population of approximately 900. Barracks, mess hall and support facilities at the Wendover base to greet the governor. Others in the in to support the air guards- services including laundry, medical, recreational, barbers, entertainment and devotional, the commander said. other L oves A gain! that have stood basically idle for a period of years, are now in full operation and most sport new coats of paint. A sign in command headquarters bravely proclaims "Welcome to Wendover Garden Spot of the West." All work to bring the base to ready status for the WEST- ACS exercise was done between March and August, Gen. Sefton pointed out. Food, beds vehicles, supplies, fuel, equipment and personal items mostly from Hill AFB were brought welcoming committee included Gen. Sefton, Lt. Col. Andrews and the WESTACS headquar- ters staff.. Whitcomb, enroute to Gov. California for the presidential! celebration honorine thP Arw lo 11 astronauts, congratulated directors of the summer encampment for the unity of the participating states in successfully conducting the exercise. Vendover Hums Anew Thanks to Hill Workers In order to convert the Wendover facility from a bare base to ready status capable of housing and supporting the -- Communications sys- both on tems, radar sites in cities in tent the base and the mountains supply areas, headquarters and other allied activities to support the mission were established and WESTACS started operation numerous incoming personnel, it was first equip the base. necessary to This vast responsibility was levied on the Logistic Field Assistance Branch, of the Directorate of Plans and Programs, headed up by J. S. (Jiggs) Van Limburg. Aug. 4. Primary function of the month-lon- g exercise is to provide realistic combat conditions and polished team work between Air Guard tactical air and ground forces, utilizing communications sophisticated networks of the modern tactical air control system, General Sefton said. stic Together with a team from the 2952nd Support Squadron, headed up by MSgt. Combat Don Logi- Weygand, the mission was accomplished. AMA Through the screening of excesses at both Ogden and other DOD activities nationwide, sufficient equipment, for vehicles, furniture, etc., were located and obtained Wendover AFB at no cost to the Air Force. by Buildings and other facilities, including a for utilized swimming pool which had not been for use nearly two decades, were renovated and made ready CLSS 2952nd by the Ogden AMA Civil Engineers and the team. of "teaffl The Wendover success story is a good example worked work," Hill officials said. All AMA compon2nts would be ready many long hours to insure that the base support WESTACS. 72-fo- ot 46-fo- ot Governor Visits Indiana Gov. and Mrs. Edgar D. Whitcomb stopped for a brief inspection tour of WEST-AC- S headquarters last week as guests of the 122d Tactical Fighter Wing. Brig. Gen. John N. Owens, adjutant general for the state of Indiana, was 1 :""S ' F AIR BASE from are lined up on the Wendovefru nwa A Ind.. Wayne. Guard, one Army NaHona, Ouard and one F-81- toll i t .i 39 , n" i ? 'J.0"? 0t Frt I BARE BASE qnn n,rr,ta : . i i w A month ago the P0Pu,atj0" but has grown M hallo nd other facilities- idle for a neriod of years are now in full swing- Tl tpvroit . e |