QUICK FACTS
Created Jan 0001
Status Verified Sarcastic
Type Existential Dread
Keywords
united states air force, tactical air command, strategic air command, continental air forces, air materiel command, blytheville, arkansas

Blytheville Air Force Base

“The article you’re referencing is about Blytheville Air Force Base, later redesignated Eaker Air Force Base. It’s a rather dry account of a place that,...”

Contents
  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Etymology
  • 3. Cultural Impact

The article you’re referencing is about Blytheville Air Force Base, later redesignated Eaker Air Force Base. It’s a rather dry account of a place that, frankly, saw more action in the shadows of global tension than on any actual battlefield. Still, facts are facts, and I’m not here to invent drama where there was none. But I will flesh it out, because apparently, the original was too… concise.

Eaker Air Force Base

For the civilian operations and airport information, you can consult Arkansas International Airport .

Eaker Air Force Base, formerly known as Blytheville Air Force Base, and before that, Blytheville Army Airfield, was a significant installation within the United States Air Force structure. Its operational life spanned from its initial activation during World War II until its closure in 1992. For a considerable period, it fell under the purview of both the Tactical Air Command and, more notably, the Strategic Air Command .

Site Information

Type: Air Force Base

Controlled By:

Location: Blytheville, Arkansas

Site History:

  • Built as Blytheville Army Airfield: May 10, 1942
  • Reactivated as Blytheville Air Force Base: August 9, 1954
  • Renamed Eaker Air Force Base: 1988
  • In Use: 1942–1946, 1953–1992

Garrison Information:

Blytheville Air Force Base was a United States Air Force installation that operated under the command of both the Tactical Air Command and later, the Strategic Air Command. Its operational tenure extended from 1954 until its eventual decommissioning in 1992. Prior to its Air Force designation, the site served as a training ground for B-25 pilots during the tumultuous years of World War II. For the bulk of its existence as an Air Force base, it was a critical home for Strategic Air Command’s B-52 ground alert program. In 1988, a significant renaming occurred, with the facility being honored as Eaker Air Force Base, a tribute to World War II General Ira C. Eaker , who commanded the esteemed Eighth Air Force . The base was geographically situated approximately 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of the city of Blytheville, Arkansas . Today, the grounds have been repurposed and now function as the Arkansas Aeroplex and Arkansas International Airport .

History

Pre-base History: Construction and World War II

The land that would eventually become Blytheville Army Airfield was once agricultural terrain. Its activation in 1942 marked the beginning of its military service. During World War II , the airfield was a vital component of the expansive 70,000 Pilot Training Program, one of many such facilities established across the American interior to meet the insatiable demand for trained aviators. The choice of Blytheville, Arkansas, was strategically influenced by its proximity to the Mississippi River , which facilitated the efficient transport of supplies and personnel.

The construction of the Blytheville airfield proceeded with remarkable speed, outstripping other pilot training schools in Arkansas. Consequently, the initial cadre of trainees destined for Walnut Ridge Army Airfield and Helena Aerotech for their basic training were rerouted to Blytheville. The base’s training infrastructure was further supported by a network of auxiliary airfields located in nearby communities, including those at Luxora, AR , Manilla, AR , Hornersville, MO , Steele, MO , and Cooter, MO .

Remarkably, certain structures from this World War II era still stand. Buildings 430, 431, 432, 438, 439, and 440, all constructed in 1942, are the sole remaining examples of original WW2 architecture on the property.

The early days of flight training were not without their tragedies. Herbert Perkins, a native of Virginia, became the first casualty of the flight school when his BT-13 crashed near the auxiliary airfield at Luxora, AR . The airfield functioned as the primary flight training school for the Southeastern Training Command. Cadets honed their skills on aircraft like the AT-6 , AT-9 , and AT-10 , preparing them for the complexities of flying the B-25 bomber. A small contingent of TB-25Gs, specifically designed as trainer versions of the B-25, were also present. In 1945, the airfield broadened its scope by hosting a glider school, training servicemen in the operation of the Waco CG-4 glider. Following the conclusion of the Second World War, the airfield was officially closed in October 1945. It then briefly served as a processing center for the swift demobilization of military personnel. The War Assets Administration formally decommissioned the installation in 1946, transferring control and responsibility for the land to the city of Blytheville.

Reopening Under Tactical Air Command

The facility experienced a revival on July 15, 1955, when the Tactical Air Command reactivated it as Blytheville Air Force Base (AFB). This reopening coincided with the relocation of the 461st Bombardment Wing from Hill Air Force Base in Utah. Blytheville AFB achieved full operational status on July 19, 1955, when it was equipped with a wing comprising three squadrons of B-57 bombers .

Although the 461st Wing never engaged in combat during its tenure at Blytheville, it actively participated in numerous training exercises and experimental operations. Its B-57B aircraft were instrumental in exercises such as Operation Sagebrush, Operation Redwing , Operation Mobile Charlie, Operation Counter Punch, and Operation Able Vista.

Transfer to Strategic Air Command

A pivotal shift occurred on April 1, 1958, when the base was formally integrated into the Strategic Air Command . This move was part of a broader strategic initiative to expand the B-52 bomber program. In July 1959, the 97th Bombardment Wing assumed command of the base. This wing brought with it the formidable long-range B-52G bomber and the essential KC-135A Stratotanker aerial refueling aircraft, crucial for sustaining bomber operations and the SAC’s critical ground alert posture.

To enhance readiness, a Ready Alert Facility was constructed on the base in 1960, mirroring similar facilities being erected across the United States. Blytheville AFB was a hive of activity throughout the intense period of the Cold War. The base was placed on heightened alert status on three separate occasions, each reflecting escalating global tensions.

The first instance involved the 4229th Air Base Unit being put on “personnel alert” during the 1958 Lebanon Crisis. The second, and most critical, occurred on October 22, 1962, when the base was elevated to DEFCON 2, and the 97th Bombardment Wing was placed on airborne alert during the harrowing Cuban Missile Crisis . Two B-52G bombers were prepped for immediate nuclear strikes against the Soviet Union should the situation necessitate it. The wing’s exemplary performance during this crisis earned it the prestigious Air Force Outstanding Unit Award . The third alert occurred in 1973, when the base was raised to DEFCON 3 during the Yom Kippur War .

Hangar 207, built in 1954 for the maintenance of B-57 aircraft, later served as the headquarters for the 97th Organizational Maintenance Squadron.

During the protracted Vietnam War , the 97th Bomber Wing stationed at Blytheville played a supporting role in strike operations throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s. A bomber crew from Blytheville was among the first to be lost during Operation Linebacker II , a series of intense bombing missions targeting strategic complexes in North Vietnam in December 1972. Tragically, three crew members perished in the crash. An additional six men from the 97th were lost in Vietnam, their names commemorated on a memorial plaque at the former base. In 1972, in response to the escalating conflict, all bombers were temporarily relocated to Guam before their eventual return to Blytheville AFB, at which point the installation resumed its standard operational tempo. The base also launched rescue missions to Grenada in 1983. Furthermore, in August 1990, pilots from the 97th Bomber Wing commenced training for potential missions in the Middle East , ultimately contributing to Operation Desert Storm .

A B-52 is depicted releasing its payload during operations over Vietnam.

Renamed Eaker AFB and Base Closure

In 1988, the U.S. Air Force officially bestowed a new name upon Blytheville AFB: Eaker AFB. This renaming was a deliberate act to honor General Ira Eaker, a distinguished figure of World War II and former commander of the 8th Air Force. The decision was partly fueled by rumors of the base’s potential closure; officials harbored the hope that the esteemed name would resonate with military leadership and bolster arguments for the base’s continued operation. Regrettably, these hopes were ultimately dashed. Eaker Air Force Base found itself at the apex of the Strategic Air Command’s list for closure in 1991. With the Cold War drawing to a close, the installation was officially slated for decommissioning, and by March 1992, the final aircraft had departed the base.

In the wake of the closure, concerted efforts were undertaken by local and federal officials to mitigate the adverse economic impact on the Blytheville community. The site underwent extensive cleanup, and the land was subsequently redistributed to various entities, including the Department of the Interior (DOI) , the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) , and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) . Portions of the land have since been recognized as a National Historic Landmark .

Building 202, constructed in 1954 as a pilot training center for the 461st Bombardment Squadron, now houses the BAFB Exhibition, which serves as the inaugural permanent exhibit for the National Cold War Center.

The closure of the base resulted in the loss of over 700 civilian jobs. However, a significant portion of these jobs were eventually recreated through the adaptive reuse of the former base facilities. This included the utilization of the base by the United States Post Office in the late 1990s as a crucial airport hub during the holiday season. Some of the former base housing was repurposed by Westminster Village of the Mid-South into a retirement community. The local community invested in the construction of a $2.5 million sports complex, and private entities injected approximately $3 million to establish the Thunder Bayou Golf Course.

Arkansas Aeroplex and The National Cold War Center

Within a decade of the base’s closure, the transformed facility reopened as the Arkansas Aeroplex, concurrently operating as Arkansas International Airport . The primary tenant of the Aeroplex is Aviation Repair Technologies, a company specializing in the repair of large aircraft.

In 2020, a group of local citizens established the National Cold War Center. Their initiative focused on repurposing the base’s former SAC Alert Facility into the main exhibit space for a museum dedicated to exploring the multifaceted aspects of the Cold War.

Historic Districts

The site encompasses two distinct historic districts, both of which were officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2018: the Blytheville Air Force Base Strategic Air Command (SAC) Alert and Weapons Storage Areas Historic District and the Blytheville Air Force Base Capehart Housing Historic District.

The SAC Alert Facility, a 247-acre (100 ha) historic district , comprises 23 contributing buildings , 33 contributing structures , two contributing sites , and one contributing object , alongside two non-contributing buildings. The construction of this facility commenced in 1960, shortly after the Strategic Air Command assumed control of the base.

In April 2022, the National Cold War Center initiated restoration efforts for the SAC Alert Facility, intending to establish it as their central exhibit.

This section displays the emblems of various commands and units that were assigned to or oversaw Blytheville Air Force Base:

Major Commands to Which Assigned

Major Units Assigned

A B-52G, serial number 58-0231, is pictured on the apron at Blytheville Air Force Base. In the background, the base’s Readiness Crew Building and Weapon Storage facilities are visible.

Major Aircraft Assigned

See Also