. Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . Blytheville AFB was created in 1942 as a location for pilot training, originally named Blytheville Army Airfield. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. View of the southern end of the former Blytheville AFB (Eaker AFB). Far in the northeast corner of Arkansas, five miles west of the Mississippi River, the city of Blytheville remembers a prosperous past while hoping for a bright future. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. This Abandoned Air Force base is located three miles Northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Upon his return to the United States in November 1970, General Brown was assigned as vice commander of the 97th Bombardment Wing at Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., and took command of the wing in July 1971. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . The majority of buildings have suffered the same fate. My job was to keep the alert aircraft supplied with the parts they needed to be mission ready. The airbase was phased out years ago, but Blytheville has emerged as a steel production center and agri-business is strong. The United States no longer needed bombers and fuel-tankers to be on 24/7 alert. 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. 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. Psychiatry and Psychology 1 On January 23rd, 2022, it was announced that the former dorms would be demolished. Sheila Russell Thurber. Merged with: Blytheville herald-news (non-extant), to form: Blytheville courier news. 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). Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Military. (Some joked that the ladies might just paint hunky guys on their aircraft!). Touch . Communism had shriveled in the world. Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. We share a body likeness and dress and I had an orange helmet but most of the time I wore my Easy Rider Flag helmet. The B-52 is one of the few planes I remember Dad talking about during his career at Hill Air Force Base. (For some reason, this "Hotshot" never got eyes.). Airwomen were tasked with testing electronics of aircraft, testing aircraft by means of flights, and ferrying aircraft. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. Weekly Began in 1902; ceased in 1923. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH, USA - Arkansas; By: Brady Brooks Photos | Profile | Contact; The Strategic Air Command had reached the end of the road. In 1990, Blythevilles population was 23,443. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. Eleven of these jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. 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. Vietnam War, 1961-1975. Lots of good memories. The Blytheville Courier (Blytheville, Mississippi County, Ark.) 1902 In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. Airport information, from map to hotels to aeronautical information. Old Movies. Currently, the main tarmac is used as Blythevilles airport. Home of 96th Bombardment Wing: 1953-1957; 11th . Luckily, the nose art was removed first and donated to the nearby Pima Air and Space Museum. I grew up on Army bases overseas. About ten years ago a group of old 97 OMS troops made a trip to see the old place. Donate to our causeCheck out our books! It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. The 2nd Bombardment Wing (H) at Barksdale AFB acquired the plane a second time in February 1987. 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. Renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988 honoring Gen. Ira Eaker, the entire facility closed in 1992. Location of Service: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Williams Air Force Base, Arizona; Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio; Vietnam; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas; Des Moines Air National . 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. Find Blytheville Air Force Base stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Rolls-Royce Offers Peek At The B-52's New Engines Undergoing Testing 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. These three 97th BW aircraft were stationed and flown out of Anderson AFB, Guam, as part of the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional). 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. At 14 I was hopping buses and trains and hanging out with friends in surrounding towns. Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. Many times I stopped what I was doing and watched the full power, roaring and smoke trailing takeoffs. This is like the B-52Gs with the North American AGM-28 Nuclear Hound Dog Missiles assigned to my base. [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. 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. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Pinterest. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. Mold and asbestos float through the air like dust that just got kicked up. Like the Arc Light strikes of Vietnam, Iraqi forces on the ground could not hear or see B-52s before they struck. I had only three duty assignments, I began my service at Blytheville right out of Tech School as the Supply Representative to Base Procurement, then most of my time I was a "NORS Controller" responsible for keeping the Alert Aircraft and Nuclear Missiles supplied with parts. The 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. . The Museums C-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAAF on July 14, 1944. [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. It launched rescue missions from the base to Grenada in 1983 and in August 1990, the pilots of the 97th Bomber Wing began practicing for missions in the Middle East and eventually supported Operation Desert Storm. (photo courtesy of Delta) On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Delta Air Lines . 10 free downloads. 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. 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 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. 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 . It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. . 97th Bomb Wing has a long and honorable history. Scrapped at Birmingham AL in 1997. Airman First Class Monex Thomas of the Blytheville Air Force Base died in an aircraft training incident on August 1 1982. Eaker AFB was selected for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round of 1991. 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. Eaker Air Force Base was complete with swimming pools, tennis courts, a grocery store, a dental office, a nine hole golf course, a theater, multiple clubs, visitation centers, a gym, and on-base housing for military families. 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 Ash. Base Fire Station. Eaker Abandoned Air Force Base | Over 800+ Photos | Arkansas The rest I earned via my service to my country. The aircraft was flown from Castle AFB to Hill AFB, Utah, in its final flight. Blytheville Air Force Base Photos and Premium High Res Pictures - Getty Blytheville Air Force Base was established in 1942 as a pilot training station. 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. And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . Of reinforced concrete and concrete-block construction, moleholes were of two-story height, with one story below ground. 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. As crew chiefs we had all spent many tours in the mole hole. The hospital has been tightly sealed up. In the post-Cold War era, the U.S. Air Force decided to shut down the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, AR. This view also shows how well 58-0183 is preserved, and the EVS bulges beneath the B-52's nose. On 16 January 1991, she was one of seven B-52s that would fly from Barksdale to fire cruise missiles at Saddam Hussein's Iraq on the first night of Operation Desert Storm. 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. See All. Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. 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. This had the added benefit of giving the gunner an ejection seat, eliminating the need for a manual bailout system. 732 of the aircraft were specifically aerial tankers. for another radio code that would tell him to turn around. This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. Rick O'Kelley was drafted in Oct 1971 and enlisted in the USAF November 10 1971 on delayed enlistment. Would love hear your stories or your thoughts. Was the first KC-135E conversion in 1982. Details on 57-6486 are sparse; it may have seen combat over Vietnam with another unit. Looking Into the Past..blytheville Air Force Base and The Cold War This is a photoshopped 1972 Suzuki Brochure that I have transposed my face over the riders face. There were trainer versions designated TC-47 and reconnaissance versions designated RC-47. The process is called B.R.A.C.. There was no need for the Global Shield. Officers Club. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. The walls are riddled with holes. BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE EXHIBITION. As the National Cold War Center develops, the first on-site exhibit depicts the history of the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base.