509th crew chief flies high
WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Staff Sgt. Jacob Westad, 509th Bomb Wing Crew Chief of the Year for 2010, stands next to Lt. Col. Tony Monetti, 13th Bomb Squadron, before flying the B-2 Spirit simulator here Aug. 8. Westad flew the simulator in preparation for his orientation flight in a B-2, which he received later that night for his accomplishment. "It's a great honor to be one of the very few enlisted persons to fly in the B-2," Westad said. "After working on the B-2 for eight years it was amazing to finally get the chance to fly the aircraft that has been such a big part of my life. It took a lot of hard work and extra hours to earn this award, and I could not have done it without the support of my wife and son, and help from my fellow crew chiefs." (Courtesy photo)