4 items. But it is well-worth the visit. 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 . Select from premium Blytheville Air Force Base of the highest quality. The Southeast Asia War Tour Boeing B-52D Stratofortress BUFF LF USAF Museum (9202) Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 3-10-2019. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Any and all donations are appreciated. 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. The aircraft in question was tail number 61-0023. Hill Aerospace Museum officially received the aircraft for static display on July 11, 1991. The Library. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. I saw this jet fly Oct 25 1972 at the Blytheville AFB air show. If you wish to support our current and future work, please consider making a donation or purchasing one of our many books. The B52 Stratofortress had solved every issue the Air Force ran into with earlier bombers. Setting near the base is a memorial bench for Army Spc Christopher Stark killed in Afghanistan Feb 28 2011. Looking for someone that served with you? I was stationed there from 1966-69. Since Eaker Air Force Base went under B.R.A.C. Had many good times there. 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. Its' soft start" with hours on Friday's and Saturday from about 12:00pm to 4:00pm, will take some trip planning. Usaf Academy, CO 80840-1307 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-3732 Warrensburg, MO 64093-9357 1942-1946, 1953-1992. A bomber crew from Blytheville were among the first shot down during Operation Linebacker II, a December 1972 mission targeting complexes in North Vietnam. As the 97th Bomb Group it's B-17 were the first to drop bombs on the Germans in France in 1942. 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. Roof repairs began on February 19, 2022. This is like the B-52Gs with the North American AGM-28 Nuclear Hound Dog Missiles assigned to my base. Old Movies. The plane . Certain buildings are worth saving. 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. at the old Blytheville Air Force Base now called the Blytheville Aeroplex where the city is planning to invest $20 million . Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. Housing for members of the military and their families was developed between 1957 and 1962 north and south . 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. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . Blytheville air force base photos. I never earned Air Force Wings, the wings that appear in the photo are those of the Commemorative Air Force of which I am a member. In 1990, Blythevilles population was 23,443. Sign up and get notified about upcoming volunteer events! In its prime, it housed over 3,000 service members, and a whole fleet of Strategic Air Command B52 BUFF Stratofortresses. Cover photos. The 2nd Bombardment Wing (H) at Barksdale AFB acquired the plane a second time in February 1987. At 14 I was hopping buses and trains and hanging out with friends in surrounding towns. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. The WASP program tasked select women with many key roles on airfields across the nation. The KC135, along with the B52 is one of the only fixed wing aircraft with over fifty years of service. Capt. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment 3. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). On 7 July 1971 SACs last C-47 was transferred to the USS Alabama Monument Commission. My Heritage. of conventional or nuclear bombs. Three crewmen died in the crash. 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. Details on 57-6486 are sparse; it may have seen combat over Vietnam with another unit. 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). Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. It was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988, in honor of General Ira Eaker, an aviation pioneer and second . Airplane Photos & Aviation Photos - View, Search, or Upload Photos! Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. [1], The base closure cost the community over 700 civilian jobs, but half of these were recovered through the adaptive reuse of the former base, such as United States Post Office's utilization of the base in the late 1990s as an airport hub during the holidays, some of the base housing being converted by Westminster Village of the Mid-South for a retirement community, the construction of a $2.5 million sports complex by the local community, and the private investment of some $3 million for the creation of the Thunder Bayou Golf Course. 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). 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 heavier steel fuel tanks of the tall-tail series were replaced by integral fuel tanks, in which the entire wing served as a tank. 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 . Scanned from 35mm Negative. I was stationed at Eaker from 89-91 in the comm building pictured. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: majesticholidays.com, +12423231410, +13088411818, +14132671187, +13856680111, +12815278722 Bahamas hotels, vacation tour packages by majestic holidays Love Photoshop, a little bit of work and #3 does a flyby just for me 41 years later. The Air Force packed up and left. After a brief hiatus of less than a decade, the facility reopened as the Blytheville Air Force Base. Opened in late 2020, the BAFB Exhibition features memorabilia, video and personal stories of the base from its 1942 beginnings until closure in 1992. 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 hospital is also a very large (plan wise) building, so it is very possible to get lost inside the building without a map. Dental Clinic. machine guns in tail plus up to 43,000 lbs. Donate to our causeCheck out our books! After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. Community Profile: Blytheville, Ark., Spreads Its Wings after Air Force Base Closing. Best years of my life. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. . 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. In 2020, both Arkansas senators proposed a bill to designate the museum in Blytheville. Loved it. 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. 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. Touch . 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. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. Over 1,000,000 pictures The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). Posted to Facebook by William Travis. The process is called B.R.A.C.. It is the USAFs main aerial fueling aircraft. Ritz. Photo from Facebook. On January 10th, 1964, a B52H loaned to Boeing by the USAF was testing the structural integrity of, and new technology for the aircraft. 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. It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. 1-2 hours. The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. Merged with: Blytheville herald-news (non-extant), to form: Blytheville courier news. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. [1], During the Vietnam War the 97th Bomber Wing at Blytheville supported strike operations throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. 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. B52 for his quick thinking, response to a crisis, and heroic duties. NUMBER BUILT: Douglas built a total of 10,047 C-47s and derivatives. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. The B-52G was also built from the start to deliver standoff nuclear weapons, beginning with the AGM-28 Hound Dog. . My father manufactured this and built a front wheel carrier for my motorcycle so I could mount the front wheel and removed the chain and allow the rear wheel to freely roll as we towed it down the road. And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . See All. 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. Its' soft start" with hours on Friday's and Saturday from about 12:00pm to 4:00pm, will take some trip planning. On the evening in question, Bruce was working for a local radio station, performing tests on their transmitters. 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 . Eaker Air Force Base in its entirety is a mix of private and federal property. The Museums C-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAAF on July 14, 1944. 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 . 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. The project mainly serves to save the best buildings and bring buildings in the worst shape down for safety purposes. [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 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. (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. by Ryan Nix, Photos by Jamison Mosley. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. When I arrived in July 1972, Blytheville Air Force Base's B-52s, KC-135s, pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers, tail gunners and many . Because it was an Air Force base, the airport has room and facilities that are not available in many other complexes. Find Blytheville Air Force Base stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Today it is 14,011. Buildings have collapsed in that time frame. The boom operators on KC-135s got a laugh over it, the pilots loved it, commanding officers were horrified and eventually ordered it removed. It boasted a vibrant downtown and it had an eclectic population due to the wide variety of people the base brought to the city. It has the exact same problems as the hospital, though both buildings trade off on extremities. Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. 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). 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. Due to the high amount of asbestos flying around in the air, and the safety concerns. 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. Arkansas had six Army airfields. 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. PIGGOTT, Ark., July 30 (UPI) An Air Force C130 transport plane crashed, and burned at dusk today in a pasture in this town in northeastern Arkansas, killing all six persons aboard. Improve this listing. 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. The B-52 is one of the few planes I remember Dad talking about during his career at Hill Air Force Base. Thanks VetFriends. In selected cases, due to ground water table conditions, the moleholes were built fully aboveground, with the lower story earthen bermed for semi-hardening. A photo of my Mustang in the snow at Barker's Trailerpark in Blytheville Arkansas. 766 th BS headquarters. Of reinforced concrete and concrete-block construction, moleholes were of two-story height, with one story below ground. 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. 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. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. 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. 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. Nose art, while almost ubiquitous during World War II and Korea, largely disappeared in the 1950s. 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. "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. 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.". There was some concern that female aircrew--which were becoming far more common in the 1980s than in years previously--would object to the nose art, but no such objections materialized. But, right before the first man could bail, the pilot had realized they had marginal control over the aircraft. 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. Explore. Collect, curate and comment on your files. There is a SAC Lapel Pin and two United States Air Force Lapel Pins that I have included in my display. Note that the outrigger landing gear is off the ground: naturally, "Valkyrie" is empty of fuel, and so there is no wing droop. In 1942, at the graduation ceremony it was believed that women could not fly as well as men. 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. 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. 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 KC135 Stratotanker, as most other notary aircraft, was born out of necessity. [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. 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. The B-52 had 8 engines but the two AGM-28 engines could also be used for take off and getting up to altitude. Assigned to Blytheville Air Force Base until deactivated in 1992. Many buildings are gone, and will continue to disappear. Part of the reason was the USAF's adoption of "Combat Warrior," which was meant to instill a sense of history among its pilots and airmen, requiring the study of the USAF/USAAF historical record. I think it is lost on most Americans that the first time a B-52 was used in actually live combat was in Vietnam and it was the only time a B-52 was lost to enemy fire. And in 1991, Eaker Air Force Base was on the top of the list. Capt R.D. 88 of the aircraft built are modified versions to serve specific purposes such as reconnaissance aircraft, and cargo carriers. Was stationed there from 1967 to 1970 with 97th AMS, the old A&E Squadron. This VC-47D had been assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. "Valkyrie" was known to the USAF as 58-0183, a B-52G Stratofortress. On June 10, 1942, the U.S. Army opened an advanced pilot training school at Blytheville, Arkansas. The airbase was phased out years ago, but Blytheville has emerged as a steel production center and agri-business is strong. An exploration of the base's history and its impact on the community. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. Serial Number 61-0023 landed safely in Blytheville. Communism had shriveled in the world. Today the base is mostly in a decrepit state of disrepair. The majority of the bases housing is still in use, a few buildings are in use, and the tarmac is now the Arkansas Aeroplex. No photo description available. In 1945 the U. S. Army Air Field was deactivated and the cemetery reverted to the City of Blytheville Arkansas. Suggest edits to improve what we show. 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!" Only ten B-52Gs survive today as museum pieces. VetFriends.com helps reunite veterans from the Air Force daily. I thanked my dad for my upbringing. The effect on the neighboring towns of Gosnell and Blytheville the closure had on were tremendous. This one is at the old (now closed) SAC base near Blytheville, Arkansas. 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 . In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F-4E Phantom II #3 Jet. machine guns in tail plus up to 43,000+ lbs. After World War II the C-47s were used in the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. Vietnam War, 1961-1975. For more information, visit the website at www.nationalcoldwarcenter.com or call 870-532-2100. action specifically caters to closures and revitalization of U.S. military bases. Links: Thule AFB . By October of the same year the aircraft was moved to Robins AFB, Georgia. Located on the former Eaker Air Force Base (also known as Blytheville Air Force Base), a few blocks inside the west gate. "A B52 with a full nuclear payload, is the seventh most powerful country in the world.". for another radio code that would tell him to turn around. A taxi way to the southern end of the apron joins the Blytheville Air Force Base Alert area to the main runway, which allows bombers and tankers with the quickest access to that . [1] Then the airfield briefly became a processing center for the rapid demobilization of military personnel being discharged. 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. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Pictures, photos and images from Blytheville, AR. Some were torn down. In August 1991 this Stratofortress was dropped from the Air Force inventory and made available to the USAF Museum Program. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. 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.". This had the added benefit of giving the gunner an ejection seat, eliminating the need for a manual bailout system. Places to visit . Gosnell reported losing over half its students. The US needed a long range aircraft able to refuel other long range aircraft. The base was deactivated in 1945 at the end of World War II. 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. 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. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. Though it is currently in a rough shape as an Air Force Base it doesnt have to be that way. The model is on a 1/72 scale with a 26" wingspan. No photo description available. (photo courtesy of Delta) On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Delta Air Lines . It was always fascinating to hear stories about how papers were left on desks and furniture left abandoned. The aircraft was flown from Castle AFB to Hill AFB, Utah, in its final flight.