In selected cases, due to ground water table conditions, the moleholes were built fully aboveground, with the lower story earthen bermed for semi-hardening. He told me many stories about the German . The B52 Stratofortress had solved every issue the Air Force ran into with earlier bombers. I had a great time and intend to go again next year. 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. of conventional or nuclear bombs, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=294. As "Hoosier Hotshot," it flew first with the 97th BW at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, then finished its career with the 93rd BW at Castle AFB, California. In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. 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. "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. [3] Unfortunately, Eaker Air Force Base topped the Strategic Air Command's list of base closures in 1991 and with the Cold War coming to an end, the installation was officially chosen; in March 1992, the last aircraft left the base. [1] Then the airfield briefly became a processing center for the rapid demobilization of military personnel being discharged. No photo description available. This has been an ongoing project for over a year. . Branch of Service: Air Force. A bomber crew from Blytheville were among the first shot down during Operation Linebacker II, a December 1972 mission targeting complexes in North Vietnam. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F4 Phantom #3 Jet. 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. The Southeast Asia War section of the Modern Flight Gallery at the National Museum of the United States Air Force (www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/). The airbase was phased out years ago, but Blytheville has emerged as a steel production center and agri-business is strong. Notice my Mustang has what appears to be a trailer hitch. Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . In the post-Cold War era, the U.S. Air Force decided to shut down the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, AR. "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. Only ten B-52Gs survive today as museum pieces. 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. 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. Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. 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. View allAll Photos Tagged Blytheville Air Force Base. Thanks to Dave Howell for posting this photo of Miss Piggy and her crew. In the bomb bay were ADM-20 Quail decoys. 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. The majority of buildings have suffered the same fate. And the United States was about to enter war with Saddam Hussein. Loved it. Hear those stories come to life from the soldiers who served at the BAFB Exhibition. Airport information, from map to hotels to aeronautical information. 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. Yes we grew up overseas and only went to Department of Defense Schools but it was amazing. (photo courtesy of Delta) On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Delta Air Lines . Explore. Improve this listing. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. Pilot Mike Bush, Co Pilot Larry J Houser, EWO Wayne Carver, Navagtor Doug "D.R" Kincannon, Gunner Jack Alexander. I only ask that you send older photos (probably sometime before 1970).and they can be of People, Places in Blytheville, and Things. Informacin detallada del sitio web y la empresa: majesticholidays.com, +12423231410, +13088411818, +14132671187, +13856680111, +12815278722 Bahamas hotels, vacation tour packages by majestic holidays In 2020, both Arkansas senators proposed a bill to designate the museum in Blytheville. There is a SAC Lapel Pin and two United States Air Force Lapel Pins that I have included in my display. 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. machine guns in tail plus up to 60,000+ lbs. Collect, curate and comment on your files. JetPhotos.com is the biggest database of aviation photographs with over 4 million screened photos online! This gallery is to showcase old photographs from Blytheville, Arkansas. Charles Fisher would forever be known as Mr. I saw this jet fly Oct 25 1972 at the Blytheville AFB air show. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Camo with white under belly North American AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile on display at the Global Power Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. Whether it be by the hand of the elements, or by deconstruction due to safety issues. 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. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). After World War II the C-47s were used in the Berlin Airlift, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. Since Eaker Air Force Base went under B.R.A.C. Buildings have collapsed in that time frame. Many buildings are gone, and will continue to disappear. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. As I recall, crew members were typically on alert for 10 days of every month. During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. The KC135, along with the B52 is one of the only fixed wing aircraft with over fifty years of service. And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . 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. . 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). Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. Evans was from Osceola AR. Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. Gosnell reported losing over half its students. The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. 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 . The National Cold War Center will be an entirely brand new building itself. I completed USAF Technical School in Denver Co the end of June 1972 and received two weeks leave before reporting to my base and when I arrived home my old farm boss, USAAF Veteran Bill Morriss had a brand new Suzuki motorcycle in his garage. Airmen from the 97th Bombardment Wing lost their lives and their photos appear on the lonely memorial at their abandoned base in Blytheville; Lt Col Keith R Heggen was in "Olive1", (now buried at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery) Lt Col Donald L Rissi, 1st LT Robert J Thomas and Msgt Walter L Ferguson were in "Charcoal 1" Major Bobby A Kirby, Capt Randall J Craddock, Capt George B Lockhart, Capt Ronald D Perry and 1st Lt Charles E Darr were in "Tan 3". 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. Businesses have come and go, but the wear and tear of Mother Nature and Father time have taken their toll on many buildings on base. 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. It originally provided housing, school and community resources to the families of military personnel who were stationed at the adjacent Blytheville Air Force Base (which is now operated as Arkansas International Airport). It boasted a vibrant downtown and it had an eclectic population due to the wide variety of people the base brought to the city. To differentiate ALCM-equpped B-52Gs from unmodified aircraft, a wing fairing was added solely for the benefit of Soviet reconnaissance satellites, in accordance with arms control treaties. Blytheville, Walnut Ridge, Grider, Newport, Stuttgart, and Adams Field. 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. 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. 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. Several C-47s were fitted with pontoons and redesignated C-47C. Gym - Center of Wing's Athletic Activities. Nearly 750 were built before production ended in the fall of 1962; 170 of these were B-52Ds. The crew started to lose control of the plane and went to bail out. 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. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Thanks VetFriends. 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 Today. 18 (Feb. 26, 1904). Of reinforced concrete and concrete-block construction, moleholes were of two-story height, with one story below ground. Any monthly plan. 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. For nearly 50 years, residents of Blytheville, Ark., proudly supported the Air Force base in their town. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. In 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. I also lived in the dorms that are pictured. Due to the high amount of asbestos flying around in the air, and the safety concerns. 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 . Details on 57-6486 are sparse; it may have seen combat over Vietnam with another unit. In June 1975 the aircraft was sent to the 97th Bombardment Wing (H) residing at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas. In 1942, at the graduation ceremony it was believed that women could not fly as well as men. 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. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Blytheville had their own team. Airplane Photos & Aviation Photos - View, Search, or Upload Photos! My family and I were stationed here from about 1964 until 1970. Movie Theater. [2] In July 1959, the 97th Bombardment Wing subsequently assumed control of the base and brought with it the long-range B-52G bomber and the KC-135A Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft to support bomber operations. He served active duty March 21 1972 to March 20 1976. It seemed like every morning at 5:00 AM the flight line maintenance crews would fire up some of the airplanes engines. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. Love Photoshop, a little bit of work and #3 does a flyby just for me 41 years later. The Southeast Asia War Tour Boeing B-52D Stratofortress BUFF LF USAF Museum (9202) Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 3-10-2019. I was one of four Production Supervisors who coordinated the P-Check maintenance and retrofitting of existing 737-200's (42 aircraft) for MetroJet; this included all coach interiors and . The Iron Curtain was torn down. Under the command of the 326th Base Headquarters and Air Base Squadron, pilots would train in aircraft such as theBeechcraft AT-10, and Curtiss-Wright AT-9s. 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. N503DN Delta Air Lines | Airbus A350-941 | Arkansas International Airport by M.J. Scanlon 17 . As the 97th Bomb Group it's B-17 were the first to drop bombs on the Germans in France in 1942. As a CAP cadet 1966-1969 the lore of this base was discussed often. NCO Club. 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. Air Base Group Headquarters. 2, no. 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. Lots of good memories. Below is my Blytheville Air Force Base token collection. 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". Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. 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 Museums C-47 was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered to the USAAF on July 14, 1944. When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared. I was stationed at Blytheville AFB in the late 1950s when it was a new SAC base and the first B-52s arrived. Contributions to PAs Most Endangered List, National Register of Historic Places (Jan, 26th 2018). TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. 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. An exploration of the base's history and its impact on the community. In July 1991, she was retired, and as one of the Secret Squirrel aircraft, was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum immediately. The rest I earned via my service to my country. 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. During World War II, the site served as a training airfield as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. 1942-1946, 1953-1992. 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). Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. Dental Clinic. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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 . 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. Old Movies. Compared to hose style fueling systems, flying booms of KC135s are very unforgiving to errors. 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. Though, due to high traffic in that area, the aircraft had to change its course and headed for Blytheville Air Force Base instead. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. The 456th completed deployments to Anderson AB in Guam with this B-52G. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. After any major war, surplus equipment and property is sold to the general public and agencies. The program was comprised of just over 1100 women. The 17th Bombardment Wing (H) at Anderson AB was this aircraft's next duty station, arriving there in January 1973. Currently, the wet carpet has molded over and over again. 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. In its prime, it housed over 3,000 service members, and a whole fleet of Strategic Air Command B52 BUFF Stratofortresses. Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB) Exhibition: BAFB Exhibition - Blytheville/Eaker AFB - See 9 traveler reviews, 32 candid photos, and great deals for Blytheville, AR, at Tripadvisor. Known as Operation Secret Squirrel, this 34-hour mission was at the time the longest aerial mission ever flown, and was not surpassed until the strikes on Afghanistan in 2001. Evans at Blytheville air show in 1980. 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. Hopefully the site will become available again for us. It is aRead more . 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. Airman First Class Monex Thomas of the Blytheville Air Force Base died in an aircraft training incident on August 1 1982. [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. Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH, USA - Arkansas; By: Brady Brooks Photos | Profile | Contact; Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. Because it was an Air Force base, the airport has room and facilities that are not available in many other complexes. 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. Renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988 honoring Gen. Ira Eaker, the entire facility closed in 1992. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. 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. This one is at the old (now closed) SAC base near Blytheville, Arkansas. On January 11th, during Agile Combat Employment training exercises performed by the U.S. Air Force at Eaker Air Force Base, work had begun on the restoration process of Building 1225. These three 97th BW aircraft were stationed and flown out of Anderson AFB, Guam, as part of the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional). 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. 3 items. 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. Armament: Four defensive .50-cal. Located on the former Eaker Air Force Base (also known as Blytheville Air Force Base), a few blocks inside the west gate. About Westminster Village . The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. machine guns in tail plus up to 43,000+ lbs. Luckily, the nose art was removed first and donated to the nearby Pima Air and Space Museum. 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. Photo from Facebook. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. 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. Blytheville herald-news Blytheville courier news (DLC)sn 89051348 3 talking about this. Most of the Gs ended their days sliced into pieces in the Arizona desert. 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. Under the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 the United States government is obligated to consider utilization, procurement and disposal of government property. Opened in late 2020, the BAFB Exhibition features memorabilia, video and personal stories of the base from its 1942 beginnings until closure in 1992. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment 3. U.S. Grow your brand authentically by sharing brand content with the internets creators. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. A B52 with a full nuclear payload, is the seventh most powerful country in the world.. Operated by the 97th Bombardment Wing based at Eaker AFB, Blytheville AR. [1], In 1988, the U.S. Air Force officially renamed Blytheville AFB to Eaker AFB in commemoration of World War II General Ira Eaker, the former commander of the 8th Air Force. It is very possible the paint that is peeling on the walls is lead-based. The KC135 fuels other aircraft through an extendable boom on the aft of the aircraft. While with the 97th Bomb Wing at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas, it received the name "Valkyrie" with appropriate nose art of a mail-clad female warrior on horseback; nose art made a renaissance in the USAF in the late 1980s, though not quite as risqu as that seen during World War II. Holes in the roof create entryways for birds and rain. If you can make it, even for an hour, we will be glad to have you! 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. 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. 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. 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. The US needed a long range aircraft able to refuel other long range aircraft. There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. 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. 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. Description based on: Vol. There are some items of interest in this photo of things that didn't appear on my uniform. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F-4E Phantom II #3 Jet. This had the added benefit of giving the gunner an ejection seat, eliminating the need for a manual bailout system. During the weekend of February 21st, 2022, the former N.C.O. 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. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. 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. Usaf Academy, CO 80840-1307 Colorado Springs, CO 80919-3732 Warrensburg, MO 64093-9357 The G models most noticeable feature was its 8-foot shorter tail, done to ease maintenance and to save weight. The walls are riddled with holes. if I remember correctly it was one of the rooms pictured (162). All photos (32) Top ways to experience nearby attractions. Cover photos. 1950's. Janet Austin - Duplessis. The B-52 is one of the few planes I remember Dad talking about during his career at Hill Air Force Base.