Over 1,000,000 pictures 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 . 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. Photographs are from numerous people and I encourage you to send me your photos if you want to add to the Blytheville collection. This facility trained Army Air Cadets on Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita advanced trainer planes to learn to fly North American B-25 Mitchell bombers in all theaters of World War 2. Notable people who were stationed at the base durring this time include Carl Jr. and Frank . Some were torn down. The 2nd Bombardment Wing (H) at Barksdale AFB acquired the plane a second time in February 1987. 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. Blytheville Air Force Base Exhibition (BAFB) - Tripadvisor Looking for someone that served with you? During the Korean War, when many USAF units were based in Japan and crews lived with their families, wives got to see up close the often risque nose art their husbands painted on their aircraft--and were not pleased with what they saw. Club was demolished. Places to visit . By August 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with seventeen B-52s lost to enemy action. The Museums C-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAAF on July 14, 1944. Ritz. I was an army brat and a military wife along with an army civilian off and on over the years. The Southeast Asia War Tour Boeing B-52D Stratofortress BUFF LF USAF Museum (9202) Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 3-10-2019. Eaker Abandoned Air Force Base | Over 800+ Photos | Arkansas Photos from Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH on JetPhotos Photos at the old Blytheville Air Force Base now called the Blytheville Aeroplex where the city is planning to invest $20 million . . Evans at Blytheville air show in 1980. The airplane dismantler used most of the tarmac we were using and we havent been back since before covid. 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. It was immediately assigned to the 72nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. Those dorms were pristine (almost new if I remember correctly) when they were abandoned. Washington, DCMay 26, 2020.Today, Congressman Steve Womack (AR-3) joined Congressman Rick Crawford (AR-1), Congressman French Hill (AR-2), and Congressman Bruce Westerman (AR-4) in announcing the introduction of legislation to name the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base located in Blytheville, Arkansas the "National Cold War Center." The air force base was established in 1942 as a . Electrical work and flood damage repair have begun. Wally's Photography | Old Blytheville Photos Jul 1999. Arkansas Razorbacks. The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. Photo Credit: The National Cold War Center. Serial Number 61-0023 landed safely in Blytheville. Touch . About Westminster Village . But it is well-worth the visit. Strategic Air Command Bases After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. I have been to the former base and tarmac many times in the 2010s for Sports Car Club of America events. Blytheville Air Force Base - Facebook Movie Theater. Ash. 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. . 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. Buy None was a no notice operational exercise conducted in 1989. Lots of good memories. If you wish to support our current and future work, please consider making a donation or purchasing one of our many books. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE EXHIBITION. Note that the outrigger landing gear is off the ground: naturally, "Valkyrie" is empty of fuel, and so there is no wing droop. 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. Compared to hose style fueling systems, flying booms of KC135s are very unforgiving to errors. Blytheville Air Force Base Capehart Housing - Gosnell, Arkansas - Wikimapia 3 items. Organize, control, distribute and measure all of your digital content. The Hound Dog was withdrawn in the 1970s and replaced with the AGM-69 SRAM, which could be carried in groups of 20 rather than just two of the huge Hound Dogs. I was stationed at Eaker from 89-91 in the comm building pictured. Cover photos. 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. Abandoned Arkansas had noticed while touring the base, the former base bank had been torn down the week prior to January 1st, 2022. If you can make it, even for an hour, we will be glad to have you! This has led to the current dilapidated state of some buildings. 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. 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. B52 for his quick thinking, response to a crisis, and heroic duties. 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. 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. Another part was that the men who had flown in Vietnam and chafed under the official frowning upon of nose art were now the ones in charge. The B-52G was also built from the start to deliver standoff nuclear weapons, beginning with the AGM-28 Hound Dog. This is a photoshopped 1972 Suzuki Brochure that I have transposed my face over the riders face. Wing Headquarters. Hill Aerospace Museum officially received the aircraft for static display on July 11, 1991. Eaker Air Force Base was located on 3,778 acres of land between the communities of Gosnell and Blytheville in Mississippi County. Everything from a static display of a B52 Stratofortress (which the Arkansas Aeroplex hopes to someday acquire), to letters from soldiers to their families overseas. Rolls-Royce Offers Peek At The B-52's New Engines Undergoing Testing These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. The KC135 Stratotanker, as most other notary aircraft, was born out of necessity. All of these were under the Strategic Air Command. Evans was from Osceola AR. Photo Gallery Most of the Gs ended their days sliced into pieces in the Arizona desert. 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. Originally Blytheville Air Force Base, the base's official name was changed in 1988 to honor air pioneer and commander of the Mighty Eighth Air Force during World War II, Lieutenant General Ira C. Eaker. The KC135 replaced the KC97, as the latter could not keep up with newer, larger and faster aircraft. Full view. Blytheville Air Force Base | ELG Law After a brief hiatus of less than a decade, the facility reopened as the Blytheville Air Force Base. action, the base has sat mostly dormant. 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. After any major war, surplus equipment and property is sold to the general public and agencies. The effect on the neighboring towns of Gosnell and Blytheville the closure had on were tremendous. My Heritage. After World War II the C-47s were used in the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. During its test flight, Boeing was performing tests to show the aircrafts resilience against low-altitude turbulence. The majority of the bases housing is still in use, a few buildings are in use, and the tarmac is now the Arkansas Aeroplex. BLYTHEVILLE AFB HOSPITAL: Reunite With 4 Other Veterans - VetFriends Charles Fisher would forever be known as Mr. Owners of said buildings had big ambitions to renovate and repurpose the old buildings, but either plans never took off or money was tight. 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. My job was to keep the alert aircraft supplied with the parts they needed to be mission ready. 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. 10 free downloads. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. Eaker Air Force Base in its entirety is a mix of private and federal property. In the late 1980s, the government, under congress had begun inspections on Air Force Bases. All photos. Eaker. In 1955 North Sawba Cemetery once again returned to government jurisdiction with the activation of Blytheville Air Force Base later renamed Eaker Air Force Base, until base closure December 1992. 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. Blytheville Air Force Base Archives - National Fallen Firefighters Airman First Class Monex Thomas of the Blytheville Air Force Base died in an aircraft training incident on August 1 1982.
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