Final flight

Col. Bill Spacy, 305th Air Mobility Wing vice commander, prepares for his final flight here. After two years as the vice commander, Colonel Spacy moves onto Scott Air Force Base, Ill., to become the 18th Air Force chief of staff. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy)

Fired up

Right, Tech. Sgt. Jason Berry, Department of Defense Fire Academy instructor, Goodfellow AFB, TX, shows Airman 1st Class Jesse Crespo, a 305th Civil Engineer firefighter, how to setup a belay device for rappelling down a staircase. Sergeant Berry came to McGuire to teach the Rescue Technician 1 course to firemen from McGuire and Fort Dix. The course entailed Auto-Extraction Skills, High Angle Rope Rescue Skill and Confined Space Rescue Skill. (U.S. Air Force photo/Kenn Mann)

C-141 Ground breaking

Col. James Kerr, 514th Air Mobility Wing commander, Ted Strempack, Thomas B. McGuire Foundation president, and Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th AMW and installation commander, shovel the first dirt during a ground breaking ceremony for McGuire AFB’s C-141 Starlifter Memorial Park. The C-141 was the backbone of Air Mobility Command and its predecessor, Military Airlift Command, and it traveled the globe for nearly 41 years delivering cargo, troops and hope during peacetime and war. This memorial, which displays the flagship of McGuire Air Force Base’s original fleet, will honor the lives lost and the mission excellence demonstrated by McGuire Airmen who flew, maintained and supported this historic aircraft. The aircraft on display at McGuire, was named “The Garden State Airlifter” in recognition of the state’s contribution to the Air Force mission. In August 1967, it was the first C-141 to be delivered to McGuire. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kenn Mann)

McGuire, Fort Dix, Lakehurst celebrate WHM

Left to right, Army Lt. Col. Roger Cotton, Fort Dix deputy installation commander, Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Navy Capt. Phillip Beachy, Lakehurst commander, present the 2008 Woman of the Year award to 1st Lt. Vanessa Swan, 305th Aerial Port Squadron, here recently. Lt. Swan won the honorable mention category. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy)

McGuire, Fort Dix, Lakehurst celebrate WHM

Left to right, Army Lt. Col. Roger Cotton, Fort Dix deputy installation commander, Navy Capt. Phillip Beachy, Lakehurst commander, and Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, present the 2008 Woman of the Year award to Navy Airman Yolanda Manny, here recently. Airman Manny won the enlisted E-1 to E-4 category. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy)

Grand opening

Col. Balan Ayyar, 305th Air Mobility Wing commander, and Col. Michael Hutchison, 305th Mission Support Group commander, help cut the ribbon at the Charley’s and Manchu Wok restaurants grand opening celebration in the Base Exchange here March 19. Peter Thieme, BX general manager, Wanda Stevenson, AAFES manager, and other BX staff also helped cut the ribbon. Colonel Ayyar thanked the BX staff for offering this great service to the Airmen, Soldiers and their families, who deserve it. Both eateries will be open Monday through Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Rebekah Phy)