blytheville air force base photos blytheville air force base photos

Contributions to PAs Most Endangered List, National Register of Historic Places (Jan, 26th 2018). After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. When autocomplete results are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Arkansas Razorbacks. 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. Club was demolished. 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. The War Assets Administration officially closed down the installation in 1946, at which point control and responsibility for the land was transferred to the city of Blytheville. If you served in Blytheville Air Force Base, Join TWS for free to reconnect with service friends. Housing for members of the military and their families was developed between 1957 and 1962 north and south . Learn how your comment data is processed. Veteran C. Young. 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. 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. 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. On January 31st, 2022, the Arkansas Aeroplex officially announced that work had been started on restoring Building 1225. Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . 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. 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. 35 57.54 N, 89 57.74 W. Marker is in Gosnell, Arkansas, in Mississippi County. This view also shows how well 58-0183 is preserved, and the EVS bulges beneath the B-52's nose. 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. These three 97th BW aircraft were stationed and flown out of Anderson AFB, Guam, as part of the 72nd Strategic Wing (Provisional). Currently, the main tarmac is used as Blythevilles airport. This is like the B-52Gs with the North American AGM-28 Nuclear Hound Dog Missiles assigned to my base. 10 free downloads. Blytheville Air Force Base, Arkansas. All of these were under the Strategic Air Command. In July 1963 the aircraft was stationed at Beale AFB, California, with the 456th Bombardment Wing (H). 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). [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. It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. 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 . Tiling soaked in stagnant water squishes under your feet, anything that could be rusted, is rusted. Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. 2, no. 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. This gallery is to showcase old photographs from Blytheville, Arkansas. (Some joked that the ladies might just paint hunky guys on their aircraft!). 88 of the aircraft built are modified versions to serve specific purposes such as reconnaissance aircraft, and cargo carriers. An exploration of the base's history and its impact on the community. 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. 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. Military Photos; Military Reunion Stories; Military Service Map; Military Cadences; Military Jokes; Military Lingo; Great Military Web Pages; Recommended Military Books; Today in Military . Unbeknownst to the crew, over seventy percent of the vertical stabilizer and rudder assembly had been sheared off. Military. 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. Serial Number 61-0023 landed safely in Blytheville. 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. The original, one-of-a-kind model was created by P.J. The 1980s saw something of a resurgence--oddly enough, mostly among Strategic Air Command units. In the Monett City Park is displayed the USAF Thunderbird F-4E Phantom II #3 Jet. I only ask that you send older photos (probably sometime before 1970).and they can be of People, Places in Blytheville, and Things. Mold and asbestos float through the air like dust that just got kicked up. On Jan. 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. 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. It was good to see jets setting on the tarmac, even if they are only civilian jets. But it is well-worth the visit. Today the base is mostly in a decrepit state of disrepair. After extensive renovations, the "BAFB Exhibition", at the former Blytheville/Eaker Air Force Base, is open for business. . 3 talking about this. The US needed a long range aircraft able to refuel other long range aircraft. 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. Though, local organizations and legal entities constantly fight to preserve the base. Flickr photos, groups, and tags related to the "blythevilleairforcebase" Flickr tag. Armament: Four defensive .50-cal. 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. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. Of reinforced concrete and concrete-block construction, moleholes were of two-story height, with one story below ground. Pictures, photos and images from Blytheville, AR. On the evening in question, Bruce was working for a local radio station, performing tests on their transmitters. [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. 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. Though, due to high traffic in that area, the aircraft had to change its course and headed for Blytheville Air Force Base instead. It is aRead more . [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. Was stationed there from 1967 to 1970 with 97th AMS, the old A&E Squadron. I hope they can save this base so that it doesnt get destroyed. 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. 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. Cover photos. The aircraft was flown from Castle AFB to Hill AFB, Utah, in its final flight. 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 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. Though, the program and its members were not considered truly military nor pilots until the 1970s. 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. (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. Jun 18, 2016 - blytheville afb photos | Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . The 456th completed deployments to Anderson AB in Guam with this B-52G. Touch . The majority of buildings have suffered the same fate. GitHub export from English Wikipedia. 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. 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 . A photo of my Mustang in the snow at Barker's Trailerpark in Blytheville Arkansas. Find the perfect adversary concept stock photo, image, vector, illustration or 360 image. 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. 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. These jets were flown from 1969 to Feb 1974 when they were retired due to the oil crisis. When Operation Linebacker and especially Linebacker II taxed the Southeast Asia-based B-52D fleet to the limit, President Richard Nixon authorized the G models to be deployed to Vietnam as well. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. It launched rescue missions from the base to Grenada in 1983 and in August 1990, the pilots of the 97th Bomber Wing began practicing for missions in the Middle East and eventually supported Operation Desert Storm. I had a great time and intend to go again next year. Community Profile: Blytheville, Ark., Spreads Its Wings after Air Force Base Closing. at the old Blytheville Air Force Base now called the Blytheville Aeroplex where the city is planning to invest $20 million . The KC135, along with the B52 is one of the only fixed wing aircraft with over fifty years of service. BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. Hear those stories come to life from the soldiers who served at the BAFB Exhibition. It was also a B-52 that made the first airborne hydrogen bomb drop over Bikini Atoll on May 21, 1956. machine guns in tail plus up to 43,000+ lbs. Pinterest. "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. Yes we grew up overseas and only went to Department of Defense Schools but it was amazing. 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 . 1950's. Janet Austin - Duplessis. The effect on the neighboring towns of Gosnell and Blytheville the closure had on were tremendous. 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. Formerly the site of family housing for Eaker Air Force Base, Westminster Village is a non-profit community. 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. Ruth Eaker, General Eakers widow, signing autographs during the name change of the base in 1988. Buy None was a no notice operational exercise conducted in 1989. The population suffered as well. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. The accounting & financing building has a large and open floor plan. Blytheville air force base photos. 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 nose art of the B-52 version is a faithful reproduction of the B-17 version--one of the many Varga Girls that decorated World War II-era aircraft. [1] Then the airfield briefly became a processing center for the rapid demobilization of military personnel being discharged. [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.