Thank you! Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing, Blytheville Air Force Base, Ark., this aircraft was flown to the museum in November 1978. 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 . The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. It was good to see jets setting on the tarmac, even if they are only civilian jets. By August 1973, they had flown 126,615 combat sorties with seventeen B-52s lost to enemy action. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. 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. Since then, there have been only 744 aircraft built by Boeing. of conventional or nuclear bombs, Engines: Eight Pratt & Whitney J57s of 12,100 lbs. Louisiana was the aircraft's next stop when in May 1974 it was transferred to the 2nd Bombardment Group (H) at Barksdale AFB. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. All of these were under the Strategic Air Command. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. Mr. Gorbachev tore down that wall. (KAIT) - Members of the United States Air Force in Little Rock and Louisiana landed aircraft on the Arkansas Aeroplex on the morning of . 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. I had a great time and intend to go again next year. After a brief hiatus of less than a decade, the facility reopened as the Blytheville Air Force Base. May be an image of text that says 'David Pride 2000' No photo description available. 1942-1946, 1953-1992. Note that the outrigger landing gear is off the ground: naturally, "Valkyrie" is empty of fuel, and so there is no wing droop. Many times I stopped what I was doing and watched the full power, roaring and smoke trailing takeoffs. Capt R.D. In June 1965 B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. 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 . 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 the weekend of February 21st, 2022, the former N.C.O. Any and all donations are appreciated. Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. Weekly Began in 1902; ceased in 1923. of conventional or nuclear bombs. 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 heavier steel fuel tanks of the tall-tail series were replaced by integral fuel tanks, in which the entire wing served as a tank. 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. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. It was around 1960 and I still recall vividly sitting in the cockpit of a B-52. In 1972, all of the bombers were temporarily moved to Guam before being returned to Blytheville AFB, at which time the installation resumed normal functions. Nose art, while almost ubiquitous during World War II and Korea, largely disappeared in the 1950s. I single had a wonderful time on my motorcycle that summer when I arrived at Blytheville Air Force base and my motorcycle was a major reason for my fond memories of a carefree time in my youth. In 1942, at the graduation ceremony it was believed that women could not fly as well as men. 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. These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. Description based on: Vol. Streamline your workflow with our best-in-class digital asset management system. The US needed a long range aircraft able to refuel other long range aircraft. Capt. Would love hear your stories or your thoughts. 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. Like the Arc Light strikes of Vietnam, Iraqi forces on the ground could not hear or see B-52s before they struck. An exploration of the base's history and its impact on the community. . Eaker Air Force Base Historic District, Arkansas International Airport, and Blytheville Municipal Airport. 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. In the post-Cold War era, the U.S. Air Force decided to shut down the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, AR. Below is my Blytheville Air Force Base token collection. B.R.A.C. Electrical work and flood damage repair have begun. 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. Dental Clinic. [3] Six more men from the 97th were also lost in Vietnam, whose names are recognized on a memorial placard at the former base. Thule is the only air force base with no aircraft and a tugboat. On June 10, 1942, the U.S. Army opened an advanced pilot training school at Blytheville, Arkansas. After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. . 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 . Scanned from 35mm Negative. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . Today it is 14,011. There were trainer versions designated TC-47 and reconnaissance versions designated RC-47. If you can make it, even for an hour, we will be glad to have you! 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). I only ask that you send older photos (probably sometime before 1970).and they can be of People, Places in Blytheville, and Things. When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared. The project mainly serves to save the best buildings and bring buildings in the worst shape down for safety purposes. Microscopy, Atomic Force Pulmonary Ventilation Acoustic Impedance Tests. 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. 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. In its prime, it housed over 3,000 service members, and a whole fleet of Strategic Air Command B52 BUFF Stratofortresses. It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. [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. [1] It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. As the National Cold War Center develops, the first on-site exhibit depicts the history of the Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base. It was amazing. "Valkyrie" would fly a few more missions during the war, the only time she would drop bombs in anger. Altus AFB ACTIVE Need photos: Location: Altus, Oklahoma. I was an army brat and a military wife along with an army civilian off and on over the years. Renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988 honoring Gen. Ira Eaker, the entire facility closed in 1992. Transferred from the 97th Bomb Wing at Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas, this aircraft was flown to the Museum in November 1978. CENTCOM commander H. Norman Schwartzkopf demanded continual B-52 strikes-- eventually forty percent of all ordnance expended--and the results were devastating. 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. Photo Gallery. In July 1991, she was retired, and as one of the Secret Squirrel aircraft, was donated to the Pima Air and Space Museum immediately. All the glass is shattered. What aRead more , Stationed there 1989-1992, loved the place and love the life long friends from there. [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. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. It boasted a vibrant downtown and it had an eclectic population due to the wide variety of people the base brought to the city. Like many B-52s, 58-0183 was shuttled around through several units--in this case, no less than eleven bomb wings. During WWII, my Dad and his best friend, John Whittington, would go to the base (teenagers) and work. Analytical, Diagnostic and Therapeutic Techniques and Equipment 3. There are some items of interest in this photo of things that didn't appear on my uniform. Location of Service: Lackland Air Force Base, Texas; Williams Air Force Base, Arizona; Lockbourne Air Force Base, Ohio; Vietnam; Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas; Des Moines Air National . My father manufactured this and built a front wheel carrier for my motorcycle so I could mount the front wheel and removed the chain and allow the rear wheel to freely roll as we towed it down the road. Select from premium Blytheville Air Force Base of the highest quality. Nearly 750 were built before production ended in Oct. 26, 1962; 170 of these were B-52Ds. The effect on the neighboring towns of Gosnell and Blytheville the closure had on were tremendous. Psychiatry and Psychology 1 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. About Westminster Village . Loved it. Eaker Air Force Base in its entirety is a mix of private and federal property. 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. Building 1225 is currently registered on the National Register Of Historic Places and is quoted as being the crown jewel of the National Cold War Center campus. Though Phase Two of the project is underway (as of February 2022), there have been no announcements of when the museum will officially open. MEMORIES. The crew started to lose control of the plane and went to bail out. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. The rest I earned via my service to my country. JetPhotos.com is the biggest database of aviation photographs with over 4 million screened photos online! 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". In June 1965, B-52s entered combat in Southeast Asia. Honorable Discharged at the rank of E5 Staff Sgt. 18 (Feb. 26, 1904). The accounting & financing building has a large and open floor plan. The WASP program tasked select women with many key roles on airfields across the nation. Photos from Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH on JetPhotos Photos Blytheville herald-news Blytheville courier news (DLC)sn 89051348 Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. 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. 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 . Old Movies. The base contributed greatly to the economic and . The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. Albums. 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. Use code: FLICKR10, International Air Tattoo 1987 - RAF Fairford. The base closed in December 1992 and has re-opened as a general aviation/commercial airport and industrial park known as the Arkansas Aeroplex. BX and Cafeteria. 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. Holes in the roof create entryways for birds and rain. After any major war, surplus equipment and property is sold to the general public and agencies. It is a peculiarly shaped building, like the rest of the buildings on the base. These women had proved their selves capable of flying aircraft such as the B25 and the B29. Evans at Blytheville air show in 1980. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . 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. Arkansas had six Army airfields. No photo description available. Though it is referred to these names, the airport officially goes by Arkansas Aeroplex. Available for both RF and RM licensing. [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. 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 current BAFB Exhibit is housed in the former B52 crew briefing building, and will continue to be an exhibit. The hospital is also a very large (plan wise) building, so it is very possible to get lost inside the building without a map. 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. The KC135 replaced the KC97, as the latter could not keep up with newer, larger and faster aircraft. The original, one-of-a-kind model was created by P.J. 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. My 1972 Suzuki looked exactly like the one in the brochure. 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. 732 of the aircraft were specifically aerial tankers. The last model 61-0040, was produced in 1962. 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. Jul 1999. Abandoned Arkansas had noticed while touring the base, the former base bank had been torn down the week prior to January 1st, 2022. Granted today, the area has stayed well populated due to industrial jobs, but Blythevilles unemployment rate is four percent higher than the national average (pre-covid). A bomber crew from Blytheville were among the first shot down during Operation Linebacker II, a December 1972 mission targeting complexes in North Vietnam. 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 B52 Stratofortress was the answer to all the problems found in the Convair B36 Peacemaker and the B24. Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base from 1942, until it closed in 1992. The aircraft remained there until November when it was reassigned to the 320th Bombardment Wing (H) at Mather AFB, California. 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. This Abandoned Air Force base is located three miles Northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. No photo description available. Jwt708 Well-Known Member. 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. The 2nd Bombardment Wing (H) at Barksdale AFB acquired the plane a second time in February 1987. Tap into Getty Images' global scale, data-driven insights, and network of more than 340,000 creators to create content exclusively for your brand. Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. 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. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. I was stationed at Eaker from 89-91 in the comm building pictured. Merged with: Blytheville herald-news (non-extant), to form: Blytheville courier news. Veteran C. Young. Places to visit . Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. Sheila Russell Thurber. During World War II, the site served as a training airfield as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. Located on the former Eaker Air Force Base (also known as Blytheville Air Force Base), a few blocks inside the west gate. Hopefully the site will become available again for us. Serial Number 61-0023 landed safely in Blytheville. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. 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.". Setting near the base is a memorial bench for Army Spc Christopher Stark killed in Afghanistan Feb 28 2011. Looking for someone that served with you? (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. Those dorms were pristine (almost new if I remember correctly) when they were abandoned. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Iron Curtain was torn down. BLYTHEVILLE AIR FORCE BASE EXHIBITION. This is the alert facility, or "mole hole," where bomber and tanker aircraft crew in the Strategic Air Command (SAC; USAF) lived while they were pulling alert duty during the Cold War.

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