Wikipedia

Blytheville Air Force Base

For the civil use of this facility and airport information, seeArkansas International Airport.

Blytheville Air Force Basewas aUnited States Air Forcebase that operated under the Tactical Air Command and Strategic Air Command from 1954 until its closure in 1992. The facility originally served as a B-25 pilot training school during WW2. For the majority of its operation, the base served as a home for SAC's B-52 ground alert program. In 1988, the facility was renamedEaker Air Force Basein honor ofWorld War IIGeneral of theEighth Air Force,Ira C. Eaker.[1]It was located 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest ofBlytheville, Arkansas.The facility now operates as the Arkansas Aeroplex andArkansas International Airport.

Eaker Air Force Base
Blytheville Air Force Base
Blytheville Army Airfield
Part of Strategic Air Command/Tactical Air Command
Blytheville, Arkansas
The former base's control tower
Eaker AFB is located in Arkansas
Eaker AFB
Eaker AFB
Eaker AFB is located in the United States
Eaker AFB
Eaker AFB
Coordinates35°57′52″N89°56′38″W/ 35.96444°N 89.94389°W/35.96444; -89.94389
TypeAir Force Base
Site information
Controlled byArmy Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command(1942-1945)

Continental Air Forces(1945-1946) Air Materiel Command(1946)
Tactical Air Command(1954–1958)

Strategic Air Command(1959–1991)
Site history
BuiltBlytheville Army Airfield - May 10, 1942; Blytheville Air Force Base - August 9, 1954
In use1942–1946, 1953–1992
Garrison information
Occupants25th Two-Engine Flying Training Group(1942-1945)

461st Bombardment Wing(1956–1958)

97th Bombardment Wing(1959–1991)

History

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Construction and World War 2

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Constructed on former agricultural land, the site was originally activated as the Blytheville Army Airfield in 1942. DuringWorld War II,the site served as a training airfield as part of the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. It was one of many air fields created in the country's interior during the war for this purpose. Blytheville, Arkansas was selected as a training location due to its proximity to theMississippi River,where supplies could easily be shipped to and from the site.[2]Construction of the airfield at Blytheville was quicker than other pilot schools in Arkansas, so the first groups to train at the base were originally intended forWalnut Ridge Army AirfieldandHelena Aerotechfor their basic training.[3]There were also additional auxiliary airfields atLuxora, AR,Manilla, AR,Hornersville, MO,Steele, MO,andCooter, MO.[4]

Buildings 430, 431, 432, 438, 439, and 440. These warehouses were constructed in 1942, and are the only WW2 era buildings left on the property.

The first casualty of the flight school was Herbert Perkins, a native of Virginia whose BT-13 crashed near the intermediate air field atLuxora, AR.[5]The airfield was used as the Southeastern Training Command's flight training school. Cadets trained on the AT-6, AT-9, and AT-10 to learn to fly the B-25.[2]Additionally, the flight school hosted a small number of TB-25Gs, a trainer version of the B-25.[6]In 1945, the base also hosted a glider school to train servicemen to fly theWaco CG-4.[7]The airfield closed in October 1945 after the Second World War ended.[1]Then the airfield briefly became a processing center for the rapid demobilization of military personnel being discharged. TheWar Assets Administrationofficially closed down the installation in 1946, at which point control and responsibility for the land was transferred to the city of Blytheville.[2]

Reopening under Tactical Air Command

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ACold War-era image of a B-52 being refueled by a KC-135

On 15 July 1955, the facility was reopened by theTactical Air Commandas Blytheville Air Force Base (AFB), when the461st Bombardment Wingwas moved fromHill Air Force Basein Utah. Blytheville AFB became fully operational when it was equipped with a wing of three squadrons ofB-57 bomberon 19 July 1955.[1]While the 461st never saw any combat during its time at Blytheville Air Force Base, it was assigned to a number of training exercises and experiments. The 461st Wing's B-57Bs participated on Operation Sagebrush,[8]Operation Redwing,[9][10]Operation Mobile Charlie, Operation Counter Punch, and Operation Able Vista.[11]

Transfer to Strategic Air Command

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Bunkers used to store nuclear weapons at Blytheville (Eaker) Air Force Base

On April 1, 1958, the base was formally transferred into theStrategic Air Command,as part of a planned expansion of the B-52 bomber program. In July 1959, the97th Bombardment Wingsubsequently 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 and SAC's ground alert program. AReady Alert Facilitywas constructed on the base in 1960, similar to others being built all over America at the time. Blytheville AFB experienced a great deal of activity throughout the Cold War era. The base was taken to a heightened state of alert on three occasions. First, the 4229th Air Base Unit was taken to a "personnel alert" during the 1958 Lebanon Crisis. Second, the base was taken toDEFCON2 and the 97th Bombardment Wing was placed on airborne alert on 22 October 1962, during theCuban Missile Crisis.Two B-52G bombers were readied to strike the Soviet Union with nuclear weapons if necessary—for which the wing received theAir Force Outstanding Unit Awardfor its performance during the crisis. And third, the base was taken to DEFCON 3 in 1973 during theYom Kippur War.[1][12]

Hangar 207 was constructed in 1954 for B-57 maintenance. It later served as the headquarters for the 97th Organizational Maintenance Squadron

During theVietnam Warthe 97th Bomber Wing at Blytheville supported strike operations throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. A bomber crew from Blytheville was among the first shot down duringOperation Linebacker II,a December 1972 mission targeting complexes inNorth Vietnam.Three crewmen died in the crash.[13]Six more men from the 97th were also lost in Vietnam, whose names are recognized on a memorial placard at the former base. 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.[2]It launched rescue missions from the base toGrenadain 1983 and in August 1990,[2]the pilots of the 97th Bomber Wing began practicing for missions in theMiddle Eastand eventually supportedOperation Desert Storm.[14]

B-52 releasing its payload over Vietnam

Renamed Eaker AFB and base closure

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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. 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. Unfortunately, Eaker Air Force Base topped the Strategic Air Command's list ofbase closures in 1991and with theCold Warcoming to an end, the installation was officially chosen; in March 1992, the last aircraft left the base. 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 theDepartment of the Interior (DOI),theFish and Wildlife Service (FWS),and theDepartment of Veterans Affairs (VA).Some of the land has since been declared aNational Historic Landmark.[1]

Building 202 was constructed in 1954 as a pilot training center for the 461st BMS. It now houses the BAFB Exhibition, the first permanent exhibit of the National Cold War Center

The base closure cost the community over 700 civilian jobs, but half of these were recovered through the adaptive reuse of the former base, such asUnited States Post Office'sutilization of the base in the late 1990s as an airport hub during the holidays, some of the base housing being converted by Westminster Village of the Mid-South for a retirement community, the construction of a $2.5 million sports complex by the local community, and the private investment of some $3 million for the creation of the Thunder Bayou Golf Course.[1]

Arkansas Aeroplex and The National Cold War Center

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Within a decade of the base's closure, the facility was reopened as the Arkansas Aeroplex, also known as theArkansas International Airport.The main tenant of the Aeroplex is Aviation Repair Technologies, which specializes in large aircraft repair.[15]

In 2020, the National Cold War Center was created by local citizens to take the base's former SAC Alert Facility and turn it into the primary exhibit for a museum that focused on the many aspects of the Cold War.[16]

Historic Districts

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Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District
Building 1225, the Readiness Crew Building of the base's SAC alert facility. It is currently being restored to become a museum exhibit.
Location4701 Memorial Drive,Blytheville, Arkansas
Coordinates35°57′33″N89°57′47″W/ 35.95917°N 89.96306°W/35.95917; -89.96306
Area247 acres (100 ha)
NRHP referenceNo.100001999[17]
Added to NRHP26 January 2018

The facility houses two historic districts, theBlytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic Districtand theBlytheville Air Force Base Capehart Housing Historic District.Both were listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 2018.[17]

The SAC Alert Facility is a 247 acres (100 ha)historic districtwhich included 23contributing buildings,33contributing structures,twocontributing sites,acontributing object,as well as two non-contributing buildings. The facility was originally constructed in 1960 after the Strategic Air Command took over the base.[12]

In April 2022, the National Cold War Center began working to restore the facility as its primary exhibit.[16]

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  • Emblems for Commands and Units assigned to and overseeing Blytheville Air Force Base
  • Army Air Forces Eastern Flying Training Command emblem
  • Tactical Air Command emblem
  • 461st Bombardment Wing, Tactical emblem
  • 764th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical patch
  • 765th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical patch
  • 766th Bombardment Squadron, Tactical patch
  • Strategic Air Command Emblem
  • 42nd Air Division emblem
  • 97th Bombardment Wing, Heavy Patch
  • 340th Bombardment Squadron, Heavy patch
  • 97th Air Refueling Squadron, Heavy patch

Major commands to which assigned

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97th Wing B-52 2580 "Miss Piggy" flying in formation with Canadian F-101Bs

Major units assigned

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B-52G 58-0231 sitting on the apron at Blytheville Air Force Base. The base's Readiness Crew Building and Weapon Storage are in the far background.

Major aircraft assigned

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See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdefHartley 2018.
  2. ^abcde"Encyclopedia of Arkansas".Encyclopedia of Arkansas.Retrieved24 November2023.
  3. ^"Expansion of the Army Air Force".WINGS OF HONOR.Retrieved24 November2023.
  4. ^Blytheville Army Air Field: Army Air Forces Southeast Training Center.Baton Rogue, LA: Army and Navy Publishing Company. 1942.
  5. ^"First death of cadet at BAAF flight school".The Courier News.14 August 1942. p. 1.Retrieved24 November2023.
  6. ^"USAF Summary Sheet".aviationarchaeology.Retrieved24 November2023.
  7. ^ab"BAAF Glider crash".The Jackson Sun.2 August 1945. p. 10.Retrieved9 December2023.
  8. ^"Abstract for IRISNUM= 00458574".Air Force History Index.Air Force Historical Research Agency. 10 May 1990.Retrieved24 November2023.
  9. ^"Abstract for IRISNUM= 00458575".Air Force History Index.Air Force Historical Research Agency. 10 May 1990.Retrieved24 November2023.
  10. ^Operation REDWING 1956(Report).
  11. ^"Abstract for IRISNUM= 00458578".Air Force History Index.Air Force Historical Research Agency. 10 May 1990.Retrieved24 November2023.
  12. ^abEdward Salo; Edward Harthorn; Zach Mitchell; Frank Walker; Travis Raterman (11 September 2017)."National Register of Historic Places Registration: Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District"(PDF).National Park Service.Retrieved19 February2018.With maps and 23 photos.
  13. ^Heard 2018.
  14. ^"About".Hulk 46.Retrieved24 November2023.
  15. ^AP (18 October 2008)."New aviation repair facility opens".Baxter Bulletin.p. 3.Retrieved23 December2023.
  16. ^abcjrw, CJRW- (31 March 2022)."Ready Alert Facility Restoration Ground-Breaking Event".The National Cold War Center.Retrieved24 November2023.
  17. ^ab"National Register of Historic Places: Weekly list".National Park Service.26 January 2018.
  18. ^"C-47A" Skytrain "– Strategic Air Command & Aerospace Museum".sacmuseum.org.Retrieved24 November2023.

Bibliography

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