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. BLYTHEVILLE ARMY AIRFIELD 1942. Home of 96th Bombardment Wing: 1953-1957; 11th . If was really not abandoned til 10 year ago becuae I went to preschool on the base then I got shut down because all of us got sick becuase the heat and air went out. Donate to our causeCheck out our books! The Cold War had come to and end. Certain buildings are worth saving. 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. 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). Opened in late 2020, the BAFB Exhibition features memorabilia, video and personal stories of the base from its 1942 beginnings until closure in 1992. To differentiate ALCM-equpped B-52Gs from unmodified aircraft, a wing fairing was added solely for the benefit of Soviet reconnaissance satellites, in accordance with arms control treaties. Microscopy, Atomic Force Pulmonary Ventilation Acoustic Impedance Tests. Location. The United States no longer needed bombers and fuel-tankers to be on 24/7 alert. During its test flight, Boeing was performing tests to show the aircrafts resilience against low-altitude turbulence. Some were torn down. A total of 820 KC135s have been produced since 1956. 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!" 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. Jwt708 Well-Known Member. The program was comprised of just over 1100 women. The 1980s saw something of a resurgence--oddly enough, mostly among Strategic Air Command units. Mold and asbestos float through the air like dust that just got kicked up. 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; . As the 97th Bomb Group it's B-17 were the first to drop bombs on the Germans in France in 1942. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. Blytheville Air Force Base, Blytheville . The Strategic Air Command had reached the end of the road. Timeline photos. In 1945 the U. S. Army Air Field was deactivated and the cemetery reverted to the City of Blytheville Arkansas. 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. Pinterest. 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. Located on the former Eaker Air Force Base (also known as Blytheville Air Force Base), a few blocks inside the west gate. 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. 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. Eaker Air Force Base was originally named Blytheville Army Airfield when it was built in 1942. Though, local organizations and legal entities constantly fight to preserve the base. The 97th deployed to Edwards AFB, California, while operating this 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. The exhibits are impactful and tell the story of Base history. Property is disposed of, and the government cleans up after itself. Like the Arc Light strikes of Vietnam, Iraqi forces on the ground could not hear or see B-52s before they struck. ", From: www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/facility/bomber_alert.htm. Touch device users, explore by touch or with swipe . Over 1,000,000 pictures Profile pictures. Only ten B-52Gs survive today as museum pieces. The B-52 Stratofortress force had always been intended to be supplemented by newer designs, allowing older types and eventually the B-52 itself to be retired. Club was demolished. The nine surviving jets are scattered from coast to coast most of them restored and on display. Owners of said buildings had big ambitions to renovate and repurpose the old buildings, but either plans never took off or money was tight. New in 1960. The model is on a 1/72 scale with a 26" wingspan. The B52 Stratofortress was the answer to all the problems found in the Convair B36 Peacemaker and the B24. This would determine if the base could go on operating in the future, or if it was deemed unnecessary to continue service. I really hope some other people can find this service and get in touch with people like I did. It was rolled out of Boeings Wichita plant. When Castle closed in 1995, 57-6486 was retired and sent to AMARG in Arizona; it was scrapped soon thereafter as part of the START arms reduction treaty. Stock photos, 360 images, vectors and videos. Hear those stories come to life from the soldiers who served at the BAFB Exhibition. This is not my photograph so it may not be used for commercial purposes. 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. It is planned to be its own exhibit within the system of buildings. View of the southern end of the former Blytheville AFB (Eaker AFB). There were VIP transports (designated VC-47A/B) and there were SC-47s used as search and rescue aircraft. 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 KC135 replaced the KC97, as the latter could not keep up with newer, larger and faster aircraft. "Valkyrie" would fly a few more missions during the war, the only time she would drop bombs in anger. 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. Though, the program and its members were not considered truly military nor pilots until the 1970s. The base was deactivated in 1945 at the end of World War II. Cover photos. Scrapped at Birmingham AL in 1997. Of the 3,778 acres the base is comprised of, two thirds of the land is abandoned. 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. (For some reason, this "Hotshot" never got eyes.). . Airman First Class Monex Thomas of the Blytheville Air Force Base died in an aircraft training incident on August 1 1982. 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). When I arrived in July 1972, Blytheville Air Force Base's B-52s, KC-135s, pilots, navigators, electronic warfare officers, tail gunners and many . [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. (photo courtesy of Delta) On Tuesday, June 2, 2020, Delta Air Lines . And this is a photo of the HULK 46 design that the . . Enter your email address to subscribe to Abandoned Arkansas and receive notifications of new posts by email. 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. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. Ruth Eaker, General Eakers widow, signing autographs during the name change of the base in 1988. Suggest edits to improve what we show. Eaker Air Force Base is located approximately 3 miles northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas, on Interstate 55 between St Louis and Memphis. In 1988, the based was renamed to honor World War II General, Ira C. Eaker. Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons of B-57 bomber on 19 July 1955. My 1966 Ford Mustang was setting in the parking lot the day we watched this jet fly. 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. Gosnell appears right center of the photo.. Today it is the headquarters for the group that runs the old base for civilian use and the aircraft are: I was promoted to Staff Sergeant after 37 months of active duty plus 5 months delayed enlistment program. Albums. Currently, the wet carpet has molded over and over again. It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. The local economy tankedand unemployment skyrocketed. Eaker. These windowless alert quarters were identical everywhere, with tunnel-like egress covered in corrugated steel. The communication building of the 97th Bombardment Wing is in terrible condition as well. TWS is the largest online community of Veterans existing today and is a powerful Veteran locator. This Abandoned Air Force base is located three miles Northwest of Blytheville, Arkansas. Compared to hose style fueling systems, flying booms of KC135s are very unforgiving to errors. 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. Several C-47s were fitted with pontoons and redesignated C-47C. 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. [3] Six more men from the 97th were also lost in Vietnam, whose names are recognized on a memorial placard at the former base. I thanked my dad for my upbringing. 97th Bomb Wing has a long and honorable history. 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. 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 . Community Profile: Blytheville, Ark., Spreads Its Wings after Air Force Base Closing. Nearly 750 were built before production ended in the fall of 1962; 170 of these were B-52Ds. The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport. of conventional or nuclear bombs, www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=294. 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. A B52 with a full nuclear payload, is the seventh most powerful country in the world.. Nearly 750 were built before production ended in Oct. 26, 1962; 170 of these were B-52Ds. Blytheville Air Force Base. 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. 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. Communism had shriveled in the world. Hopefully the site will become available again for us. Photo by Democrat-Gazette file photo . CENTCOM commander H. Norman Schwartzkopf demanded continual B-52 strikes-- eventually forty percent of all ordnance expended--and the results were devastating. In 1955 North Sawba Cemetery once again returned to government jurisdiction with the activation of Blytheville Air Force Base later renamed Eaker Air Force Base, until base closure December 1992.

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