Otis sees its last landing

[unhappycamper]

Otis sees its last landing
By Tania deLuzuriaga
Globe Staff / January 25, 2008

OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE - They escorted Soviet planes during the Cold War, intercepted cocaine shipments during the 1990s, and were the first on the scene in New York after word came that two planes were hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001.

But 35 years after beginning a mission of round-the-clock protection of the Eastern Seaboard, the Air National Guard's 102d Fighter Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod flew its last mission yesterday. A commemorative flight of two F-15 Eagles marked the occasion.

"It's been a long, great history," said Edward Mansfield, 71, as he watched the F-15s bank over a crowd of spectators and guardsmen.

Mansfield flew the first scramble when the 102d went operational with its protection mission in 1973. He wanted to be there yesterday so he could see the last.

"Being an old pilot," he said, and went on to talk about the old days of the squadron as fellow pilots came up to shake hands and jets shrieked overhead. "I'm sorry it's over."


Rest of article at: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2008/01/25/otis_sees_its_last_landing/



uhc comment: Now the Cape needs to worry about groundwater toxins leeching into the aquifer --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=259&topic_id=8477

[Cooley Hurd]

1. The ajoining Camp Edwards is a toxic waste dump...

Dad trained there in 1943 before heading off to the ETO. Nowadays, it's a Superfund shithole - all on beautiful Cape Cod.:(