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 . As a kid in nearby Jonesboro, our cub scout pack got to visit what was then Blytheville AFB. 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. 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. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. The exhibit is on the old air base, which is now an FBO for the new steel and other corporations that fly in there, along with other airplane related functions. Pilot Mike Bush, Co Pilot Larry J Houser, EWO Wayne Carver, Navagtor Doug "D.R" Kincannon, Gunner Jack Alexander. 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. 2023 Getty Images. 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 Tin Roof. Was the first KC-135E conversion in 1982. Vietnam War, 1961-1975. The Museums C-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAAF on July 14, 1944. Photographs are from numerous people and I encourage you to send me your photos if you want to add to the Blytheville collection. The base was deactivated in 1945 at the end of World War II. All photos (32) Top ways to experience nearby attractions. The WASP program tasked select women with many key roles on airfields across the nation. 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. 6 'Cat And Mouse' UFO Chase Over Cannon AFB January 1976. My Heritage. Thank you! Ash. Reactivated as the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB. The B52 Stratofortress had solved every issue the Air Force ran into with earlier bombers. Links: Thule AFB . "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. Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. "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. The B-52H, however, continues to serve without a replacement on the horizon; the USAF intends to keep it in service until at least 2025, by which time the newest Stratofortress would have been in service sixty years. 4 items. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. In 1942, at the graduation ceremony it was believed that women could not fly as well as men. Americans did not have to fear every day of an imminent Soviet missile strike. 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 view also shows how well 58-0183 is preserved, and the EVS bulges beneath the B-52's nose. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. Pictures, photos and images from Blytheville, AR. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. 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. by Ryan Nix, Photos by Jamison Mosley. Photo Credit: The National Cold War Center. The B-52G entered service in February 1959, and eventually 193 would be built, making it the most produced B-52 variant. 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. Places to visit . I had a great time and intend to go again next year. Any monthly plan. Posted to Facebook by William Travis. Airman First Class Monex Thomas of the Blytheville Air Force Base died in an aircraft training incident on August 1 1982. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. The 97th comm mustve been a very short lived entity as it was the 2101 CS / AFCC when I was there. Opened in late 2020, the BAFB Exhibition features memorabilia, video and personal stories of the base from its 1942 beginnings until closure in 1992. Electrical work and flood damage repair have begun. Ritz. On January 23rd, 2022, it was announced that the former dorms would be demolished. Posted on Facebook by Michael Meagher, Photographer unknown. But, right before the first man could bail, the pilot had realized they had marginal control over the aircraft. It was located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of central Blytheville, Arkansas. Mr. Gorbachev tore down that wall. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Thanks to Dave Howell for posting this photo of Miss Piggy and her crew. Luckily, the nose art was removed first and donated to the nearby Pima Air and Space Museum. In the bomb bay were ADM-20 Quail decoys. Was stationed there from 1967 to 1970 with 97th AMS, the old A&E Squadron. Love Photoshop, a little bit of work and #3 does a flyby just for me 41 years later. Blytheville, Arkansas was selected as a training location due to its proximity to the Mississippi River, where supplies could easily be shipped to and from the site. at the old Blytheville Air Force Base now called the Blytheville Aeroplex where the city is planning to invest $20 million . 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. 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. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . Buildings have collapsed in that time frame. 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. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. These windowless alert quarters were identical everywhere, with tunnel-like egress covered in corrugated steel. Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . Armament: Four defensive .50-cal. 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. The aircraft in question was tail number 61-0023. There is a SAC Lapel Pin and two United States Air Force Lapel Pins that I have included in my display. Due to the high amount of asbestos flying around in the air, and the safety concerns. 2, no. Though it is referred to these names, the airport officially goes by Arkansas Aeroplex. However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD 1942. 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. 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). 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. This had the added benefit of giving the gunner an ejection seat, eliminating the need for a manual bailout system. thrust each. It is a peculiarly shaped building, like the rest of the buildings on the base. 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. In 1988, the based was renamed to honor World War II General, Ira C. Eaker. 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. 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. In 1945 the U. S. Army Air Field was deactivated and the cemetery reverted to the City of Blytheville Arkansas. 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 aircraft on display saw extensive service in Southeast Asia and was severely damaged by an enemy surface-to-air missile on April 9, 1972. B52 for his quick thinking, response to a crisis, and heroic duties. 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. Leaving Little Rock as Arkansas only active base. 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. 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. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEContact: Sara Robertson (Sara.Robertson2@mail.house.gov) Arkansas Delegation Introduces Legislation to Designate Blytheville Air Force Base as National Cold War Center 2/7/2023 Washington - Today, Representatives Crawford, Hill, Westerman, and Womack, along with Senators Boozman and Cotton, introduced legislation to name the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base located in . (Some joked that the ladies might just paint hunky guys on their aircraft!). 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 . Like the Arc Light strikes of Vietnam, Iraqi forces on the ground could not hear or see B-52s before they struck. 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. 1942-1946, 1953-1992. Would love hear your stories or your thoughts. Hopefully the site will become available again for us. Since 1955, the B52 Stratofortress has been Americas go-to long-distance strategic bomber. NUMBER BUILT: Douglas built a total of 10,047 C-47s and derivatives. Blytheville had their own team. At 14 I was hopping buses and trains and hanging out with friends in surrounding towns. Desert Storm was the swan song for the B-52G. 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 . VetFriends.com helps reunite veterans from the Air Force daily. Though, the program and its members were not considered truly military nor pilots until the 1970s. As the National Cold War Center develops, the first on-site exhibit depicts the history of the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base. Airwomen were tasked with testing electronics of aircraft, testing aircraft by means of flights, and ferrying aircraft. I was stationed at Blytheville AFB in the late 1950s when it was a new SAC base and the first B-52s arrived. About Westminster Village . Photo Gallery. Available for both RF and RM licensing. I single had a wonderful time on my motorcycle that summer when I arrived at Blytheville Air Force base and my motorcycle was a major reason for my fond memories of a carefree time in my youth. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Capt R.D. The aircraft was flown from Castle AFB to Hill AFB, Utah, in its final flight. Select from premium Blytheville Air Force Base of the highest quality. 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. Evans at Blytheville air show in 1980. 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. Building 1225, will be added to the collection of buildings as part of the future National Cold War Center. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Jul 1999. Usaf Academy, CO 80840-1307 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-3732 Warrensburg, MO 64093-9357 In 2020, both Arkansas senators proposed a bill to designate the museum in Blytheville. It was good to see jets setting on the tarmac, even if they are only civilian jets. It was amazing. It was retired in July 1991 and donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona. It was always fascinating to hear stories about how papers were left on desks and furniture left abandoned. Compared to hose style fueling systems, flying booms of KC135s are very unforgiving to errors. Certain buildings are worth saving. 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. Art flourished in some units (namely F-105 wings) and was banned in others. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . It has the exact same problems as the hospital, though both buildings trade off on extremities. The 456th completed deployments to Anderson AB in Guam with this B-52G. It was around 1960 and I still recall vividly sitting in the cockpit of a B-52. Description based on: Vol. This B-52G-100-BW (S/N 58-0191), nicknamed "Bearin' Arms," was manufactured by Boeing Aircraft Corporation in Wichita, Kansas, and delivered to the USAF on October 16, 1959. Base Closure What happened to Blytheville, Arkansas? Blytheville air force base photos. The Iron Curtain was torn down. Abandoned Arkansas had noticed while touring the base, the former base bank had been torn down the week prior to January 1st, 2022. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. In the post-Cold War era, the U.S. Air Force decided to shut down the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, AR. NCO Club. 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. Mold and asbestos float through the air like dust that just got kicked up. It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. But it is well-worth the visit. Since Eaker Air Force Base went under B.R.A.C. Eaker AFB was selected for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round of 1991. Louisiana was the aircraft's next stop when in May 1974 it was transferred to the 2nd Bombardment Group (H) at Barksdale AFB. Gym - Center of Wing's Athletic Activities. As a CAP cadet 1966-1969 the lore of this base was discussed often. 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. And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . The B-52 had 8 engines but the two AGM-28 engines could also be used for take off and getting up to altitude. 07-4637 photos; United States - US Air Force (USAF) Airline: United States - US Air Force (USAF) Reg: 07-4637 photos; Aircraft: Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules; Serial #: 382-5597; . The current BAFB Exhibit is housed in the former B52 crew briefing building, and will continue to be an exhibit. I have been to the former base and tarmac many times in the 2010s for Sports Car Club of America events. Some commanders, such as General Charles Donnelly in USAFE (no relation to the author) reportedly considered making names and/or nose art on USAFE aircraft a requirement. 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. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. Charles Fisher would forever be known as Mr. for another radio code that would tell him to turn around. 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. All photos. Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. As the 97th Bomb Group it's B-17 were the first to drop bombs on the Germans in France in 1942. Eaker Air Force Base was originally named Blytheville Army Airfield when it was built in 1942. Copyright 2009-document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) - Abandoned Atlas Foundation - board@AbandonedAtlas.com | Designed By Prairie Nation Creative, LLC - Disclaimer, Eaker Air Force Base (Click the Thumbnails to See Full Album), Extras (sirens, wildlife, monument, signs). [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. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. . 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). The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Blytheville Air Force Base. Currently, there is a restoration program working to rebuild and reuse buildings that arent disappearing. Five feet of water was pumped out of the basement of the building. Washington -- Today, Representatives Crawford, Hill, Westerman, and Womack, along with Senators Boozman and Cotton, introduced legislation to name the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base located in Blytheville, Arkansas, the "National Cold War Center." The Eaker base opened in 1942 as a World War II advanced pilot training school, and later became an alert center during the Cold War. Scanned from 35mm Negative. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . No photo description available. 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. Eaker Air Force Base was home to a group of Strategic Air Command B-52 bombers and more than 3,000 military personnel before closing in 1992. Thanks VetFriends. He served active duty March 21 1972 to March 20 1976. machine guns in tail plus up to 43,000+ lbs. 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. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. For more information, visit the website at www.nationalcoldwarcenter.com or call 870-532-2100. Ruth Eaker, General Eakers widow, signing autographs during the name change of the base in 1988. The National Cold War Center will be an entirely brand new building itself. What aRead more , Stationed there 1989-1992, loved the place and love the life long friends from there. The communication building of the 97th Bombardment Wing is in terrible condition as well. 27 items. machine guns in tail plus up to 60,000+ lbs. In December of 1992, the base officially closed. Military. Note that the outrigger landing gear is off the ground: naturally, "Valkyrie" is empty of fuel, and so there is no wing droop. And in 1991, Eaker Air Force Base was on the top of the list. Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. 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). Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "blythevilleairforcebase" Flickr tag. 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. BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE EXHIBITION. Published: Jan. 11, 2022 at 6:25 PM PST. Pinterest. 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. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). Like many B-52s, 58-0183 was shuttled around through several units--in this case, no less than eleven bomb wings. The base's primary mission shifted to bomber training. This Abandoned Air Force base is located three miles Northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. 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.
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