"Valkyrie" would fly a few more missions during the war, the only time she would drop bombs in anger. Whether it be by the hand of the elements, or by deconstruction due to safety issues. Club was demolished. Holes in the roof create entryways for birds and rain. 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. Buy None was a no notice operational exercise conducted in 1989. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. Leaving Little Rock as Arkansas only active base. Nearly 750 were built before production ended in the fall of 1962; 170 of these were B-52Ds. Nose art, while almost ubiquitous during World War II and Korea, largely disappeared in the 1950s. Formerly the site of family housing for Eaker Air Force Base, Westminster Village is a non-profit community. The WASP program tasked select women with many key roles on airfields across the nation. View of the southern end of the former Blytheville AFB (Eaker AFB). And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . But it is well-worth the visit. 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. After a brief hiatus of less than a decade, the facility reopened as the Blytheville Air Force Base. 732 of the aircraft were specifically aerial tankers. . 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. It is very possible the paint that is peeling on the walls is lead-based. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. These windowless alert quarters were identical everywhere, with tunnel-like egress covered in corrugated steel. Charles Fisher would forever be known as Mr. or the notorious F-105 "Cherry Girl," which positioned a full-frontal nude girl strategically over the refueling port on the nose. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F-4E Phantom II #3 Jet. . 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 majority of the bases housing is still in use, a few buildings are in use, and the tarmac is now the Arkansas Aeroplex. Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . The aircraft in question was tail number 61-0023. Sheila Russell Thurber. On January 31st, 2022, the Arkansas Aeroplex officially announced that work had been started on restoring Building 1225. Profile pictures. As the National Cold War Center develops, the first on-site exhibit depicts the history of the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base. 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. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . 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 . My last 8 months of service I was the NCOIC of the Repair Cycle Unit "DIFM Control", KC-135A - 61-0267 - 97th BW, Blytheville Air Force Base, N503DN Delta Air Lines | Airbus A350-941 | Arkansas International Airport. The KC135, along with the B52 is one of the only fixed wing aircraft with over fifty years of service. The walls are riddled with holes. [1], During the Vietnam War the 97th Bomber Wing at Blytheville supported strike operations throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. As I recall, crew members were typically on alert for 10 days of every month. 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. From an extreme case of having to be boarded up like a top secret quarantine, to simply being an old tool shed that never got used. 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. Assigned to Blytheville Air Force Base until deactivated in 1992. The B52 Stratofortress had solved every issue the Air Force ran into with earlier bombers. (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. On January 23rd, 2022, it was announced that the former dorms would be demolished. "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. Since Eaker Air Force Base went under B.R.A.C. Airwomen were tasked with testing electronics of aircraft, testing aircraft by means of flights, and ferrying aircraft. At 14 I was hopping buses and trains and hanging out with friends in surrounding towns. The boom is controlled by an operator lying prone under the cargo deck of the aircraft. . I think it is lost on most Americans that the first time a B-52 was used in actually live combat was in Vietnam and it was the only time a B-52 was lost to enemy fire. However, some F-15E Strike Eagle units have begun painting nose art again, so reports of its demise is probably premature. And the aeronautical weather for the pilots with current weather and short-term forecasts with METAR (METeorological Aerodrome Report, observation message of meteorological conditions for aviation) and TAF (Terminal Aerodrome Forecast: short-term forecast message of meteorological conditions for aviation ). 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. Old Movies. of conventional or nuclear bombs. Posted to Facebook by William Travis. However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. The last duty station for this aircraft was with a previous owner, the 93rd Bombardment Wing (H) at Castle AFB, where it arrived in December 1988. 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 rest I earned via my service to my country. Pilot Mike Bush, Co Pilot Larry J Houser, EWO Wayne Carver, Navagtor Doug "D.R" Kincannon, Gunner Jack Alexander. It was one of many air fields created in the country's interior during the war for this purpose. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. 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 . The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. Five feet of water was pumped out of the basement of the building. 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 . This has been an ongoing project for over a year. Have history here? Renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988 honoring Gen. Ira Eaker, the entire facility closed in 1992. In June 1975 the aircraft was sent to the 97th Bombardment Wing (H) residing at Blytheville AFB, Arkansas. Full view. Louisiana was the aircraft's next stop when in May 1974 it was transferred to the 2nd Bombardment Group (H) at Barksdale AFB. Eaker Air Force Base was located on 3,778 acres of land between the communities of Gosnell and Blytheville in Mississippi County. The Library. Collect, curate and comment on your files. As the 97th Bomb Group it's B-17 were the first to drop bombs on the Germans in France in 1942. Below is my Blytheville Air Force Base token collection. When the klaxon sounded, the aircrews scrambled to their aircraft, and got a radio code to start their engines; after the engines were running, they got another code that instructed them either to shut down, and go back to the alert facility (in which case it would be called a Coco alert), or to taxi (that would be a Bravo alert). It seemed like every morning at 5:00 AM the flight line maintenance crews would fire up some of the airplanes engines. Microscopy, Atomic Force Pulmonary Ventilation Acoustic Impedance Tests. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. The Cold War had come to and end. . Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. Today the base is mostly in a decrepit state of disrepair. I had a great time and intend to go again next year. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment 3. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. This area was developed pursuant to guidelines established by the Federal Housing Administration , and is laid out with . Opened in late 2020, the BAFB Exhibition features memorabilia, video and personal stories of the base from its 1942 beginnings until closure in 1992. 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 aircraft was set on course to Boeings headquarters in Wichita, Kansas. ", From: www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/bomber_alert.htm. 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. Ritz. Millions of high-quality images, video, and music options are waiting for you. Marker is at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Chestnut Drive, on the right when traveling east on Memorial Drive. B.R.A.C. In 1942, at the graduation ceremony it was believed that women could not fly as well as men. 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 62nd Bombardment Wing (H) at Fairchild AFB, Washington, took possession of this B-52G in September 1983 but the aircraft was transferred to the 93rd Bombardment Wing (H) at Castle AFB, California, the following February. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. 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. Eleven of these jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. Since its organization on 21 March 1946, SAC had continuously used C-47s or Gooney Birds as they were usually called, for support and administrative purposes. He arranged the trade of my old piece of crap Harley, arranged the financing so I could just get on my new motorcycle and drive away. "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. KC-135A - 61-0267 - 97th BW, Blytheville Air Force Base by Darren Currie 19 International Air Tattoo 1987 - RAF Fairford. Currently, the main tarmac is used as Blythevilles airport. This is not my photograph so it may not be used for commercial purposes. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. About Westminster Village . The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. 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 Blytheville, Arkansas, the "National Cold War Center." The Eaker base opened in 1942 as a World War II advanced pilot training school, and later became an alert center during the Cold War. I also lived in the dorms that are pictured. During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. Camo with white under belly North American AGM-28 Hound Dog Missile on display at the Global Power Museum at Barksdale Air Force Base. Communism had shriveled in the world. "A B52 with a full nuclear payload, is the seventh most powerful country in the world.". Arkansas had six Army airfields. During WWII, my Dad and his best friend, John Whittington, would go to the base (teenagers) and work. Ash worked from a photograph of the B-52 Blytheville plane. The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. Evans was from Osceola AR. For more information, visit the website at www.nationalcoldwarcenter.com or call 870-532-2100. I saw this jet fly Oct 25 1972 at the Blytheville AFB air show. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. Currently, there is a restoration program working to rebuild and reuse buildings that arent disappearing. Eaker. 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. I have been to the former base and tarmac many times in the 2010s for Sports Car Club of America events. 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 . Thousands of jobs were lost. The commanding general of the U.S. Army Air Forces, Henry Arnold, went as far as saying that he doubted a woman could control a B17. Extensive efforts to offset the negative economic effects on the community of Blytheville were undertaken by local and federal officials, who cleaned up the site and then distributed the land to various organizations, including the Department of the Interior (DOI), the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. In the post-Cold War era, the U.S. Air Force decided to shut down the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, AR. 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. 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 National Cold War Center is planned to be the largest collection of history and information on the decades that made up the war in the world. 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. No photo description available. It was good to see jets setting on the tarmac, even if they are only civilian jets. This VC-47D had been assigned to the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. Details on 57-6486 are sparse; it may have seen combat over Vietnam with another unit. NCO Club. (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. Memphis Discovery Tour . Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. 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". 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. . Touch . Pictures, photos and images from Blytheville, AR. Thanks VetFriends. 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. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. My father was a pilot in SAC throughout his career (bombers and tankers); he and the other bomber and tanker crews spent a whole lot of time, away from their families, living in this bunker. at the old Blytheville Air Force Base now called the Blytheville Aeroplex where the city is planning to invest $20 million . The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. Currently, the wet carpet has molded over and over again. Select from premium Blytheville Air Force Base of the highest quality. Rick O'Kelley was drafted in Oct 1971 and enlisted in the USAF November 10 1971 on delayed enlistment. Hear those stories come to life from the soldiers who served at the BAFB Exhibition. There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. [1], The Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . I only ask that you send older photos (probably sometime before 1970).and they can be of People, Places in Blytheville, and Things. Eaker Air Force Base Historic District, Arkansas International Airport, and Blytheville Municipal Airport. 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. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. 07-4637 photos; United States - US Air Force (USAF) Airline: United States - US Air Force (USAF) Reg: 07-4637 photos; Aircraft: Lockheed Martin C-130J-30 Hercules; Serial #: 382-5597; . On the evening in question, Bruce was working for a local radio station, performing tests on their transmitters. U.S. The base closed in 1992, and unfortunately most of the residential units north of Daisy Drive are vacant and have since . Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE EXHIBITION. Though, local organizations and legal entities constantly fight to preserve the base. Looking for someone that served with you? Posted June 9th, 2014 by NFFF & filed under Uncategorized. Photographer unknown. 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. 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. Thule is the only air force base with no aircraft and a tugboat. The United States no longer needed bombers and fuel-tankers to be on 24/7 alert. Photos from Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH on JetPhotos Photos There was no need for the Global Shield. 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. 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. Base Closure What happened to Blytheville, Arkansas? 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. Compared to hose style fueling systems, flying booms of KC135s are very unforgiving to errors. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. This gallery is to showcase old photographs from Blytheville, Arkansas. 27 items. 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. Officers Club. 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 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. 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. The first of 12 model aircrafts that were once housed at the Blytheville Air Force Base (later Eaker Air Force Base) was delivered on Wednesday to the exhibition building. Military Photos; Military Reunion Stories; Military Service Map; Military Cadences; Military Jokes; Military Lingo; Great Military Web Pages; Recommended Military Books; Today in Military . Thanks to Dave Howell for posting this photo of Miss Piggy and her crew. Coupled with the more regulation bound USAF of the 1950s, almost no B-36s or B-52s carried nose art, despite a larger "canvas" than the B-29 or B-17. 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. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. The Strategic Air Command had reached the end of the road. The aircraft was flown from Castle AFB to Hill AFB, Utah, in its final flight. Doors and numerous truckloads of metal were being hauled off the alert pad. Veteran C. Young. thrust each. Though, due to high traffic in that area, the aircraft had to change its course and headed for Blytheville Air Force Base instead. In 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. 58-0183 joined the USAF and the 4135th Strategic Wing, based at Eglin AFB, Florida; the 4135th oversaw several B-52 squadrons dispersed over the American Southeast to lessen their chance of being caught on the ground by a Soviet nuclear strike. During World War II, the site served as a training airfield as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. MEMORIES. The 97th deployed to Edwards AFB, California, while operating this aircraft. Mold and asbestos float through the air like dust that just got kicked up. All of these were under the Strategic Air Command. The accounting & financing building has a large and open floor plan. Love Photoshop, a little bit of work and #3 does a flyby just for me 41 years later. Its' soft start" with hours on Friday's and Saturday from about 12:00pm to 4:00pm, will take some trip planning. Sign up and get notified about upcoming volunteer events! It was rolled out of Boeings Wichita plant. For nearly 50 years, residents of Blytheville, Ark., proudly supported the Air Force base in their town. Over 1,000,000 pictures These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. Available for both RF and RM licensing. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. Photographs are from numerous people and I encourage you to send me your photos if you want to add to the Blytheville collection. Pinterest. 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. Blytheville Air Force Base. Nowadays, the base goes by a few names. During its test flight, Boeing was performing tests to show the aircrafts resilience against low-altitude turbulence. Armament: Four .50-cal. It is aRead more . https://nuke.fas.org/guide/usa/bomber/kc-135.htm#:~:text=The%20KC%2D135%20can%20haul,transferable%20for%20global%20refueling%20missions. The majority of buildings have suffered the same fate. Once more, however, the B-52G was called upon for the conventional role during Operation Desert Storm against Iraq in 1991. Explore. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Cover photos. Some were torn down. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. The KC135 Stratotanker, as most other notary aircraft, was born out of necessity. Many DC-3 and C-47s are still in operation, nearing the end of their first half century of service and looking like they could go another half century. On a Bravo alert, while taxiing the aircraft, the pilot was waiting (and hoping!) machine guns in tail plus up to 60,000+ lbs. Electrical work and flood damage repair have begun. I grew up on Army bases overseas. The model is on a 1/72 scale with a 26" wingspan. This is a photoshopped 1972 Suzuki Brochure that I have transposed my face over the riders face. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. 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. My 1972 Suzuki looked exactly like the one in the brochure. 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. 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.

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