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During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. 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. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. Nearly 750 were built before production ended in Oct. 26, 1962; 170 of these were B-52Ds. Loved it. But it is well-worth the visit. Setting near the base is a memorial bench for Army Spc Christopher Stark killed in Afghanistan Feb 28 2011. NCO Club. Blytheville was the only two engine training base in Arkansas. Beechcraft AT-10, and Curtiss-Wright AT-9s. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F4 Phantom #3 Jet. Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment 3. 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 . Cover photos. After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. 1942-1946, 1953-1992. The B-52G is missing its missile pylon because these were removed and destroyed as a condition of he SALT treaty launcher reduction conditions. Because it was an Air Force base, the airport has room and facilities that are not available in many other complexes. 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. Photos from Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH on JetPhotos Photos 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. 18 (Feb. 26, 1904). Nowadays, the base goes by a few names. The model is on a 1/72 scale with a 26" wingspan. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. Learn how your comment data is processed. The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. Any monthly plan. It was amazing. 766 th BS headquarters. . My 1972 Suzuki looked exactly like the one in the brochure. The accounting & financing building has a large and open floor plan. Art flourished in some units (namely F-105 wings) and was banned in others. "Valkyrie" would fly a few more missions during the war, the only time she would drop bombs in anger. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. 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. There was no need for the Global Shield. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. See All. 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. 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. Since 1955, the B52 Stratofortress has been Americas go-to long-distance strategic bomber. The B-52 had 8 engines but the two AGM-28 engines could also be used for take off and getting up to altitude. BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE EXHIBITION. The 1980s saw something of a resurgence--oddly enough, mostly among Strategic Air Command units. 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. Desert Storm was the swan song for the B-52G. 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 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. This gallery is to showcase old photographs from Blytheville, Arkansas. Marker is at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Chestnut Drive, on the right when traveling east on Memorial Drive. Gosnell reported losing over half its students. The B-52G entered service in February 1959, and eventually 193 would be built, making it the most produced B-52 variant. However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. Abandoned Arkansas had noticed while touring the base, the former base bank had been torn down the week prior to January 1st, 2022. 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. For nearly 50 years, residents of Blytheville, Ark., proudly supported the Air Force base in their town. My family and I were stationed here from about 1964 until 1970. When I arrived in July 1972, Blytheville Air Force Base's B-52s, KC-135s, pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers, tail gunners and many . Military Photos; Military Reunion Stories; Military Service Map; Military Cadences; Military Jokes; Military Lingo; Great Military Web Pages; Recommended Military Books; Today in Military . 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. The United States no longer needed bombers and fuel-tankers to be on 24/7 alert. Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. Suggest edits to improve what we show. The KC135 replaced the KC97, as the latter could not keep up with newer, larger and faster aircraft. The original, one-of-a-kind model was created by P.J. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. 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. Albums. Best years of my life. 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 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. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. There were trainer versions designated TC-47 and reconnaissance versions designated RC-47. of conventional or nuclear bombs, Engines: Eight Pratt & Whitney J57s of 12,100 lbs. Looking for someone that served with you? Eaker Air Force Base Historic District, Arkansas International Airport, and Blytheville Municipal Airport. - A Blytheville museum shining a light on Cold War history received funding supporting a planned primary exhibit. 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. 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. 97th Bomb Wing has a long and honorable history. (For some reason, this "Hotshot" never got eyes.). Find Blytheville Air Force Base unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. Armament: Four .50-cal. The nose art of the B-52 version is a faithful reproduction of the B-17 version--one of the many Varga Girls that decorated World War II-era aircraft. During its test flight, Boeing was performing tests to show the aircrafts resilience against low-altitude turbulence. 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. The Future of Eaker Air Force Base and the National Cold War Center/BAFB Exhibition, https://abandonedar.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/YouCut_20220127_115729032.mp4. The B52 Stratofortress was the answer to all the problems found in the Convair B36 Peacemaker and the B24. Pinterest. Those dorms were pristine (almost new if I remember correctly) when they were abandoned. At 14 I was hopping buses and trains and hanging out with friends in surrounding towns. A bomber crew from Blytheville were among the first shot down during Operation Linebacker II, a December 1972 mission targeting complexes in North Vietnam. These three 97th BW aircraft were stationed and flown out of Anderson AFB, Guam, as part of the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional). Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. The 17th Bombardment Wing (H) at Anderson AB was this aircraft's next duty station, arriving there in January 1973. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. After Eaker Air Force Base was B.R.A.C.d, multiple buildings on the base were put up for sale, but never put to use properly. The boom is controlled by an operator lying prone under the cargo deck of the aircraft. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. It was retired in July 1991 and donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Arizona. 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. Contributions to PAs Most Endangered List, National Register of Historic Places (Jan, 26th 2018). I only ask that you send older photos (probably sometime before 1970).and they can be of People, Places in Blytheville, and Things. 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. 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. I saw this jet in the Thunderbird performance at Blytheville Air Force base Oct 25 1972.. My USAF service had no connection to the Thunderbirds other than I saw this Thunderbird perform at Blytheville Air Force Base Oct 25 1972. Blytheville Air Force Base aka Eaker Air Force Base. Most of the Gs ended their days sliced into pieces in the Arizona desert. 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. 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. (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. Sign up and get notified about upcoming volunteer events! 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. It was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988, in honor of General Ira Eaker, an aviation pioneer and second . During WWII, my Dad and his best friend, John Whittington, would go to the base (teenagers) and work. Charles Fisher would forever be known as Mr. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. 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 December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. By August 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with seventeen B-52s lost to enemy action. 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. Improve this listing. I hope they can save this base so that it doesnt get destroyed. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. Access the best of Getty Images with our simple subscription plan. 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. 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. School trips were to other countries LOL. I have been to the former base and tarmac many times in the 2010s for Sports Car Club of America events. Available for both RF and RM licensing. Mr. Gorbachev tore down that wall. . Vietnam War, 1961-1975. BX and Cafeteria. It is a peculiarly shaped building, like the rest of the buildings on the base. Links: Thule AFB . Eaker Air Force Base was located on 3,778 acres of land between the communities of Gosnell and Blytheville in Mississippi County. The pictures and history lesson accompanying are amazing. (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. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. Merged with: Blytheville herald-news (non-extant), to form: Blytheville courier news. If you can make it, even for an hour, we will be glad to have you! Currently, there is a restoration program working to rebuild and reuse buildings that arent disappearing. The program was comprised of just over 1100 women. 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. 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. 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. Wing Headquarters. No photo description available. Rick O'Kelley was drafted in Oct 1971 and enlisted in the USAF November 10 1971 on delayed enlistment. Since Eaker Air Force Base went under B.R.A.C. 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 plane . The communication building of the 97th Bombardment Wing is in terrible condition as well. Love Photoshop, a little bit of work and #3 does a flyby just for me 41 years later. About ten years ago a group of old 97 OMS troops made a trip to see the old place. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. 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. It is very possible the paint that is peeling on the walls is lead-based. "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. This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. Holes in the roof create entryways for birds and rain. [1], During the Vietnam War the 97th Bomber Wing at Blytheville supported strike operations throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Pilot Mike Bush, Co Pilot Larry J Houser, EWO Wayne Carver, Navagtor Doug "D.R" Kincannon, Gunner Jack Alexander. 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. 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. All photos. 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 . 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. It was always fascinating to hear stories about how papers were left on desks and furniture left abandoned. Today. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD 1942. 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 . Photographs are from numerous people and I encourage you to send me your photos if you want to add to the Blytheville collection.