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. Blytheville Air Force Base photos on Flickr | Flickr Love Photoshop, a little bit of work and #3 does a flyby just for me 41 years later. Washington -- Today, Representatives Crawford, Hill, Westerman, and Womack, along with Senators Boozman and Cotton, introduced legislation to name the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base located in Blytheville, Arkansas, the "National Cold War Center." The Eaker base opened in 1942 as a World War II advanced pilot training school, and later became an alert center during the Cold War. About Westminster Village . Evans at Blytheville air show in 1980. Fill out the form and sign up to help us protect: By signing up, you are not committing to anything, you are simply subscribing to be notified of upcoming volunteer dates. Strategic Air Command Bases 1950's. Janet Austin - Duplessis. Of reinforced concrete and concrete-block construction, moleholes were of two-story height, with one story below ground. As a result, the B-52Gs took heavy casualties in the first days of Operation Linebacker II in December 1972, losing 15 aircraft; it was decided to pull the Gs out of operations after the first week. N503DN Delta Air Lines | Airbus A350-941 | Arkansas International Airport by M.J. Scanlon 17 . My first year I worked in Procurement which is to the far right edge in this photo, it is the last building on the left along Memorial Drive, the wide street going left to right. The B52 Stratofortress was the answer to all the problems found in the Convair B36 Peacemaker and the B24. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. Eaker. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. Arkansas World War II Army Airfields - Wikipedia The rest I earned via my service to my country. Merged with: Blytheville herald-news (non-extant), to form: Blytheville courier news. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. My last 8 months of service I was the NCOIC of the Repair Cycle Unit "DIFM Control", KC-135A - 61-0267 - 97th BW, Blytheville Air Force Base, N503DN Delta Air Lines | Airbus A350-941 | Arkansas International Airport. For the families, GI's, and community that was Blytheville AFB 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. Owners of said buildings had big ambitions to renovate and repurpose the old buildings, but either plans never took off or money was tight. Full view. The process is called B.R.A.C.. The Mole Hole: Effort to Help Save a Cold War Concrete Resource "Valkyrie" was known to the USAF as 58-0183, a B-52G Stratofortress. 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. Find Blytheville Air Force Base unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. Weekly Began in 1902; ceased in 1923. 1-2 hours. action specifically caters to closures and revitalization of U.S. military bases. Charles Fisher would forever be known as Mr. Memphis Discovery Tour . There are some items of interest in this photo of things that didn't appear on my uniform. Photographer unknown. Description based on: Vol. Renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988 honoring Gen. Ira Eaker, the entire facility closed in 1992. Brave Men from the 97th Bombardment Wing Historical Marker Arkansas Aeroplex (Eaker Air Force Base, Blytheville Air Force Base Air forces air sacs. Medical search. Web Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: majesticholidays.com, +12423231410, +13088411818, +14132671187, +13856680111, +12815278722 Bahamas hotels, vacation tour packages by majestic holidays 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. Usaf Academy, CO 80840-1307 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-3732 Warrensburg, MO 64093-9357 Armament: Four defensive .50-cal. Blytheville, Arkansas was selected as a training location due to its proximity to the Mississippi River, where supplies could easily be shipped to and from the site. The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). Philip John Rovang Collection | Library of Congress Ash. Looking for someone that served with you? There was no need for the Global Shield. VetFriends.com helps reunite veterans from the Air Force daily. Was stationed there from 1967 to 1970 with 97th AMS, the old A&E Squadron. 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. Eaker Air Force Base was originally named Blytheville Army Airfield when it was built in 1942. On January 23rd, 2022, it was announced that the former dorms would be demolished. It was immediately assigned to the 72nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. Blytheville Air Force Base | Air force bases, Air force wife life, Air See All. The accounting & financing building has a large and open floor plan. Thanks to Dave Howell for posting this photo of Miss Piggy and her crew. . Pilot Mike Bush, Co Pilot Larry J Houser, EWO Wayne Carver, Navagtor Doug "D.R" Kincannon, Gunner Jack Alexander. Blytheville | Arkansas.com Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. In August 1991 this Stratofortress was dropped from the Air Force inventory and made available to the USAF Museum Program. Granted today, the area has stayed well populated due to industrial jobs, but Blythevilles unemployment rate is four percent higher than the national average (pre-covid). Contributions to PAs Most Endangered List, National Register of Historic Places (Jan, 26th 2018). Note that the outrigger landing gear is off the ground: naturally, "Valkyrie" is empty of fuel, and so there is no wing droop. Movie Theater. This VC-47D had been assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. Scrapped at Birmingham AL in 1997. The WASP program tasked select women with many key roles on airfields across the nation. 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. See original furniture from the famous alert compound, pictures, uniforms & other memorabilia including a . Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. The Museums C-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAAF on July 14, 1944. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. The original, one-of-a-kind model was created by P.J. The 97th deployed to Edwards AFB, California, while operating this aircraft. In the years leading up to the reunification of Germany, the U.S. government sought out to begin a process that would eventually end in many bases like Eaker, to be closed. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. Blytheville Air Force Base Exhibition | Blytheville, AR | Arkansas.com No photo description available. The deactivation of the Eakers (Blytheville) Air Force Base in 1992 hit the community hard as in 2019 the population is about 15,000 while the population of Fayetteville exploded to near 90,000. 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. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. In June 1972 General Brown assumed command of the 416th Bombardment Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y. Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . The base was deactivated in 1945 at the end of World War II. [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. "Valkyrie" shows one of Norse mythology's legendary "choosers of the slain" in full armor on horseback, with her shield a SAC emblem and carrying SAC's red lightning bolts in her other hand--which is pretty inventive. 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. Reactivated as the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB. Airport information, from map to hotels to aeronautical information. The KC135 Stratotanker, as most other notary aircraft, was born out of necessity. Though, local organizations and legal entities constantly fight to preserve the base. Roof repairs began on February 19, 2022. I was stationed at this base in 1972-1976 and worked in the 97th Supply Squadron which is one of the large buildings located near the center of the photo. Blytheville Air Force Base aka Eaker Air Force Base. Capt R.D. During World War II, the site served as a training airfield as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville 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. The airfield was used as the Southeastern Training Command's flight training school, which closed in October 1945 after the Second World War ended. It seemed like every morning at 5:00 AM the flight line maintenance crews would fire up some of the airplanes engines. The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. The KC135, along with the B52 is one of the only fixed wing aircraft with over fifty years of service. 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. of conventional or nuclear bombs. I was an army brat and a military wife along with an army civilian off and on over the years. Base Theater. of conventional or nuclear bombs, Engines: Eight Pratt & Whitney J57s of 12,100 lbs. The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. 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. Dave Howell, RN Bob Gilbert, Gunner Rick Watson, EW Chuck Kinkhead, N Can't remember, CP Kevin Rice. c/n 18002/T0417. The National Cold War Center will be an entirely brand new building itself. On January 11th, during Agile Combat Employment training exercises performed by the U.S. Air Force at Eaker Air Force Base, work had begun on the restoration process of Building 1225. There were trainer versions designated TC-47 and reconnaissance versions designated RC-47. NCO Club. Tin Roof. These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. The majority of buildings have suffered the same fate. The heavier steel fuel tanks of the tall-tail series were replaced by integral fuel tanks, in which the entire wing served as a tank. A photo of my Mustang in the snow at Barker's Trailerpark in Blytheville Arkansas. 35 57.54 N, 89 57.74 W. Marker is in Gosnell, Arkansas, in Mississippi County. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). Blytheville Air Force Base - Facebook 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. CENTCOM commander H. Norman Schwartzkopf demanded continual B-52 strikes-- eventually forty percent of all ordnance expended--and the results were devastating. I don't have a clue who captured or created this image but this is it is an excellent computer generated image of a Pre-Vietnam War SAC Paint Scheme with a North American AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. Yes we grew up overseas and only went to Department of Defense Schools but it was amazing. For more information, visit the website at www.nationalcoldwarcenter.com or call 870-532-2100. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. I saw this jet in the Thunderbird performance at Blytheville Air Force base Oct 25 1972.. My USAF service had no connection to the Thunderbirds other than I saw this Thunderbird perform at Blytheville Air Force Base Oct 25 1972. Details on 57-6486 are sparse; it may have seen combat over Vietnam with another unit. "Valkyrie" would fly a few more missions during the war, the only time she would drop bombs in anger. Leaving Little Rock as Arkansas only active base. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. Christine A Peppers, 57 from Colorado Springs, CO | Names and Facts Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. As a kid in nearby Jonesboro, our cub scout pack got to visit what was then Blytheville AFB. It was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988, in honor of General Ira Eaker, an aviation pioneer and second . 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. - A Blytheville museum shining a light on Cold War history received funding supporting a planned primary exhibit. The National Cold War Center at the former Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville announced Monday that it had received a $400,000 grant from the Division of Arkansas Heritage Cultural Institutions Trust Fund.A spokesperson said the money would be used to . [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. Some of the land has since been declared a National Historic Landmark. About Us | Westminster Village An uphill battle for Blytheville - arkansasonline.com The first model arrives at former Eaker Air Force Base - NEA Town Courier . This has been an ongoing project for over a year. Thule is the only air force base with no aircraft and a tugboat. There is a SAC Lapel Pin and two United States Air Force Lapel Pins that I have included in my display. It is the USAFs main aerial fueling aircraft. It was amazing. Below is my Blytheville Air Force Base token collection. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. My 1972 Suzuki looked exactly like the one in the brochure. Armament: Four defensive .50-cal. Only ten B-52Gs survive today as museum pieces. The effect on the neighboring towns of Gosnell and Blytheville the closure had on were tremendous. ICYMI: Womack, Crawford, Hill, Westerman Introduce Bill to Designate Under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 the United States government is obligated to consider utilization, procurement and disposal of government property. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . I saw this jet fly Oct 25 1972 at the Blytheville AFB air show. The Blytheville Courier (Blytheville, Mississippi County, Ark.) 1902 Under the command of the 326th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron, pilots would train in aircraft such as theBeechcraft AT-10, and Curtiss-Wright AT-9s. Its' soft start" with hours on Friday's and Saturday from about 12:00pm to 4:00pm, will take some trip planning. I have been to the former base and tarmac many times in the 2010s for Sports Car Club of America events. Eaker Air Force Base in its entirety is a mix of private and federal property. Eaker Air Force Base | Military Wiki | Fandom The Blytheville Air Force Base Exhibition, a part of the National Cold War Center, is a permanent exhibit that showcases the air base and the people that lived and worked there. But it is well-worth the visit. The Blytheville Air Force Base Capehart Housing Historic District encompasses a large residential area built between 1957 and 1962 as part of a military housing program for service members stationed at the now-closed Blytheville Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas. This area was developed pursuant to guidelines established by the Federal Housing Administration , and is laid out with . From its days as an Army Airfield until closing in 1992 as a major Strategic Air Command facility, the Blytheville Air Force Base told many stories. The Iron Curtain was torn down. Two North American AGM-28 nuclear Hound Dog Missiles were carried under the wings of the B-52 while eight Quails were carried in the bomb bay. Whether it be by the hand of the elements, or by deconstruction due to safety issues. Airwomen were tasked with testing electronics of aircraft, testing aircraft by means of flights, and ferrying aircraft. After any major war, surplus equipment and property is sold to the general public and agencies. 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". "Hoosier Hotshot" was originally applied to a B-17G Flying Fortress of the 91st Bomb Group during World War II, but when SAC began applying nose art to their B-52s, a 97th Bomb Wing B-52G crew reproduced the nose art on 57-6486 as a tribute to the original. Many buildings are gone, and will continue to disappear. 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. By that time, the B-52G had already been tested in combat, with mixed results. If you wish to support our current and future work, please consider making a donation or purchasing one of our many books. [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. When Operation Linebacker and especially Linebacker II taxed the Southeast Asia-based B-52D fleet to the limit, President Richard Nixon authorized the G models to be deployed to Vietnam as well. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. The base's primary mission shifted to bomber training. This one is at the old (now closed) SAC base near Blytheville, Arkansas. He served active duty March 21 1972 to March 20 1976. Group bringing new life to historic air base | News | jonesborosun.com The aircraft in question was tail number 61-0023. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB) Exhibition: BAFB Exhibition - Blytheville/Eaker AFB - See 9 traveler reviews, 32 candid photos, and great deals for Blytheville, AR, at Tripadvisor. Communism had shriveled in the world. This increased the B-52Gs range over earlier B-52s, though it also added considerable weightone reason why the tail was shortened; to help the heavy bomber get off the ground, the water-injection system already present was increased. The Library. The hospital has been tightly sealed up. [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. Serial Number 61-0023 landed safely in Blytheville. This is a photoshopped 1972 Suzuki Brochure that I have transposed my face over the riders face. The last duty station for this aircraft was with a previous owner, the 93rd Bombardment Wing (H) at Castle AFB, where it arrived in December 1988. Blytheville Air Force Base Capehart Housing - Gosnell, Arkansas - Wikimapia Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. May be an image of text that says 'David Pride 2000' No photo description available. The majority of the bases housing is still in use, a few buildings are in use, and the tarmac is now the Arkansas Aeroplex. action, the base has sat mostly dormant. Officers Club. 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.". 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). Military Photos; Military Reunion Stories; Military Service Map; Military Cadences; Military Jokes; Military Lingo; Great Military Web Pages; Recommended Military Books; Today in Military . After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared. Blytheville Air Force Base - Wikipedia The communication building of the 97th Bombardment Wing is in terrible condition as well. This is like the B-52Gs with the North American AGM-28 Nuclear Hound Dog Missiles assigned to my base. In July 1991, she was retired, and as one of the Secret Squirrel aircraft, was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum immediately. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . "A B52 with a full nuclear payload, is the seventh most powerful country in the world.". (Some joked that the ladies might just paint hunky guys on their aircraft!). Any monthly plan. The worst building on base is the hospital. For those wishing to explore BAFB history and its impact, the Blytheville Air Force Base Exhibition is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. to tell "the story of the war that saved the world.". . Branch of Service: Air Force. The program was comprised of just over 1100 women. If you served in Blytheville Air Force Base, Join TWS for free to reconnect with service friends. Eleven of these jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. Scanned from 35mm Negative. From an extreme case of having to be boarded up like a top secret quarantine, to simply being an old tool shed that never got used. Blytheville AFB: See Eaker AFB: Bolling AFB ACTIVE: Location: Washington, DC . 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. Housing for members of the military and their families was developed between 1957 and 1962 north and south . 18 (Feb. 26, 1904). Had many good times there. Blytheville Air Force Base - Facebook However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. Arkansas Delegation Introduces Legislation to Designate Blytheville Air This Abandoned Air Force base is located three miles Northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Blytheville Air Force Base Archives - National Fallen Firefighters or the notorious F-105 "Cherry Girl," which positioned a full-frontal nude girl strategically over the refueling port on the nose. Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. Home of 96th Bombardment Wing: 1953-1957; 11th . It originally provided housing, school and community resources to the families of military personnel who were stationed at the adjacent Blytheville Air Force Base (which is now operated as Arkansas International Airport). (For some reason, this "Hotshot" never got eyes.). The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. The last model 61-0040, was produced in 1962. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp, 14-cylinder radial air-cooled engines, 1,200 horsepower each. Gosnell reported losing over half its students. In 1990, Blythevilles population was 23,443.