Airman First Class Monex Thomas of the Blytheville Air Force Base died in an aircraft training incident on August 1 1982. I thanked my dad for my upbringing. No photo description available. . When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. [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. [3] Six more men from the 97th were also lost in Vietnam, whose names are recognized on a memorial placard at the former base. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F-4E Phantom II #3 Jet. My job was to keep the alert aircraft supplied with the parts they needed to be mission ready. Setting near the base is a memorial bench for Army Spc Christopher Stark killed in Afghanistan Feb 28 2011. Hill Aerospace Museum officially received the aircraft for static display on July 11, 1991. And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . However, two years later they proved him and everyone else wrong. The effect on the neighboring towns of Gosnell and Blytheville the closure had on were tremendous. During its test flight, Boeing was performing tests to show the aircrafts resilience against low-altitude turbulence. Photo Gallery. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. It was immediately assigned to the 72nd Bombardment Wing (Heavy) at Ramey AFB, Puerto Rico. Yes we grew up overseas and only went to Department of Defense Schools but it was amazing. In 1990, Blythevilles population was 23,443. of conventional or nuclear bombs, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=294. The population suffered as well. Some were torn down. The B-52 is one of the few planes I remember Dad talking about during his career at Hill Air Force Base. These windowless alert quarters were identical everywhere, with tunnel-like egress covered in corrugated steel. The Hound Dog was withdrawn in the 1970s and replaced with the AGM-69 SRAM, which could be carried in groups of 20 rather than just two of the huge Hound Dogs. Many times I stopped what I was doing and watched the full power, roaring and smoke trailing takeoffs. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. I grew up on Army bases overseas. Nowadays, the base goes by a few names. [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. 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. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. See original furniture from the famous alert compound, pictures, uniforms & other memorabilia including a . 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. However, some F-15E Strike Eagle units have begun painting nose art again, so reports of its demise is probably premature. All the glass is shattered. 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. B52 for his quick thinking, response to a crisis, and heroic duties. Sheila Russell Thurber. Learn how your comment data is processed. Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. In December of 1992, the base officially closed. The plane . 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. MEMORIES. View of the southern end of the former Blytheville AFB (Eaker AFB). Posted on Facebook by Michael Meagher, Photographer unknown. They also tended, in some cases, to be far more raunchy than even World War II or Korean nose art even dared--one popular one was to show a heavily pregnant Lucy Van Pelt from "Peanuts" screaming "Damn you, Charlie Brown!" Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. I hope they can save this base so that it doesnt get destroyed. 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 . In December 1972, after being repaired, it flew four additional missions over North Vietnam. [1] Then the airfield briefly became a processing center for the rapid demobilization of military personnel being discharged. 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. Save up to 30% when you upgrade to an image pack. I only ask that you send older photos (probably sometime before 1970).and they can be of People, Places in Blytheville, and Things. Microscopy, Atomic Force Pulmonary Ventilation Acoustic Impedance Tests. . Airplane Photos & Aviation Photos - View, Search, or Upload Photos! Thanks to Dave Howell for posting this photo of Miss Piggy and her crew. On the evening in question, Bruce was working for a local radio station, performing tests on their transmitters. The communication building of the 97th Bombardment Wing is in terrible condition as well. Today it is 14,011. At 14 I was hopping buses and trains and hanging out with friends in surrounding towns. 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. After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. [1], On 15 July 1955, the facility was reopened as Blytheville Air Force Base (AFB), when the 461st Bombardment Wing was moved from Hill Air Force Base in Utah. 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 . The small gold Hap Arnold Wings that appear just below my name tag was a gift from the widow of a deceased WWII USAAF pilot. - A Blytheville museum shining a light on Cold War history received funding supporting a planned primary exhibit. 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. 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. There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. 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. The United States no longer needed bombers and fuel-tankers to be on 24/7 alert. 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. Airport information, from map to hotels to aeronautical information. From its days as an Army Airfield until closing in 1992 as a major Strategic Air Command facility, the Blytheville Air Force Base told many stories. All photos (32) Top ways to experience nearby attractions. During the weekend of February 21st, 2022, the former N.C.O. The Library. 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. 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. Have history here? Since 1955, the B52 Stratofortress has been Americas go-to long-distance strategic bomber. The first DC-3s were ordered by the USAAF in 1941 under the designation C-47, but there was no way to predict that simple designation would become a legend, that over 10,000 would be built and that the plane would be listed by General Dwight Eisenhower as one of the four pieces of equipment most vital to our success in Africa and Europe. There were countless modifications to the C-47 fleet, some taking place at the factory and some in the field. It was located 3 miles (5 km) northwest of central Blytheville, Arkansas. Published: Jan. 11, 2022 at 6:25 PM PST. 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. Though, local organizations and legal entities constantly fight to preserve the base. for another radio code that would tell him to turn around. B.R.A.C. The KC135 replaced the KC97, as the latter could not keep up with newer, larger and faster aircraft. Looking for someone that served with you? Who knew that 41 years later I would have a new Mustang or even still be alive. In order to understand why Eaker Air Force Base closed, one has to dive into foreign, political, and socioeconomic issues of the late 1980s and early 1990s. Certain buildings are worth saving. During Eaker's height, Blytheville was roughly the same size as Jonesboro, Smith said. The aircraft in question was tail number 61-0023. 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. 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. Would love hear your stories or your thoughts. 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. 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 . Today, "Valkyrie" still wears her 1991-era SIOP camouflage and a SAC badge on the nose; the nose art is on the port side. 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.". Marker is at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Chestnut Drive, on the right when traveling east on Memorial Drive. In the bomb bay were ADM-20 Quail decoys. Blytheville, Walnut Ridge, Grider, Newport, Stuttgart, and Adams Field. The group was awarded two Distinguish Unit Citations during WWII and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award in 1962 during the Cuban Missile Crises. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. Ash. 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. 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. Housing for members of the military and their families was developed between 1957 and 1962 north and south . 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). What aRead more , Stationed there 1989-1992, loved the place and love the life long friends from there. action, the base has sat mostly dormant. This gallery is to showcase old photographs from Blytheville, Arkansas. Armament: Four defensive .50-cal. 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. My first year I worked in Procurement which is to the far right edge in this photo, it is the last building on the left along Memorial Drive, the wide street going left to right. Memphis Discovery Tour . Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . After Eaker Air Force Base was B.R.A.C.d, multiple buildings on the base were put up for sale, but never put to use properly. Building 1225, will be added to the collection of buildings as part of the future National Cold War Center. Community Profile: Blytheville, Ark., Spreads Its Wings after Air Force Base Closing. [4], It is a 247 acres (100ha) historic district which included 23 contributing buildings, 33 contributing structures, two contributing sites, a contributing object, as well as two non-contributing buildings. Eaker AFB was selected for closure under the Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round of 1991. 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. But it is well-worth the visit. 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. 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. Available for both RF and RM licensing. All of these were under the Strategic Air Command. As crew chiefs we had all spent many tours in the mole hole. Some of the land has since been declared a National Historic Landmark. It is very possible the paint that is peeling on the walls is lead-based. 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. 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. Notice my Mustang has what appears to be a trailer hitch. 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. 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. The 97th deployed to Edwards AFB, California, while operating this aircraft. Evans was from Osceola AR. By October of the same year the aircraft was moved to Robins AFB, Georgia. I was stationed at this base in 1972-1976 and worked in the 97th Supply Squadron which is one of the large buildings located near the center of the photo. The airplane dismantler used most of the tarmac we were using and we havent been back since before covid. 88 of the aircraft built are modified versions to serve specific purposes such as reconnaissance aircraft, and cargo carriers. The Blytheville Air Force Base Exhibition, a part of the National Cold War Center, is a permanent exhibit that showcases the air base and the people that lived and worked there. There was no need for the Global Shield. 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. But it is well-worth the visit. The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. . Beechcraft AT-10, and Curtiss-Wright AT-9s. [1] Other aircraft stationed at Blytheville AFB included: KC-97 refueler, B-52G bomber, KC-135A tanker, T-33 jet fighter, and the T-37 traineramong others. 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. Honorable Discharged at the rank of E5 Staff Sgt. 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. action specifically caters to closures and revitalization of U.S. military bases. Loved it. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. Blytheville Eaker Air Force Base - KBYH, USA - Arkansas; By: Brady Brooks Photos | Profile | Contact; Our B-52s had the Vietnam War Camo paint while this appears to have the Pre-Vietnam War SAC paint which our bombers had before their Vietnam days. 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. Eaker Air Force Base Historic District, Arkansas International Airport, and Blytheville Municipal Airport. As a kid in nearby Jonesboro, our cub scout pack got to visit what was then Blytheville AFB. After 30 years and learning the computer and finding VetFriends, I went to my first reunion of the USS Navasota AO-106. It seemed like every morning at 5:00 AM the flight line maintenance crews would fire up some of the airplanes engines. 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). When Vietnam ended and the USAF got back to peacetime, nose art once more disappeared. Communism had shriveled in the world. View allAll Photos Tagged Blytheville Air Force Base. Wing Headquarters. 3 items. Find the perfect adversary concept stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. 1942-1946, 1953-1992. Ritz. The Blytheville Air Force Base Alert Center and Alert Apron constructed as part of a national expansion of Strategic Air Command Facilities across the United States and its Territories, to help in creating a "program to safeguard nuclear deterrence" through the SAC Alert program. Ruth Eaker, General Eakers widow, signing autographs during the name change of the base in 1988. The 97th comm mustve been a very short lived entity as it was the 2101 CS / AFCC when I was there. 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 . Location. 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. 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. Details on 57-6486 are sparse; it may have seen combat over Vietnam with another unit.