blytheville air force base photos

Mold and asbestos float through the air like dust that just got kicked up. Select from premium Blytheville Air Force Base of the highest quality. Base Closure What happened to Blytheville, Arkansas? Like many B-52s, 58-0183 was shuttled around through several units--in this case, no less than eleven bomb wings. In the post-Cold War era, the U.S. Air Force decided to shut down the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, AR. of conventional or nuclear bombs. The program was comprised of just over 1100 women. Had many good times there. B.R.A.C. By August 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with seventeen B-52s lost to enemy action. Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. 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. (KAIT) - Members of the United States Air Force in Little Rock and Louisiana landed aircraft on the Arkansas Aeroplex on the morning of . Was stationed there from 1967 to 1970 with 97th AMS, the old A&E Squadron. Some were torn down. The National Cold War Center will be an entirely brand new building itself. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. 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". Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. A B52 with a full nuclear payload, is the seventh most powerful country in the world.. Currently, the main tarmac is used as Blythevilles airport. It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. 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. The deactivation of the Eakers (Blytheville) Air Force Base in 1992 hit the community hard as in 2019 the population is about 15,000 while the population of Fayetteville exploded to near 90,000. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. This would determine if the base could go on operating in the future, or if it was deemed unnecessary to continue service. 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. 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. Looking for someone that served with you? Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. 2023 Getty Images. Many times I stopped what I was doing and watched the full power, roaring and smoke trailing takeoffs. Camo with white under belly North American AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile on display at the Global Power Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. N503DN Delta Air Lines | Airbus A350-941 | Arkansas International Airport by M.J. Scanlon 17 . My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. 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). [1], During the Vietnam War the 97th Bomber Wing at Blytheville supported strike operations throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Old Movies. The 97th comm mustve been a very short lived entity as it was the 2101 CS / AFCC when I was there. Like the Arc Light strikes of Vietnam, Iraqi forces on the ground could not hear or see B-52s before they struck. 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. 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. Posted June 9th, 2014 by NFFF & filed under Uncategorized. 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. c/n 18002/T0417. Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. Dave Howell, RN Bob Gilbert, Gunner Rick Watson, EW Chuck Kinkhead, N Can't remember, CP Kevin Rice. Air Base Group Headquarters. The original, one-of-a-kind model was created by P.J. 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 The B52 Stratofortress had solved every issue the Air Force ran into with earlier bombers. 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 . Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . 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. Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. Honorable Discharged at the rank of E5 Staff Sgt. 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 is a peculiarly shaped building, like the rest of the buildings on the base. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. Art flourished in some units (namely F-105 wings) and was banned in others. There was no need for the Global Shield. In the early 1950s, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) approved a plan to convert the former airfield into an airbase, which officially opened in 1955 as Blytheville Air Force Base. 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. On 7 July 1971 SACs last C-47 was transferred to the USS Alabama Monument Commission. 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. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. View of the southern end of the former Blytheville AFB (Eaker AFB). 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. Notice my Mustang has what appears to be a trailer hitch. It was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988, in honor of General Ira Eaker, an aviation pioneer and second . 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. If you wish to support our current and future work, please consider making a donation or purchasing one of our many books. Find Blytheville Air Force Base unit information, patches, operation history, veteran photos and more on TogetherWeServed.com. 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. Buildings have collapsed in that time frame. On June 10, 1942, the U.S. Army opened an advanced pilot training school at Blytheville, Arkansas. Best years of my life. Unit of Service: 311th Tactical Airlift Squadron; Air National Guard. The majority of the bases housing is still in use, a few buildings are in use, and the tarmac is now the Arkansas Aeroplex. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. VetFriends.com helps reunite veterans from the Air Force daily. In June 1972 General Brown assumed command of the 416th Bombardment Wing at Griffiss Air Force Base, N.Y. Collect, curate and comment on your files. In July 1991, she was retired, and as one of the Secret Squirrel aircraft, was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum immediately. In its prime, it housed over 3,000 service members, and a whole fleet of Strategic Air Command B52 BUFF Stratofortresses. 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 Blytheville Air Force Base aka Eaker Air Force Base. It worked very well and it was how I towed my new 1972 Suzuki GT750J from my parent's home in Alma the 300 miles to Blytheville Air Force Base. Thanks VetFriends. If the alert force had not received that second "stand down" code, they would have taken off; and (as we saw it, back then) if that happened, very soon, we would have been in the midst of a nuclear war. 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. During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. 6 'Cat And Mouse' UFO Chase Over Cannon AFB January 1976. Though, due to high traffic in that area, the aircraft had to change its course and headed for Blytheville Air Force Base instead. The 17th Bombardment Wing (H) at Anderson AB was this aircraft's next duty station, arriving there in January 1973. 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. 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. The boom is controlled by an operator lying prone under the cargo deck of the aircraft. The B-52 had 8 engines but the two AGM-28 engines could also be used for take off and getting up to altitude. The WASP program tasked select women with many key roles on airfields across the nation. This VC-47D had been assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. This view also shows how well 58-0183 is preserved, and the EVS bulges beneath the B-52's nose. U.S. "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. 35 57.54 N, 89 57.74 W. Marker is in Gosnell, Arkansas, in Mississippi County. 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.". 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. This is not my photograph so it may not be used for commercial purposes. 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. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . [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. The boom operators on KC-135s got a laugh over it, the pilots loved it, commanding officers were horrified and eventually ordered it removed. Did you serve with BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE? Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. In any case, out of a sense of history and because commanders were now favorable to the idea, nose art began to return, though the USAF was very careful to ensure any "painted ladies" to have nothing more risque than bikinis. 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. Airplane Photos & Aviation Photos - View, Search, or Upload Photos! Because it was an Air Force base, the airport has room and facilities that are not available in many other complexes. It was good to see jets setting on the tarmac, even if they are only civilian jets. After 30 years and learning the computer and finding VetFriends, I went to my first reunion of the USS Navasota AO-106. As a kid in nearby Jonesboro, our cub scout pack got to visit what was then Blytheville AFB. He told me many stories about the German . The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH, USA - Arkansas; By: Brady Brooks Photos | Profile | Contact; 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. On January 10th, 1964, a B52H loaned to Boeing by the USAF was testing the structural integrity of, and new technology for the aircraft. Below is my Blytheville Air Force Base token collection. BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD 1942. The G models were not equipped with the same robust electronic countermeasures suite as the Ds, nor did their crews have the same training. (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. Opened in late 2020, the BAFB Exhibition features memorabilia, video and personal stories of the base from its 1942 beginnings until closure in 1992. Officers Club. In 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. 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. All photos. 732 of the aircraft were specifically aerial tankers. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. 3 talking about this. Ruth Eaker, General Eakers widow, signing autographs during the name change of the base in 1988. Though it is currently in a rough shape as an Air Force Base it doesnt have to be that way. Once more, however, the B-52G was called upon for the conventional role during Operation Desert Storm against Iraq in 1991. By October of the same year the aircraft was moved to Robins AFB, Georgia. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. 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 . The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. 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. 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. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. Glad to see the alert pad will be saved. Assigned to Blytheville Air Force Base until deactivated in 1992. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . 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. The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). Housing for members of the military and their families was developed between 1957 and 1962 north and south . In selected cases, due to ground water table conditions, the moleholes were built fully aboveground, with the lower story earthen bermed for semi-hardening. machine guns in tail plus up to 60,000+ lbs. The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. 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. Powerplant: Two Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp, 14-cylinder radial air-cooled engines, 1,200 horsepower each. 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. My Heritage. Full view. Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . 4 items. 2, no. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. Scrapped at Birmingham AL in 1997. 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. In the bomb bay were ADM-20 Quail decoys. The 456th completed deployments to Anderson AB in Guam with this B-52G. 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. Fighter units also rarely carried nose art or even a name, though they made up for it with very gaudy colors and flamboyant unit crests. The effect on the neighboring towns of Gosnell and Blytheville the closure had on were tremendous. . It was around 1960 and I still recall vividly sitting in the cockpit of a B-52. 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!" 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.



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