My job was to keep the alert aircraft supplied with the parts they needed to be mission ready. By August 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with seventeen B-52s lost to enemy action. . The boom is controlled by an operator lying prone under the cargo deck of the aircraft. The B-52 has set numerous records in its many years of service. Leaving Little Rock as Arkansas only active base. The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. Desert Storm was the swan song for the B-52G. Lots of good memories. For nearly 50 years, residents of Blytheville, Ark., proudly supported the Air Force base in their town. 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 . When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared. 88 of the aircraft built are modified versions to serve specific purposes such as reconnaissance aircraft, and cargo carriers. There was some concern that female aircrew--which were becoming far more common in the 1980s than in years previously--would object to the nose art, but no such objections materialized. The group was awarded two Distinguish Unit Citations during WWII and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crises. The program was comprised of just over 1100 women. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. machine guns in tail plus up to 60,000+ lbs. A bomber crew from Blytheville were among the first shot down during Operation Linebacker II, a December 1972 mission targeting complexes in North Vietnam. This is not my photograph so it may not be used for commercial purposes. Formerly the site of family housing for Eaker Air Force Base, Westminster Village is a non-profit community. . Beechcraft AT-10, and Curtiss-Wright AT-9s. 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. Capt. machine guns in tail plus up to 43,000+ lbs. 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. Looking for someone that served with you? At Mildenhall. 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. Scanned from 35mm Negative. 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. The hospital is also a very large (plan wise) building, so it is very possible to get lost inside the building without a map. Have history here? In 1945 the U. S. Army Air Field was deactivated and the cemetery reverted to the City of Blytheville Arkansas. Blytheville was the only two engine training base in Arkansas. For more information, visit the website at www.nationalcoldwarcenter.com or call 870-532-2100. The Southeast Asia War Tour Boeing B-52D Stratofortress BUFF LF USAF Museum (9202) Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 3-10-2019. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. Abandoned Arkansas had noticed while touring the base, the former base bank had been torn down the week prior to January 1st, 2022. Building 1225, will be added to the collection of buildings as part of the future National Cold War Center. Today the base is mostly in a decrepit state of disrepair. The National Cold War Center at the former Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville announced Monday that it had received a $400,000 grant from the Division of Arkansas Heritage Cultural Institutions Trust Fund.A spokesperson said the money would be used to . In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F-4E Phantom II #3 Jet. 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. Part of the reason was the USAF's adoption of "Combat Warrior," which was meant to instill a sense of history among its pilots and airmen, requiring the study of the USAF/USAAF historical record. All 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. During the weekend of February 21st, 2022, the former N.C.O. Operated by the 97th Bombardment Wing based at Eaker AFB, Blytheville AR. In 1988, the facility was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in honor of World War II General of the Eighth Air Force, Ira C. The B-52G was also built from the start to deliver standoff nuclear weapons, beginning with the AGM-28 Hound Dog. Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of 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. After 30 years and learning the computer and finding VetFriends, I went to my first reunion of the USS Navasota AO-106. If you wish to support our current and future work, please consider making a donation or purchasing one of our many books. 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). The Library. Any and all donations are appreciated. [5], For the civil use of this facility and airport information, see, Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District, Last edited on 26 September 2022, at 16:47, U.S. National Register of Historic Places, AFCEC, "Eaker Air Force Base Community Relations Plan", "National Register of Historic Places: Weekly list", "National Register of Historic Places Registration: Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District", "Arkansas Officials Seek Cold War Museum for Former Air Base", "Community Relations Plan for the Former Eaker Air Force Base Blytheville, Arkansas (July 2007}", Arkansas Northeastern College (formerly Mississippi County CC), https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Blytheville_Air_Force_Base&oldid=1112498994, Part of Strategic Air Command/Tactical Air Command, Continental Air Forces, 16 June 1945 21 March 1946, 25th Twin Engine Flying Training Group, 25 July 1942 29 February 1944, Army Air Force Pilot School, 3 May 1942 31 May 1945, 211th Army Air Force Base Unit, 1 May 1944 15 June 1945, 809th Army Air Force Base Unit, 16 June 1945 31 March 1946, 334th Army Air Force Base Unit, 1 April 1946 25 November 1946, 461st Bombardment Wing, 8 April 1956 1 April 1958, 4329th Air Base Squadron, 1 April 1958 1 July 1959, 97th Bombardment Wing, 1 July 1959 1 September 1991, This page was last edited on 26 September 2022, at 16:47. 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. 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. Since Eaker Air Force Base went under B.R.A.C. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. 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. Any monthly plan. Blytheville was the only Advanced training base in Arkansas. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . 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. 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. A strong gust of wind has pushed the rear of the aircraft left then right. In the late 1980s, the government, under congress had begun inspections on Air Force Bases. 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. BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD 1942. 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. I really hope some other people can find this service and get in touch with people like I did. 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. 1942-1946, 1953-1992. The 17th Bombardment Wing (H) at Anderson AB was this aircraft's next duty station, arriving there in January 1973. But it is well-worth the visit. at the old Blytheville Air Force Base now called the Blytheville Aeroplex where the city is planning to invest $20 million . It is a peculiarly shaped building, like the rest of the buildings on the base. I was an army brat and a military wife along with an army civilian off and on over the years. During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. The airplane dismantler used most of the tarmac we were using and we havent been back since before covid. This had the added benefit of giving the gunner an ejection seat, eliminating the need for a manual bailout system. action, the base has sat mostly dormant. Military. Evans at Blytheville air show in 1980. Reactivated as the 97th Air Mobility Wing at Altus AFB. Buildings, schools, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, car . No photo description available. Select from premium Blytheville Air Force Base of the highest quality. Notice my Mustang has what appears to be a trailer hitch. There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. 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. A B52 with a full nuclear payload, is the seventh most powerful country in the world..