Eaker (Blytheville) Air Force Base

In 1942 on Arkansas Delta farmland, Blytheville Air Force Base (BAFB) was built to serve as a training airfield during World War II for the 70,000 Pilot Training Program. Blytheville was chosen for its proximity to the Mississippi River, where supplies could be easily shipped in and out. In 1955, following WWIII, the base reopened after a temporary closure and became a fully operational U.S. Air Force Base equipped with three squadrons of B-57s. BAFB experienced a great deal of activity during the Cold War era. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, two B52G bombers stationed at BAFB were placed on airborne alert and poised to strike the Soviet Union with nuclear weapons, if necessary. Later, BAFB supported strike operations during the Vietnam War, launched rescue missions from the base to Grenada in 1983, and supported missions during Operation Desert Storm. The base was renamed Eaker Air Force Base in 1988, but was closed in 1992 as the Cold War era ended. Today, the BAFB site is home to the National Cold War Center.