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). action, the base has sat mostly dormant. When the klaxon sounded, the aircrews scrambled to their aircraft, and got a radio code to start their engines; after the engines were running, they got another code that instructed them either to shut down, and go back to the alert facility (in which case it would be called a Coco alert), or to taxi (that would be a Bravo alert). Alas LRAFB was where we flew C119s to summer camp, but always hoped foe a fly in there. The program was comprised of just over 1100 women. Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. I only ask that you send older photos (probably sometime before 1970).and they can be of People, Places in Blytheville, and Things. JetPhotos.com is the biggest database of aviation photographs with over 4 million screened photos online! 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. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Vietnam War, 1961-1975. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. Donate to our causeCheck out our books! The last model 61-0040, was produced in 1962. The majority of the bases housing is still in use, a few buildings are in use, and the tarmac is now the Arkansas Aeroplex. 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. Yes we grew up overseas and only went to Department of Defense Schools but it was amazing. or the notorious F-105 "Cherry Girl," which positioned a full-frontal nude girl strategically over the refueling port on the nose. Photo Gallery. During the Korean War, when many USAF units were based in Japan and crews lived with their families, wives got to see up close the often risque nose art their husbands painted on their aircraft--and were not pleased with what they saw. Whether it be by the hand of the elements, or by deconstruction due to safety issues. Suggest edits to improve what we show. This gallery is to showcase old photographs from Blytheville, Arkansas. 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. Lots of good memories. In July 1991, she was retired, and as one of the Secret Squirrel aircraft, was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum immediately. 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. Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD 1942. Ash worked from a photograph of the B-52 Blytheville plane. Once more, however, the B-52G was called upon for the conventional role during Operation Desert Storm against Iraq in 1991. [3] Six more men from the 97th were also lost in Vietnam, whose names are recognized on a memorial placard at the former base. The US needed a long range aircraft able to refuel other long range aircraft. A photo of my Mustang in the snow at Barker's Trailerpark in Blytheville Arkansas. Most of the Gs ended their days sliced into pieces in the Arizona desert. 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. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. The Library. 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. The population suffered as well. 2, no. Eaker Air Force Base in its entirety is a mix of private and federal property. The original, one-of-a-kind model was created by P.J. 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. . Roof repairs began on February 19, 2022. Posted on Facebook by Michael Meagher, Photographer unknown. 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. Would love hear your stories or your thoughts. As a kid in nearby Jonesboro, our cub scout pack got to visit what was then Blytheville AFB. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. View of the southern end of the former Blytheville AFB (Eaker AFB). My family and I were stationed here from about 1964 until 1970. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Five feet of water was pumped out of the basement of the building. 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. The 456th completed deployments to Anderson AB in Guam with this B-52G. 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. By August 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with seventeen B-52s lost to enemy action. 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. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. 766 th BS headquarters. See original furniture from the famous alert compound, pictures, uniforms & other memorabilia including a . I thanked my dad for my upbringing. Gosnell reported losing over half its students. 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. 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. Base Closure What happened to Blytheville, Arkansas? 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. 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. Though, local organizations and legal entities constantly fight to preserve the base. However, some F-15E Strike Eagle units have begun painting nose art again, so reports of its demise is probably premature. (For some reason, this "Hotshot" never got eyes.). Air Base Group Headquarters. While the B-52Hs remained on nuclear alert standby, the G models were used in the conventional bombing role after the first few nights of cruise missile strikes; at first, this was done at low altitude, but switched to high altitude later onnot because of the threat of Iraqi air defenses, which had been badly degraded, but of the psychological effect. This is a photoshopped 1972 Suzuki Brochure that I have transposed my face over the riders face. Old Movies. 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. Americans did not have to fear every day of an imminent Soviet missile strike. 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. This has been an ongoing project for over a year. Eaker. Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. Airman First Class Monex Thomas of the Blytheville Air Force Base died in an aircraft training incident on August 1 1982. 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. Weekly Began in 1902; ceased in 1923. [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. I hope they can save this base so that it doesnt get destroyed. Had many good times there. In August 1991 this Stratofortress was dropped from the Air Force inventory and made available to the USAF Museum Program. The nose art trend continued through Operation Desert Storm--though some of the ladies were censored or temporarily taped over to avoid offending Saudi religious officials--but then began to disappear again during the 1990s. Sign up and get notified about upcoming volunteer events! The B52 Stratofortress had solved every issue the Air Force ran into with earlier bombers. 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 Published: Jan. 11, 2022 at 6:25 PM PST. MEMORIES. The group was awarded two Distinguish Unit Citations during WWII and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crises. It was located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of central Blytheville, Arkansas. Officials had hoped, after hearing rumors of the base's possible closure, that the name would endear the base among military leaders and be enough to incentivize its continued existence. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. Club was demolished. The 2nd Bombardment Wing (H) at Barksdale AFB acquired the plane a second time in February 1987. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . 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. Formerly the site of family housing for Eaker Air Force Base, Westminster Village is a non-profit community. At one point, sharkmouths were banned by 7th Air Force in Saigon as being "too warlike"--despite, of course, the "non-warlike" aircraft carrying tons of bombs and missiles. In June 1975 the aircraft was sent to the 97th Bombardment Wing (H) residing at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas. . And in 1991, Eaker Air Force Base was on the top of the list. c/n 18002/T0417. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. 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. Officers Club. Scanned from 35mm Negative. Community Profile: Blytheville, Ark., Spreads Its Wings after Air Force Base Closing. The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. It was immediately assigned to the 72nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. 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". Everything from a static display of a B52 Stratofortress (which the Arkansas Aeroplex hopes to someday acquire), to letters from soldiers to their families overseas. About Westminster Village . On January 18, 1957, three B-52Bs completed the first non-stop round-the-world flight by jet aircraft, lasting 45 hours and 19 minutes and requiring only three aerial refuelings. Washington, DCMay 26, 2020.Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) joined Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), Congressman French Hill (AR-2), and Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-4) in announcing the introduction of legislation to name the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base located in Blytheville, Arkansas the "National Cold War Center." The air force base was established in 1942 as a . Full view. This is the alert facility, or "mole hole," where bomber and tanker aircraft crew in the Strategic Air Command (SAC; USAF) lived while they were pulling alert duty during the Cold War. Any monthly plan. Movie Theater. Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. KC-135A - 61-0267 - 97th BW, Blytheville Air Force Base by Darren Currie 19 International Air Tattoo 1987 - RAF Fairford. Its' soft start" with hours on Friday's and Saturday from about 12:00pm to 4:00pm, will take some trip planning. 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. [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. However, the B-58 was delayed, and in accordance with General Curtis LeMays prescient worries that the B-52 force would simply fall apart, Boeing began development of a new variant of the B-52, the B-52G. Retired from service in December 2019, MD-88 N907DL is stored at the former Blytheville (Eaker) Air Force Base, now Arkansas International Airport, in Blytheville, Arkansas. Armament: Four .50-cal. Contribute to chinapedia/wikipedia.en development by creating an account on GitHub. The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. The Ritz Theater from the outside circa. Base Theater. Watch. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. 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. Find Blytheville Air Force Base stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. In 1988, the based was renamed to honor World War II General, Ira C. Eaker. Photo Credit: The National Cold War Center. Airport information, from map to hotels to aeronautical information. It is the USAFs main aerial fueling aircraft. Military Photos; Military Reunion Stories; Military Service Map; Military Cadences; Military Jokes; Military Lingo; Great Military Web Pages; Recommended Military Books; Today in Military . On January 23rd, 2022, it was announced that the former dorms would be demolished. The walls are riddled with holes. . N503DN Delta Air Lines | Airbus A350-941 | Arkansas International Airport by M.J. Scanlon 17 . Though, the program and its members were not considered truly military nor pilots until the 1970s. When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared. (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. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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 . 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. Communism had shriveled in the world. However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. 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 Cold War had come to and end. [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. 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. Branch of Service: Air Force. Jul 1999. Photos from Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH on JetPhotos Photos Housing for members of the military and their families was developed between 1957 and 1962 north and south . NCO Club. Use code: FLICKR10, International Air Tattoo 1987 - RAF Fairford. Cover photos. The aircraft was set on course to Boeings headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. On Jan. 18, 1957, three B-52Bs completed the first non-stop round-the-world flight by jet aircraft, lasting 45 hours and 19 minutes and requiring only three aerial refuelings. It has the exact same problems as the hospital, though both buildings trade off on extremities. 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. Dental Clinic. The B-47 Stratojet was slated to be replaced by a mix of both the heavy Stratofortress and the Convair B-58 Hustler high-speed medium bomber. Since Eaker Air Force Base went under B.R.A.C. Airwomen were tasked with testing electronics of aircraft, testing aircraft by means of flights, and ferrying aircraft. At Mildenhall. I saw this jet fly Oct 25 1972 at the Blytheville AFB air show. At the height of the Cold War, Eaker Air Force Base was home to the 97th Bombardment Wing, the 42nd Air Division, the 97th Air Refueling Squadron, the 97th Supply Squadron, the 97th Organizational Maintenance Squadron, the 820th Medical Group, and many more. if I remember correctly it was one of the rooms pictured (162). Have history here? On January 31st, 2022, the Arkansas Aeroplex officially announced that work had been started on restoring Building 1225. Hill Aerospace Museum officially received the aircraft for static display on July 11, 1991. Collect, curate and comment on your files. Wing Headquarters. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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 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. In June 1972 General Brown assumed command of the 416th Bombardment Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. The hospital has been tightly sealed up. [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 nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. U.S. Thousands of jobs were lost. The 1980s saw something of a resurgence--oddly enough, mostly among Strategic Air Command units. The current BAFB Exhibit is housed in the former B52 crew briefing building, and will continue to be an exhibit. The B-52 had 8 engines but the two AGM-28 engines could also be used for take off and getting up to altitude. Of reinforced concrete and concrete-block construction, moleholes were of two-story height, with one story below ground. If you can make it, even for an hour, we will be glad to have you! New in 1960. If you served in Blytheville Air Force Base, Join TWS for free to reconnect with service friends. Best years of my life. It was amazing. [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. 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). Blytheville, Walnut Ridge, Grider, Newport, Stuttgart, and Adams Field. Blytheville AFB: See Eaker AFB: Bolling AFB ACTIVE: Location: Washington, DC . Abandoned Arkansas had noticed while touring the base, the former base bank had been torn down the week prior to January 1st, 2022. 4 items. Blytheville, established as lumber mill town in the 1880s, has also served as a center for the cotton-growing industry, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) airbase and a gateway city for the Natural State. With the end of the war the base was closed, only to be reopened 15 July 1955 as a Strategic Air Command (SAC) base which was home to B-57 and B-52 . Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: majesticholidays.com, +12423231410, +13088411818, +14132671187, +13856680111, +12815278722 Bahamas hotels, vacation tour packages by majestic holidays Offering the freedom of maintenance-free independent living with the flexibility of an affordable rental program, Westminster Village enables you to remain close to the best of Blytheville near fishing at Big Lake, as well as convenient access to Memphis . ", From: www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/bomber_alert.htm. The KC135 fuels other aircraft through an extendable boom on the aft of the aircraft. Several C-47s were fitted with pontoons and redesignated C-47C. As crew chiefs we had all spent many tours in the mole hole. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Certain buildings are worth saving. 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. The communication building of the 97th Bombardment Wing is in terrible condition as well. 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 was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. Improve this listing. The United States no longer needed bombers and fuel-tankers to be on 24/7 alert. Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. 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. This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. Touch . In the late 1980s, the government, under congress had begun inspections on Air Force Bases. Engines: Eight P&W J57-P-43WB turbojets, 13,750 lbs thrust each w/ water injection, Weight: 168,445 lbs empty; 488,000 lbs max, Speed: 636 mph max at 20,800 ft; 523 mph cruise, Range: 4,100 miles w/10,000 lb bomb load; 7,976 miles ferry, Armament: Four .5 in machine guns; payload 50,000 lbs bombs & missiles. Eleven of these jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. On June 10, 1942, the U.S. Army opened an advanced pilot training school at Blytheville, Arkansas. Thanks VetFriends. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. Any and all donations are appreciated. 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. Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . 6 'Cat And Mouse' UFO Chase Over Cannon AFB January 1976. B.R.A.C. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . About ten years ago a group of old 97 OMS troops made a trip to see the old place. I was stationed at 3 bases that closed during this BRAC (Eaker, George and Chanute) and took an early out at the same time (volunteer compensated RIF in 1992). 97th Bomb Wing has a long and honorable history. Over 1,000,000 pictures 732 of the aircraft were specifically aerial tankers. The War Assets Administration officially closed down the installation in 1946, at which point control and responsibility for the land was transferred to the city of Blytheville. The B52 Stratofortress was the answer to all the problems found in the Convair B36 Peacemaker and the B24. This area was developed pursuant to guidelines established by the Federal Housing Administration , and is laid out with .
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