Have history here? Photographs are from numerous people and I encourage you to send me your photos if you want to add to the Blytheville collection. Eaker Air Force Base was located on 3,778 acres of land between the communities of Gosnell and Blytheville in Mississippi County. After Eaker Air Force Base was B.R.A.C.d, multiple buildings on the base were put up for sale, but never put to use properly. Gosnell appears right center of the photo.. Today it is the headquarters for the group that runs the old base for civilian use and the aircraft are: I was promoted to Staff Sergeant after 37 months of active duty plus 5 months delayed enlistment program. Of reinforced concrete and concrete-block construction, moleholes were of two-story height, with one story below ground. Had many good times there. ", From: www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/bomber_alert.htm. Building 1225 is currently registered on the National Register Of Historic Places and is quoted as being the crown jewel of the National Cold War Center campus. Though Phase Two of the project is underway (as of February 2022), there have been no announcements of when the museum will officially open. [1] Other aircraft stationed at Blytheville AFB included: KC-97 refueler, B-52G bomber, KC-135A tanker, T-33 jet fighter, and the T-37 traineramong others. Eaker Air Force Base was home to a group of Strategic Air Command B-52 bombers and more than 3,000 military personnel before closing in 1992. When I arrived in July 1972, Blytheville Air Force Base's B-52s, KC-135s, pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers, tail gunners and many . In the late 1980s, the government, under congress had begun inspections on Air Force Bases. Tom Sylvester used to look up at the sky above Blytheville in the 1970s, watch the planes fly out of the nearby Air Force base and dream about being able to glide among the clouds. Published: Jan. 11, 2022 at 6:25 PM PST. New in 1960. 1-2 hours. thrust each. Was the first KC-135E conversion in 1982. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. As the Cold War ended, "Valkyrie" was assigned to her last duty station with the 2nd BW at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, but she would have one last mission. It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. machine guns in tail plus up to 60,000+ lbs. And in 1991, Eaker Air Force Base was on the top of the list. Was stationed there from 1967 to 1970 with 97th AMS, the old A&E Squadron. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). Originally Blytheville Air Force Base, the base's official name was changed in 1988 to honor air pioneer and commander of the Mighty Eighth Air Force during World War II, Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker. As part of Operation Secret Squirrel, "Valkyrie" would be part of a record setting 34-hour bomb mission from Barksdale to Iraq and back again. Lots of good memories. The base contributed greatly to the economic and . I took this from the back seat of the P-51 Mustang Gunfighter. As crew chiefs we had all spent many tours in the mole hole. The base was deactivated in 1945 at the end of World War II. I had only three duty assignments, I began my service at Blytheville right out of Tech School as the Supply Representative to Base Procurement, then most of my time I was a "NORS Controller" responsible for keeping the Alert Aircraft and Nuclear Missiles supplied with parts. All photos. If you can make it, even for an hour, we will be glad to have you! Posted on Facebook by Michael Meagher, Photographer unknown. (For some reason, this "Hotshot" never got eyes.). For more information, visit the website at www.nationalcoldwarcenter.com or call 870-532-2100. It is the USAFs main aerial fueling aircraft. Five feet of water was pumped out of the basement of the building. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. The Iron Curtain was torn down. Another part was that the men who had flown in Vietnam and chafed under the official frowning upon of nose art were now the ones in charge. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. The B-52 Stratofortress force had always been intended to be supplemented by newer designs, allowing older types and eventually the B-52 itself to be retired. Fifteen B-52s were lost during the 1972 Linebacker II Christmas bombings and three of those B-52s originated from the 97th Bombardment Wing assigned to Blytheville Air Force Base; B 52G 58-0201 "Charcoal 1" went down on the 18th, B 52G 58-0198 "Olive 1" and B 52G 58-0169 "Tan 3" were shot down on the 21st. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. After it became operational in 1955, the B-52 remained the main long-range heavy bomber of the U.S. Air Force during the Cold War, and it continues to be an important part of the USAF bomber force today. On the evening in question, Bruce was working for a local radio station, performing tests on their transmitters. In the early 1950s, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) approved a plan to convert the former airfield into an airbase, which officially opened in 1955 as Blytheville Air Force Base. Deactivated at the close of the conflict, the base was reactivated in the 1950s as Blytheville Air Force Base and was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988 . [1], On 15 July 1955, the facility was reopened as Blytheville Air Force Base (AFB), when the 461st Bombardment Wing was moved from Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Camo with white under belly North American AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile on display at the Global Power Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. Mr. Gorbachev tore down that wall. The original, one-of-a-kind model was created by P.J. In order to understand why Eaker Air Force Base closed, one has to dive into foreign, political, and socioeconomic issues of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Military. Ash worked from a photograph of the B-52 Blytheville plane. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. See original furniture from the famous alert compound, pictures, uniforms & other memorabilia including a . 58-0183 joined the USAF and the 4135th Strategic Wing, based at Eglin AFB, Florida; the 4135th oversaw several B-52 squadrons dispersed over the American Southeast to lessen their chance of being caught on the ground by a Soviet nuclear strike. Buildings have collapsed in that time frame. 18 (Feb. 26, 1904). [1], The Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. The Air Force needed a long-distance bomber that could travel all the way to the former U.S.S.R., drop a payload on a target and travel back without needing refueling. It was always fascinating to hear stories about how papers were left on desks and furniture left abandoned. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); http://www.fi-aeroweb.com/Defense/KC-46-Tanker.html#:~:text=Compared%20to%20the%20KC%2D135,cargo%20and%20aeromedical%20evacuation%20capabilities.&text=The%20KC%2DX%20Program%2C%20the,current%20KC%2D135%20tanker%20fleet. The nose art of the B-52 version is a faithful reproduction of the B-17 version--one of the many Varga Girls that decorated World War II-era aircraft. At the former Blytheville (Eaker) Air Force Base, now Arkansas International Airport, Delta Air Lines has stored many aircraft because of the downturn of passengers due to the 2020 Corona Virus. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment 3. Blytheville was the only two engine training base in Arkansas. Blytheville AFB: See Eaker AFB: Bolling AFB ACTIVE: Location: Washington, DC . . Finally, again to save weight, the tail gunner position was eliminated in favor of a remote-controlled barbette, with the gunner moved forward to the crew compartment. Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB) Exhibition, Blytheville: See 8 reviews, articles, and 21 photos of Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB) Exhibition, ranked No.1 on Tripadvisor among 6 attractions in Blytheville. As "Hoosier Hotshot," it flew first with the 97th BW at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, then finished its career with the 93rd BW at Castle AFB, California. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. BX and Cafeteria. Location. Pinterest. U.S. It was around 1960 and I still recall vividly sitting in the cockpit of a B-52. Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . Explore. The population suffered as well. The Air Force packed up and left. Blytheville Air Force Base. Pilot Mike Bush, Co Pilot Larry J Houser, EWO Wayne Carver, Navagtor Doug "D.R" Kincannon, Gunner Jack Alexander. I thanked my dad for my upbringing. After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. The first DC-3s were ordered by the USAAF in 1941 under the designation C-47, but there was no way to predict that simple designation would become a legend, that over 10,000 would be built and that the plane would be listed by General Dwight Eisenhower as one of the four pieces of equipment most vital to our success in Africa and Europe. There were countless modifications to the C-47 fleet, some taking place at the factory and some in the field. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. 3 talking about this. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. Posted June 9th, 2014 by NFFF & filed under Uncategorized. Only ten B-52Gs survive today as museum pieces. I'm fairly certain I saw this aircraft at an airshow at Malmstrom AFB in the 1980s, as the nose art is familiar, but it may be wishful thinking on my part. [4], It is a 247 acres (100ha) historic district which included 23 contributing buildings, 33 contributing structures, two contributing sites, a contributing object, as well as two non-contributing buildings. Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. It launched rescue missions from the base to Grenada in 1983 and in August 1990, the pilots of the 97th Bomber Wing began practicing for missions in the Middle East and eventually supported Operation Desert Storm. Like the Arc Light strikes of Vietnam, Iraqi forces on the ground could not hear or see B-52s before they struck. This had the added benefit of giving the gunner an ejection seat, eliminating the need for a manual bailout system. Weekly Began in 1902; ceased in 1923. The Blytheville Air Force Base SAC alert area is located east of the southern end of the runway, situated at the center of the fenced area long the alert parking area. He served active duty March 21 1972 to March 20 1976. This article was made possible by the help of Barrett Harrison, President of the Arkansas Aeroplex, Technical Sergeant Robert Charles, curator of the BAFB Exhibit, many Air Force veterans and the National Cold War Center. Jwt708 Well-Known Member. By October of the same year the aircraft was moved to Robins AFB, Georgia. Any monthly plan. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F4 Phantom #3 Jet. This view also shows how well 58-0183 is preserved, and the EVS bulges beneath the B-52's nose. The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. Available for both RF and RM licensing. KC-135A - 61-0267 - 97th BW, Blytheville Air Force Base by Darren Currie 19 International Air Tattoo 1987 - RAF Fairford. Our B-52s had the Vietnam War Camo paint while this appears to have the Pre-Vietnam War SAC paint which our bombers had before their Vietnam days. The USAF Thunderbirds flew the F-4E Phantom II from 1969 until Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the October 1973 fuel crisis. The newer B-52Hs had turbofan powerplant, which was more fuel efficient, and START arms control treaties required the dismantling of the B-52G force after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. The National Cold War Center is planned to be the largest collection of history and information on the decades that made up the war in the world. Would love hear your stories or your thoughts. I grew up on Army bases overseas. No photo description available. 3 items. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. The Ritz Theater from the outside circa. JetPhotos.com is the biggest database of aviation photographs with over 4 million screened photos online! The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. I hope they can save this base so that it doesnt get destroyed. 4 items. [3] Unfortunately, Eaker Air Force Base topped the Strategic Air Command's list of base closures in 1991 and with the Cold War coming to an end, the installation was officially chosen; in March 1992, the last aircraft left the base. [5], For the civil use of this facility and airport information, see, Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District, Last edited on 26 September 2022, at 16:47, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, AFCEC, "Eaker Air Force Base Community Relations Plan", "National Register of Historic Places: Weekly list", "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District", "Arkansas Officials Seek Cold War Museum for Former Air Base", "Community Relations Plan for the Former Eaker Air Force Base Blytheville, Arkansas (July 2007}", Arkansas Northeastern College (formerly Mississippi County CC), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blytheville_Air_Force_Base&oldid=1112498994, Part of Strategic Air Command/Tactical Air Command, Continental Air Forces, 16 June 1945 21 March 1946, 25th Twin Engine Flying Training Group, 25 July 1942 29 February 1944, Army Air Force Pilot School, 3 May 1942 31 May 1945, 211th Army Air Force Base Unit, 1 May 1944 15 June 1945, 809th Army Air Force Base Unit, 16 June 1945 31 March 1946, 334th Army Air Force Base Unit, 1 April 1946 25 November 1946, 461st Bombardment Wing, 8 April 1956 1 April 1958, 4329th Air Base Squadron, 1 April 1958 1 July 1959, 97th Bombardment Wing, 1 July 1959 1 September 1991, This page was last edited on 26 September 2022, at 16:47. The boom is controlled by an operator lying prone under the cargo deck of the aircraft. It was amazing. Photo from Facebook. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. Notice my Mustang has what appears to be a trailer hitch. The alert force aircraft remained parked just outside this facility (on a ramp, over to the left); there were armed airmen patrolling the ramp at all times. Learn how your comment data is processed. "Valkyrie" was known to the USAF as 58-0183, a B-52G Stratofortress. "Valkyrie" would fly a few more missions during the war, the only time she would drop bombs in anger. In July 1991, she was retired, and as one of the Secret Squirrel aircraft, was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum immediately. These women had proved their selves capable of flying aircraft such as the B25 and the B29. Arkansas Razorbacks. The 62nd Bombardment Wing (H) at Fairchild AFB, Washington, took possession of this B-52G in September 1983 but the aircraft was transferred to the 93rd Bombardment Wing (H) at Castle AFB, California, the following February. Some commanders, such as General Charles Donnelly in USAFE (no relation to the author) reportedly considered making names and/or nose art on USAFE aircraft a requirement. Eaker AFB was selected for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round of 1991. Currently, the main tarmac is used as Blythevilles airport. The exhibit is on the old air base, which is now an FBO for the new steel and other corporations that fly in there, along with other airplane related functions. This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. When 58-0183 got its nose art, it was assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, but it would carry its nose art into combat during the First Gulf War as part of the 2nd BW at Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. The incident over Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on January 21, 1976, would not only stretch to a second night but was also witnessed by pure chance by a student journalist known only as "Bruce.". Arkansas had six Army airfields. Ritz. Many DC-3 and C-47s are still in operation, nearing the end of their first half century of service and looking like they could go another half century. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Buy None was a no notice operational exercise conducted in 1989. Upon his return to the United States in November 1970, General Brown was assigned as vice commander of the 97th Bombardment Wing at Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., and took command of the wing in July 1971. On January 23rd, 2022, it was announced that the former dorms would be demolished. Any and all donations are appreciated. Though it is currently in a rough shape as an Air Force Base it doesnt have to be that way. View of the southern end of the former Blytheville AFB (Eaker AFB). Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "blythevilleairforcebase" Flickr tag. This one is at the old (now closed) SAC base near Blytheville, Arkansas. Old Movies. The project mainly serves to save the best buildings and bring buildings in the worst shape down for safety purposes. In December of 1992, the base officially closed. Since its organization on 21 March 1946, SAC had continuously used C-47s or Gooney Birds as they were usually called, for support and administrative purposes. View allAll Photos Tagged Blytheville Air Force Base. The B-52G was also built from the start to deliver standoff nuclear weapons, beginning with the AGM-28 Hound Dog. These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. Select from premium Blytheville Air Force Base of the highest quality. Vietnam saw a return of nose art (or, in the case of the F-105, "armpit art" as it was carried beneath the high wing), but while pilots and crews didn't have to worry about irate wives, they did have to worry about irate commanding officers, some of whom saw nose art as unprofessional and childish. Today it is 14,011. Watch. Base Closure What happened to Blytheville, Arkansas? Rick O'Kelley was drafted in Oct 1971 and enlisted in the USAF November 10 1971 on delayed enlistment. c/n 18002/T0417. The Library. . Today. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. It worked very well and it was how I towed my new 1972 Suzuki GT750J from my parent's home in Alma the 300 miles to Blytheville Air Force Base. Coupled with the more regulation bound USAF of the 1950s, almost no B-36s or B-52s carried nose art, despite a larger "canvas" than the B-29 or B-17. As the National Cold War Center develops, the first on-site exhibit depicts the history of the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base. The top attractions to visit in Blytheville are: Historic Greyhound Bus Depot Visitor Center; The Ritz Theatre; Delta Gateway Museum; Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB) Exhibition; That Bookstore in Blytheville; See all attractions in Blytheville on Tripadvisor action, the base has sat mostly dormant. If you wish to support our current and future work, please consider making a donation or purchasing one of our many books. As I recall, crew members were typically on alert for 10 days of every month. All of these were under the Strategic Air Command. There were trainer versions designated TC-47 and reconnaissance versions designated RC-47. The model is on a 1/72 scale with a 26" wingspan. Photos from Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH on JetPhotos Photos Eaker Air Force Base was complete with swimming pools, tennis courts, a grocery store, a dental office, a nine hole golf course, a theater, multiple clubs, visitation centers, a gym, and on-base housing for military families. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. I was one of four Production Supervisors who coordinated the P-Check maintenance and retrofitting of existing 737-200's (42 aircraft) for MetroJet; this included all coach interiors and . The aircraft was set on course to Boeings headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. After a brief hiatus of less than a decade, the facility reopened as the Blytheville Air Force Base. Details on 57-6486 are sparse; it may have seen combat over Vietnam with another unit. The small gold Hap Arnold Wings that appear just below my name tag was a gift from the widow of a deceased WWII USAAF pilot. Club was demolished. [1], In 1988, the U.S. Air Force officially renamed Blytheville AFB to Eaker AFB in commemoration of World War II General Ira Eaker, the former commander of the 8th Air Force. of conventional or nuclear bombs, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=294. Luckily, the nose art was removed first and donated to the nearby Pima Air and Space Museum. To differentiate ALCM-equpped B-52Gs from unmodified aircraft, a wing fairing was added solely for the benefit of Soviet reconnaissance satellites, in accordance with arms control treaties. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. After it became operational in 1955, the B-52 remained the main long-range heavy bomber of the US Air Force during the Cold War, and it continues to be an important part of the USAF bomber force today. During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. Opened in late 2020, the BAFB Exhibition features memorabilia, video and personal stories of the base from its 1942 beginnings until closure in 1992. action specifically caters to closures and revitalization of U.S. military bases. [1], During the Vietnam War the 97th Bomber Wing at Blytheville supported strike operations throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. The airplane dismantler used most of the tarmac we were using and we havent been back since before covid. My other picture of "Valkyrie" was taken from the right side, but the other day I realized I had never posted the picture of the aircraft's nose art. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. This area was developed pursuant to guidelines established by the Federal Housing Administration , and is laid out with . [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Airmen from the 97th Bombardment Wing lost their lives and their photos appear on the lonely memorial at their abandoned base in Blytheville; Lt Col Keith R Heggen was in "Olive1", (now buried at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery) Lt Col Donald L Rissi, 1st LT Robert J Thomas and Msgt Walter L Ferguson were in "Charcoal 1" Major Bobby A Kirby, Capt Randall J Craddock, Capt George B Lockhart, Capt Ronald D Perry and 1st Lt Charles E Darr were in "Tan 3". It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. Doors and numerous truckloads of metal were being hauled off the alert pad. The aircraft in question was tail number 61-0023. The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). Housing for members of the military and their families was developed between 1957 and 1962 north and south . And the aeronautical weather for the pilots with current weather and short-term forecasts with METAR (METeorological Aerodrome Report, observation message of meteorological conditions for aviation) and TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast: short-term forecast message of meteorological conditions for aviation ). May be an image of text that says 'David Pride 2000' No photo description available. if I remember correctly it was one of the rooms pictured (162). machine guns in tail plus up to 43,000 lbs. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. Serial Number 61-0023 landed safely in Blytheville. In 1955 North Sawba Cemetery once again returned to government jurisdiction with the activation of Blytheville Air Force Base later renamed Eaker Air Force Base, until base closure December 1992. Extensive efforts to offset the negative economic effects on the community of Blytheville were undertaken by local and federal officials, who cleaned up the site and then distributed the land to various organizations, including the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Pictures, photos and images from Blytheville, AR. In any case, out of a sense of history and because commanders were now favorable to the idea, nose art began to return, though the USAF was very careful to ensure any "painted ladies" to have nothing more risque than bikinis. The base closed in 1992, and unfortunately most of the residential units north of Daisy Drive are vacant and have since . Fighter units also rarely carried nose art or even a name, though they made up for it with very gaudy colors and flamboyant unit crests. Photo Gallery. Contributions to PAs Most Endangered List, National Register of Historic Places (Jan, 26th 2018). Airplane Photos & Aviation Photos - View, Search, or Upload Photos! If was really not abandoned til 10 year ago becuae I went to preschool on the base then I got shut down because all of us got sick becuase the heat and air went out. Some of the land has since been declared a National Historic Landmark. Almost immediately, this was proven to be a vain hope: the only aircraft able to replace the B-52 was, it seemed, another B-52. Capt. The pictures and history lesson accompanying are amazing. The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. Since 1955, the B52 Stratofortress has been Americas go-to long-distance strategic bomber. The 97th comm mustve been a very short lived entity as it was the 2101 CS / AFCC when I was there.
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