OPINION | REX NELSON: From bombers to businesses

This article originally appeared in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Find it here.

By Rex Nelson

May 3, 2025

Blytheville Air Force Base was a busy place during the Cold War.

"The 97th Bombardment Wing was placed on airborne alert Oct. 22, 1962, when it was discovered that nuclear missile silos were being constructed in Cuba with Soviet assistance," Jillian Hartley writes for the Central Arkansas Library System's Encyclopedia of Arkansas. "The following day, the Strategic Air Command declared Defense Readiness Condition (DEFCON) II for the first time in American history. Two B-52G bombers were placed on airborne alert and were ready to strike the Soviet Union with nuclear weapons if necessary.

"The standoff ended, and the wing returned on Nov. 15. The wing was presented with the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award for its performance during the crisis. The 97th was involved in the Vietnam War in the late 1960s and early 1970s. In 1965, it participated in the refueling of fighter jets in Operation Young Tiger. Pilots of the wing were stationed at Guam while the B-52s remained at the base. In 1972, all of the bombers were temporarily moved to Guam."

The 97th later returned to Arkansas. It launched rescue missions from the base to Grenada in 1983. In 1988, the base's name was changed to honor Lt. Gen. Ira C. Eaker, commander of the Mighty Eighth Air Force during World War II. In 1990, the 97th began practicing for missions in the Middle East and eventually was part of Operation Desert Storm. Eaker Air Force Base closed in 1992.

"Surrounding communities benefited greatly from the military funding that poured into the base and the cultural contributions of the base's diverse military personnel," Hartley writes. "Scientists, engineers and other personnel who worked at the base enhanced the ethnic and societal composition of the agricultural county.

"Eaker topped SAC's list of base closures in 1991. The Cold War was coming to an end, and the military had decided to start retiring the large B-52G bombers, the housing and launching of which was the single mission of the base. The base closed Dec. 15, 1992. The 97th Air Mobility Wing, now organized under the Air Mobility Command, was transferred to Altus Air Force Base in Oklahoma. The last aircraft, named the City of Blytheville, left in March 1992."

Federal guidelines gave the Air Force six years to complete a costly environmental cleansing process and then get rid of the property. Part of the land was given to local and state entities. The former base was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in January 2018.

"Withdrawal of the last 3,500 airmen in December 1992 had an immediate impact on Mississippi County," Hartley writes. "The Gosnell School District lost half of its enrollment. What's now Arkansas Northeastern College lost about 20 percent of its students. Mississippi County's unemployment rate increased more than 5 percent the year after the base closed. The population dropped by 5,546 people during the 1990s.

"The former base is now used by a variety of businesses, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and the community. Now called the Arkansas Aeroplex, it's a transportation facility that has utilized former base structures and facilities, including the runway. The runway, which stretches 11,600 feet, is the largest runway available for public use in Arkansas."

I've written in two recent columns about plans for the National Cold War Center. With Mississippi County receiving more attention from economic developers due to a boom in the steel industry, there's also an increased effort to market the former base to employers.

"We're strategically positioned to serve as a hub for industries in aviation and logistics," says Barry Harrison, president of the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority. "Our goal is to continue to expand these sectors, bringing more high-quality jobs to the region."

Aviation Repair Technologies operates a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility at Arkansas Aeroplex. Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Textron Aviation have used the base for testing and training. Congress designated $2 million to Arkansas Aeroplex last year for continued site cleaning. More than $1 million was also invested last year in runway upgrades.

Also in 2024, the Arkansas Aerospace and Defense Alliance hosted a meeting for the first time at Arkansas Aeroplex. Mississippi County Judge John Alan Nelson calls the former base "a cornerstone of our economic strategy" in northeast Arkansas.

"We're not just talking about aviation here," Nelson says. "This is an industrial park that's attracting a range of businesses from aerospace to manufacturing. It's providing good-paying jobs, and it's helping us diversify the economy. It's perfectly positioned to serve as a logistics and transportation hub. ... It's about making sure that we're taking full advantage of the resources we have and creating new opportunities for business development."

Harrison says he and Nelson are working closely with area high schools and Arkansas Northeastern College to ensure that the region's workforce has the skills necessary to meet the needs of companies being recruited to Arkansas Aeroplex.

"The growth we're seeing is only the beginning," Harrison says. "We're working on plans to attract even more companies, particularly in aviation and logistics. We're also focused on improving the facilities, from upgrading the hangars to enhancing our transportation infrastructure. This will make us even more attractive to businesses that are looking for a reliable and well-equipped location."

Senior Editor Rex Nelson's column appears regularly in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. He's also the author of the Southern Fried blog at rexnelsonsouthernfried.com.