In August 1991 this Stratofortress was dropped from the Air Force inventory and made available to the USAF Museum Program. of conventional or nuclear bombs. The worst building on base is the hospital. 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. 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. It is aRead more . [1] Then the airfield briefly became a processing center for the rapid demobilization of military personnel being discharged. 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. Psychiatry and Psychology 1 The Ritz Theater from the outside circa. And the United States was about to enter war with Saddam Hussein. 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. Did you serve with BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE? 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. Touch . Building 1225 is currently registered on the National Register Of Historic Places and is quoted as being the crown jewel of the National Cold War Center campus. Though Phase Two of the project is underway (as of February 2022), there have been no announcements of when the museum will officially open. 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. I completed USAF Technical School in Denver Co the end of June 1972 and received two weeks leave before reporting to my base and when I arrived home my old farm boss, USAAF Veteran Bill Morriss had a brand new Suzuki motorcycle in his garage. 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. VetFriends.com helps reunite veterans from the Air Force daily. 732 of the aircraft were specifically aerial tankers. Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. Usaf Academy, CO 80840-1307 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-3732 Warrensburg, MO 64093-9357 Airplane Photos & Aviation Photos - View, Search, or Upload Photos! During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. 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. Glad to see the alert pad will be saved. https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Eaker_Air_Force_Base, https://www.boeing.com/history/products/b-52-stratofortress.page, https://www.boeing.com/history/products/kc-135-stratotanker.page, https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1771/text?r=1&s=1, https://www.boozman.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/2020/12/bill-designating-national-cold-war-center-in-blytheville-introduced-in-senate, https://www.af.mil/About-Us/Biographies/Display/Article/107172/general-ira-c-eaker/, https://www.afcec.af.mil/Home/BRAC/Eaker.aspx, https://www.npr.org/2010/03/09/123773525/female-wwii-pilots-the-original-fly-girls. Whether it be by the hand of the elements, or by deconstruction due to safety issues. Officers Club. 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. 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. Find Blytheville Air Force Base unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. 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 . Posted June 9th, 2014 by NFFF & filed under Uncategorized. Photo Gallery. Electrical work and flood damage repair have begun. Like many B-52s, 58-0183 was shuttled around through several units--in this case, no less than eleven bomb wings. I had a great time and intend to go again next year. 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. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Once more, however, the B-52G was called upon for the conventional role during Operation Desert Storm against Iraq in 1991. [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. Its' soft start" with hours on Friday's and Saturday from about 12:00pm to 4:00pm, will take some trip planning. 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. Most of the Gs ended their days sliced into pieces in the Arizona desert. Summary of H.R.859 - 118th Congress (2023-2024): To authorize references to the museum located at Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, Arkansas, as the "National Cold War Center". The Library. Art flourished in some units (namely F-105 wings) and was banned in others. 766 th BS headquarters. 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. The 17th Bombardment Wing (H) at Anderson AB was this aircraft's next duty station, arriving there in January 1973. There was no need for the Global Shield. 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). 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. At Mildenhall. 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. Best years of my life. It was located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of central Blytheville, Arkansas. The B-52G is missing its missile pylon because these were removed and destroyed as a condition of he SALT treaty launcher reduction conditions. 97th Bomb Wing has a long and honorable history. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. 35 57.54 N, 89 57.74 W. Marker is in Gosnell, Arkansas, in Mississippi County. Find the perfect adversary concept stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. Marker is at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Chestnut Drive, on the right when traveling east on Memorial Drive. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. The boom operators on KC-135s got a laugh over it, the pilots loved it, commanding officers were horrified and eventually ordered it removed. This had the added benefit of giving the gunner an ejection seat, eliminating the need for a manual bailout system. 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. Though, the program and its members were not considered truly military nor pilots until the 1970s. Military. The group was awarded two Distinguish Unit Citations during WWII and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crises. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. U.S. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. 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. The base closed in 1992, and unfortunately most of the residential units north of Daisy Drive are vacant and have since . Camo with white under belly North American AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile on display at the Global Power Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. NUMBER BUILT: Douglas built a total of 10,047 C-47s and derivatives. at the old Blytheville Air Force Base now called the Blytheville Aeroplex where the city is planning to invest $20 million . No photo description available. Currently, the wet carpet has molded over and over again. Ash. Some were torn down. He arranged the trade of my old piece of crap Harley, arranged the financing so I could just get on my new motorcycle and drive away. Today the base is mostly in a decrepit state of disrepair. 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. There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. Tin Roof. Air Base Group Headquarters. This is not my photograph so it may not be used for commercial purposes. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. "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. of conventional or nuclear bombs, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=294. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. 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. Would love hear your stories or your thoughts. The Strategic Air Command had reached the end of the road. 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!" The Blytheville Air Force Base Alert Center and Alert Apron constructed as part of a national expansion of Strategic Air Command Facilities across the United States and its Territories, to help in creating a "program to safeguard nuclear deterrence" through the SAC Alert program. On January 10th, 1964, a B52H loaned to Boeing by the USAF was testing the structural integrity of, and new technology for the aircraft. 18 (Feb. 26, 1904). During World War II, the site served as a training airfield as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. Notice my Mustang has what appears to be a trailer hitch. I was an army brat and a military wife along with an army civilian off and on over the years. Eaker Air Force Base was located on 3,778 acres of land between the communities of Gosnell and Blytheville in Mississippi County. 27 items. 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. 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. 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. 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. On June 10, 1942, the U.S. Army opened an advanced pilot training school at Blytheville, Arkansas. Lots of good memories. New in 1960. The Air Force packed up and left. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Airwomen were tasked with testing electronics of aircraft, testing aircraft by means of flights, and ferrying aircraft. Find Blytheville Air Force Base stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. The project mainly serves to save the best buildings and bring buildings in the worst shape down for safety purposes. Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. 3 talking about this. 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.". Desert Storm was the swan song for the B-52G. In the bomb bay were ADM-20 Quail decoys. Gosnell reported losing over half its students. 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. During the second World War, the United States needed more areas to train pilots, and launch aircraft to respond to the threat on the Eastern front. 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. The rest I earned via my service to my country. The US needed a long range aircraft able to refuel other long range aircraft. The population suffered as well. The hospital has been tightly sealed up. Formerly the site of family housing for Eaker Air Force Base, Westminster Village is a non-profit community. Profile pictures. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "blythevilleairforcebase" Flickr tag. The majority of buildings have suffered the same fate. Improve this listing. Though it is referred to these names, the airport officially goes by Arkansas Aeroplex. NCO Club. Blytheville was the only two engine training base in Arkansas. In 2020, both Arkansas senators proposed a bill to designate the museum in Blytheville. When Castle closed in 1995, 57-6486 was retired and sent to AMARG in Arizona; it was scrapped soon thereafter as part of the START arms reduction treaty. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. It has the exact same problems as the hospital, though both buildings trade off on extremities. Compared to hose style fueling systems, flying booms of KC135s are very unforgiving to errors. BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD 1942. 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. 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. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment 3. It seemed like every morning at 5:00 AM the flight line maintenance crews would fire up some of the airplanes engines. 1942-1946, 1953-1992. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). My job was to keep the alert aircraft supplied with the parts they needed to be mission ready. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . "Valkyrie" would fly a few more missions during the war, the only time she would drop bombs in anger. Watch. Nose Art: Boeing B-52G Stratofortress "Hoosier Hotshot", Nose Art: Boeing B-52G Stratofortress "Valkyrie", N915DN Delta Air Lines | McDonnell Douglas MD-90-30 | Arkansas International Airport, N502DN Delta Air Lines | Airbus A350-941 | Arkansas International Airport, 59-1514 Boeing KC-135E Stratotanker United States Air Force, N907DL Delta Air Lines | McDonnell Douglas MD-88 | Arkansas International Airport, www.hill.af.mil/library/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=5714, www.youtube.com/watch?v=leohcvmf8kM&feature=related, B-52G with an North American AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile, National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, Photoshopped image of Rick OKelley Age 20 on his 1972 Suzuki GT750J Le Mans, Post Card KC 135 refueling a B-52G from Blytheville AFB, Sign that set at the Main Gate at Blytheville Air Force Base, 1977477_10202915854723496_3494507586333601988_n, www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/bomber_alert.htm, Blytheville Air Force Base exhibit at DGM, Rickie D O'Kelley Staff Sergeant 1975 - Age 22. This does not include 149 civil aircraft impresses before delivery. . In 1988, the based was renamed to honor World War II General, Ira C. Eaker. if I remember correctly it was one of the rooms pictured (162). 2, no. 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. 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. On January 23rd, 2022, it was announced that the former dorms would be demolished. As the 97th Bomb Group it's B-17 were the first to drop bombs on the Germans in France in 1942. Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. This VC-47D had been assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. I thanked my dad for my upbringing. For the families, GI's, and community that was Blytheville AFB After any major war, surplus equipment and property is sold to the general public and agencies. The National Cold War Center is planned to be the largest collection of history and information on the decades that made up the war in the world. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. The plane . (For some reason, this "Hotshot" never got eyes.). View allAll Photos Tagged Blytheville Air Force Base. Altus AFB ACTIVE Need photos: Location: Altus, Oklahoma. The aircraft was set on course to Boeings headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. The B-52 Stratofortress force had always been intended to be supplemented by newer designs, allowing older types and eventually the B-52 itself to be retired. Blytheville AFB was created in 1942 as a location for pilot training, originally named Blytheville Army Airfield. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. (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. 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. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. It was good to see jets setting on the tarmac, even if they are only civilian jets. My USAF service had no connection to the Thunderbirds other than Juliet and I saw this Thunderbird perform at Blytheville Air Force Base Oct 25 1972. The KC135, along with the B52 is one of the only fixed wing aircraft with over fifty years of service. As the National Cold War Center develops, the first on-site exhibit depicts the history of the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base. The aircraft in question was tail number 61-0023. . In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. The airfield was used as the Southeastern Training Command's flight training school, which closed in October 1945 after the Second World War ended. 10 free downloads. By October of the same year the aircraft was moved to Robins AFB, Georgia. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . The KC135 Stratotanker, as most other notary aircraft, was born out of necessity. But it is well-worth the visit. Location. 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. In May 1962 the aircraft returned to the Boeing factory in Kansas for wing modification and strengthening to counteract the fatigue cracks occurring in the B-52 fleet. I hope they can save this base so that it doesnt get destroyed. However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. Currently, the main tarmac is used as Blythevilles airport. There were trainer versions designated TC-47 and reconnaissance versions designated RC-47. When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared. Since its organization on 21 March 1946, SAC had continuously used C-47s or Gooney Birds as they were usually called, for support and administrative purposes. Armament: Four .50-cal. My family and I were stationed here from about 1964 until 1970. 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. The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. Published: Jan. 11, 2022 at 6:25 PM PST. MEMORIES. This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. 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. 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. Blytheville had their own team. Armament: Four defensive .50-cal. He told me many stories about the German . Merged with: Blytheville herald-news (non-extant), to form: Blytheville courier news. 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.
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