On a Bravo alert, while taxiing the aircraft, the pilot was waiting (and hoping!) The population suffered as well. Certain buildings are worth saving. 2023 Getty Images. 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 . Movie Theater. 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. On the opening night of the war, a group of B-52s took off from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana and struck targets in Iraq with ALCMs, in a 34-hour nonstop round trip mission, a record that stood until 1996. (photo courtesy of Delta) On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Delta Air Lines . [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. Desert Storm was the swan song for the B-52G. Sign up and get notified about upcoming volunteer events! Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "blythevilleairforcebase" Flickr tag. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. It boasted a vibrant downtown and it had an eclectic population due to the wide variety of people the base brought to the city. Currently, there is a restoration program working to rebuild and reuse buildings that arent disappearing. 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. Pilot Mike Bush, Co Pilot Larry J Houser, EWO Wayne Carver, Navagtor Doug "D.R" Kincannon, Gunner Jack Alexander. The commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces, Henry Arnold, went as far as saying that he doubted a woman could control a B17. I saw this jet fly Oct 25 1972 at the Blytheville AFB air show. Mr. Gorbachev tore down that wall. 1-2 hours. Several C-47s were fitted with pontoons and redesignated C-47C. See original furniture from the famous alert compound, pictures, uniforms & other memorabilia including a . Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F4 Phantom #3 Jet. Known as Operation Secret Squirrel, this 34-hour mission was at the time the longest aerial mission ever flown, and was not surpassed until the strikes on Afghanistan in 2001. c/n 18002/T0417. After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. Armament: Four .50-cal. Love Photoshop, a little bit of work and #3 does a flyby just for me 41 years later. 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. In order to give the property on which the base was located back to the local authorities, the USAF hired a cultural resource management firm to conduct a survey of the archeological sites on the base property (Cande and Lafferty 1991). Thank you! Loved it. At Mildenhall. 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 G models most noticeable feature was its 8-foot shorter tail, done to ease maintenance and to save weight. By that time, the B-52G had already been tested in combat, with mixed results. The 1980s saw something of a resurgence--oddly enough, mostly among Strategic Air Command units. Leaving Little Rock as Arkansas only active base. This gallery is to showcase old photographs from Blytheville, Arkansas. While with the 97th Bomb Wing at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, it received the name "Valkyrie" with appropriate nose art of a mail-clad female warrior on horseback; nose art made a renaissance in the USAF in the late 1980s, though not quite as risqu as that seen during World War II. There were trainer versions designated TC-47 and reconnaissance versions designated RC-47. Blytheville Air Force Base. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. 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 ). GitHub export from English Wikipedia. Scanned from 35mm Negative. I was stationed at Blytheville AFB in the late 1950s when it was a new SAC base and the first B-52s arrived. (USAF Museum Official Website), Objects and images related to Blytheville Air Force Base, aka Eaker Air Force Base, The patch for the 340th Bomb Squadron assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base aka Eakers Air Force Base. This facility trained Army Air Cadets on Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita advanced trainer planes to learn to fly North American B-25 Mitchell bombers in all theaters of World War 2. Notable people who were stationed at the base durring this time include Carl Jr. and Frank . The Iron Curtain was torn down. Due to the high amount of asbestos flying around in the air, and the safety concerns. School trips were to other countries LOL. All the glass is shattered. 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. Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. 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. ADM-20 Quail Decoy used to produce a fake B-52 signature on radar making a single B-52 appear to be as many as eight B-52s causing the Soviets to waste their SAMs chasing the Quails. Note that the outrigger landing gear is off the ground: naturally, "Valkyrie" is empty of fuel, and so there is no wing droop. Use code: FLICKR10, International Air Tattoo 1987 - RAF Fairford. [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. thrust each. There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. On June 10, 1942, the U.S. Army opened an advanced pilot training school at Blytheville, Arkansas. Photo Credit: The National Cold War Center. The B-52G is missing its missile pylon because these were removed and destroyed as a condition of he SALT treaty launcher reduction conditions. For the families, GI's, and community that was Blytheville AFB The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. Blytheville AFB experienced a great deal of activity throughout the Cold War era, when for instance, the 97th Bombardment Wing went on airborne alert on 22 October 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis. - A Blytheville museum shining a light on Cold War history received funding supporting a planned primary exhibit. of conventional or nuclear bombs. On January 31st, 2022, the Arkansas Aeroplex officially announced that work had been started on restoring Building 1225. 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. if I remember correctly it was one of the rooms pictured (162). Today the base is mostly in a decrepit state of disrepair. 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 nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. VetFriends.com helps reunite veterans from the Air Force daily. Officers Club. 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. Two B-52G bombers were readied to strike the Soviet Union with nuclear weapons if necessaryfor which the wing received the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its performance during the crisis. The airport was developed from the closed Eaker Air Force Base (formerly Blytheville Air Force Base), after its closure by the U.S. Air Force in 1992. . In 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. Eaker. 1950's. Janet Austin - Duplessis. Had many good times there. This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. Beechcraft AT-10, and Curtiss-Wright AT-9s. [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. The airfield was used as the Southeastern Training Command's flight training school, which closed in October 1945 after the Second World War ended. Over 1,000,000 pictures Did you serve with BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE? Eaker Air Force Base was located on 3,778 acres of land between the communities of Gosnell and Blytheville in Mississippi County. Thousands of jobs were lost. After 30 years and learning the computer and finding VetFriends, I went to my first reunion of the USS Navasota AO-106. 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. 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. The B-52G was to return to the nuclear delivery role through the 1970s and 1980s, with the SRAM itself replaced by the AGM-86 Air Launched Cruise Missile, a truly precise cruise missile. Places to visit . They also tended, in some cases, to be far more raunchy than even World War II or Korean nose art even dared--one popular one was to show a heavily pregnant Lucy Van Pelt from "Peanuts" screaming "Damn you, Charlie Brown!" 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. The first of 12 model aircrafts that were once housed at the Blytheville Air Force Base (later Eaker Air Force Base) was delivered on Wednesday to the exhibition building. 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). In 1972, all of the bombers were temporarily moved to Guam before being returned to Blytheville AFB, at which time the installation resumed normal functions. Donate to our causeCheck out our books! It is aRead more . The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. The group was awarded two Distinguish Unit Citations during WWII and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crises. 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. Usaf Academy, CO 80840-1307 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-3732 Warrensburg, MO 64093-9357 Dental Clinic. However, some F-15E Strike Eagle units have begun painting nose art again, so reports of its demise is probably premature. 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 They could go out of the facility to visit family, go to a movie or the BX, but the whole crew had to go everywhere together. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. As Soviet air defenses increased in numbers and lethality, the B-52 was switched from high-altitude attack to low-altitude penetration; the job of Hound Dog-equipped B-52s was to use the nuclear-tipped primitive cruise missiles to destroy SAM defenses, giving the follow-on B-52s equipped with gravity nuclear weapons a better chance at reaching their targets. 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. Photo from Facebook. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. Eaker Air Force Base (1942-1992) was a front-line United States Air Force base for over 40 years. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. The communication building of the 97th Bombardment Wing is in terrible condition as well. 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. Blytheville AFB was created in 1942 as a location for pilot training, originally named Blytheville Army Airfield. Many times I stopped what I was doing and watched the full power, roaring and smoke trailing takeoffs. The boom is controlled by an operator lying prone under the cargo deck of the aircraft. Setting near the base is a memorial bench for Army Spc Christopher Stark killed in Afghanistan Feb 28 2011. 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. Full view. My father was a pilot in SAC throughout his career (bombers and tankers); he and the other bomber and tanker crews spent a whole lot of time, away from their families, living in this bunker. Below is my Blytheville Air Force Base token collection. It was around 1960 and I still recall vividly sitting in the cockpit of a B-52. NUMBER BUILT: Douglas built a total of 10,047 C-47s and derivatives. On January 10th, 1964, a B52H loaned to Boeing by the USAF was testing the structural integrity of, and new technology for the aircraft. Blytheville Air Force Base aka Eaker Air Force Base. 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. Hear those stories come to life from the soldiers who served at the BAFB Exhibition. Military Photos; Military Reunion Stories; Military Service Map; Military Cadences; Military Jokes; Military Lingo; Great Military Web Pages; Recommended Military Books; Today in Military . The hospital has been tightly sealed up. Airwomen were tasked with testing electronics of aircraft, testing aircraft by means of flights, and ferrying aircraft. Jul 1999. The walls are riddled with holes. However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. The B-52G was also built from the start to deliver standoff nuclear weapons, beginning with the AGM-28 Hound Dog. https://nuke.fas.org/guide/usa/bomber/kc-135.htm#:~:text=The%20KC%2D135%20can%20haul,transferable%20for%20global%20refueling%20missions. B.R.A.C. 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. In the politically correct 2000s, nose art has been hidden in wheel-well doors or, in the case of the A-10, behind the integral ladder door, and often as not, simply does not exist. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. [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. The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). 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. The United States no longer needed bombers and fuel-tankers to be on 24/7 alert. 326th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron; 21 July 1942-30 April 1944 2111th Army Air Forces Base Unit; 1 May 1944-16 June 1945 Became Blytheville Air Force Base / Eaker Air Force Base (1951-1992) Now: Arkansas International Airport (IATA: BYH, ICAO: KBYH, FAA LID: BYH) (1992-Present) Newport Army Air Field, 6 miles northeast of Newport Doors and numerous truckloads of metal were being hauled off the alert pad. It is the USAFs main aerial fueling aircraft. . Link to the fact sheet on the museum's web page: www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5714, Link to the other B52s I remember: www.youtube.com/watch?v=leohcvmf8kM&feature=related. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. Communism had shriveled in the world. 3 talking about this. Charles Fisher would forever be known as Mr. 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. I had a great time and intend to go again next year. In the bomb bay were ADM-20 Quail decoys. Formerly the site of family housing for Eaker Air Force Base, Westminster Village is a non-profit community. In selected cases, due to ground water table conditions, the moleholes were built fully aboveground, with the lower story earthen bermed for semi-hardening. Electrical work and flood damage repair have begun. Owners of said buildings had big ambitions to renovate and repurpose the old buildings, but either plans never took off or money was tight. Those dorms were pristine (almost new if I remember correctly) when they were abandoned. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. 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. But, right before the first man could bail, the pilot had realized they had marginal control over the aircraft. 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. Here's a little blurb about the alert facilities themselves (aka "mole holes"): "The SAC alert crew quarters, like the SAC command post, were partially below ground structures. May be an image of text that says 'David Pride 2000' No photo description available. Blytheville herald-news Blytheville courier news (DLC)sn 89051348 We share a body likeness and dress and I had an orange helmet but most of the time I wore my Easy Rider Flag helmet. The aircraft on display saw extensive service in Southeast Asia and was severely damaged by an enemy surface-to-air missile on April 9, 1972. 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. Though, local organizations and legal entities constantly fight to preserve the base. 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. What aRead more , Stationed there 1989-1992, loved the place and love the life long friends from there. The 97th deployed to Edwards AFB, California, while operating this aircraft. Currently, the main tarmac is used as Blythevilles airport. Some were torn down. Louisiana was the aircraft's next stop when in May 1974 it was transferred to the 2nd Bombardment Group (H) at Barksdale AFB. machine guns in tail plus up to 60,000+ lbs. Though, due to high traffic in that area, the aircraft had to change its course and headed for Blytheville Air Force Base instead. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. Any and all donations are appreciated. Eaker Air Force Base Historic District, Arkansas International Airport, and Blytheville Municipal Airport. If you can make it, even for an hour, we will be glad to have you! 766 th BS headquarters. Eaker Air Force Base was originally named Blytheville Army Airfield when it was built in 1942. 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. Explore. or the notorious F-105 "Cherry Girl," which positioned a full-frontal nude girl strategically over the refueling port on the nose. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . As a kid in nearby Jonesboro, our cub scout pack got to visit what was then Blytheville AFB. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. Nose art, while almost ubiquitous during World War II and Korea, largely disappeared in the 1950s. CENTCOM commander H. Norman Schwartzkopf demanded continual B-52 strikes-- eventually forty percent of all ordnance expended--and the results were devastating. I hope they can save this base so that it doesnt get destroyed. [2] In July 1959, the 97th Bombardment Wing subsequently assumed control of the base and brought with it the long-range B-52G bomber and the KC-135A Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft to support bomber operations. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. It was closed as a military base in 1992 at the end of the Cold War pursuant to BRAC action and now operates as Arkansas International Airport . Unit of Service: 311th Tactical Airlift Squadron; Air National Guard. Was the first KC-135E conversion in 1982. Today it is 14,011. Nowadays, the base goes by a few names. 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). During the weekend of February 21st, 2022, the former N.C.O. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). 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 had their own team. Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp, 14-cylinder radial air-cooled engines, 1,200 horsepower each.