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By NORMA KERNS DN Staff Writer“After an extensive review by Headquarters of the role played by\ir Division!:, the 42nd Air Division will be relocated to Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, ” Brigadier General David J. Pederson, commander of the Strategic Air Command 42nd Air Division announced yesterday, rhe move will take place the latter part of this year or early 1989, said 'he generalThe purpose of the move, stated Pederson, is to achieve more effective management for command and control of SAC forces and to improve the amount of assets realized from the elimination of 50 out of 120 manpower job positions within SAC - an anticipated savings of $1.5 to $2 million.Henceforth, Air Divisions will be located at dual-wing bases only. Said Pederson, “BAFB, as a base with a single mission (maintaining assigned units in a state ofreadiness) - even if approved for Rail Garrison and thereby obtaining a dual mission - will probably not acquire another Air Division. ’ ’“I want to emphasize that this movement is the only action concerning Blytheville AFB and no base closures are being considered as part of, or as a result of this action,” Pederson stressed.“This relocation will effect approximately 15 or 16 families who will either be absorbed into the 97th Bomb Wing at BAFB, trans-fered, or retire. Since the reorganization of SAC Air Divisions will be accomplished in stages, there will be a slow withdrawal of transferred personnel.”Other SAC actions will include:• Deactivation of the 4 Air Division at F.E. Warren AFB, Wyo.;• HAnnfivflHAW fsf Wia 10 A4r— +*** W'* w A * «*•» V * w*.* W* k** W *1/ ADivision at Carswell AFB, Tex.;• Deactivation of the 40 Air Division at Wurtsmith AFB, Mich.• The 12 Air Division at Dyess AFB, Texas will relocate to Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota.• The 3 Air Division at Andersen AFB, Guam will relocate to Hick-kam AFB, Haw.• An Air Division, yet to be announced, will be activated at Malmstrom AFB, Montana in approximately one year.• The 57 Air Division at Minot AFB, North Dakota will be restructured and remain in place.Currently the 42nd Air Division located at Blytheville AFB has five active duty wings reporting tothe Air Division Commander. The upcoming change will have the 42nd Air Division relocating to Grand Forks AFB. There, the Air Division Commander will be the installation commander and be responsible for the base management and the smooth operation of two complete wings, the 321 Strategic Missile Wing (Minute Man Ill’s) and 319 Bombardment Wing (B-lB’s and KC-135R’s). The current installation commander’s responsiblities at Grand Forks will be reduced and thus enable greater emphasis on operations and maintenance.The 42nd Air Division of theEighth Airforce first became active during WWII and achieved an illustrious history of raids and assaults throughout Italy, Sar-UiUirtuci luaiky»-**« »''*ctiiu r i ctuce.Since WWII, the 42nd Air Division has been relocated, activated and deactivated numerous times.Said Pederson, “During my year as Commander of the 42nd Air Division, I have been impressed with the amount of community support from Blytheville and Gosnell. It is absolutely tops. In this there is alot of similiarity between Grand Forks and Blytheville - except that Blytheville is flatter.”Official Cermony PlannedBAFB Becomes Eaker AFB MayFrom BLYTHEVILLE AFB Public Affairs OfficeBARKSDALE AFB, LA - The name of Blytheville Air Force Base, officially changes to Eaker Air Force Base in ceremonies set for 10:30 a.m., May 26. General Larry D. Welch, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force, will officiate at the ceremony.The change of names, announced recently by the Air Force, honors Gen. Ira C. Eaker, one of America’s true aviation pioneers, was the first commander of the ‘Mighty Eighth’ Air Force during World War II.General Eaker was born in Field Creek, Texas, in 1896 and grew up in southeastern Oklahoma near Durant. He entered the Army in 1917 and received his pilot’s rating in 1919. During his distinguished military career. General Eaker was instrumental in several key events including a Pan American Goodwill Flight in 1927, establishment of a world record for endurance in the famous ‘Question Mark’ in 1929, and the first transcontinental flight using aerial refueling in 1930.While attending the Army’s Command and Staff School at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, he coauthored, with H.H. ‘Hap’ Arnold, the first of their thfee books called “This Flying Game”. Pulished in 1936, it provided a vivid account of every aspect of the Army AirCorps. Their second book, published in 1937, was “Winged Warfare”. In addition to detailed discussion of all phases of air warfare, the book stressed the need for an Air Force separate from the Army and Navy. The final book co-authored with Arnold was ‘Army Flyer’ in 1942. It is a flying officer’s primer which explains the duties and rewards of a pilot career from aviation cadet to air general.General Eaker assumed command of the VII Bomber Command in February 1942, and later that year became the commander of Eighth Air Force England. At it’s peak, Eighth Air Force could launch more than 2,000 heavy bombers and over 1,000 fighters on a single mission, thus earning the nickname ‘Mighty Eighth’. Later(Continued on Page 8)KernsBrigadier General David J. Pederson (shown), Strategic Air Command 42nd Air Division Commander at BAFB announced yesterday the relocation of the Air Division to Grand Forks AFB,'North Dakota. The move will affect approximately 15 to 16 families, said Pederson, “I want to emphasize that this movement is the only action concerning Blytheville AFB. No base closures are being considered as part of, or as a result of this action.”BHS Students Get ‘Contract For LifeGENERAL IRA C. EAKERBy MICHELE DOI CN Staff WriterBLYTHEVILLE - The Blytheville High School Students Against Driving Drunk chapter set up a booth in the main hall of the school yesterday for students interested in receiving a “ContractFor Life' The booth is also open today The CFL is a formal written agreement signed by high school students and their parents acknowledging potential problems and the desire to face and manage them, say SADD officers.The contract helps students stay out of life-threatening situations when they may feel pressure to be a passenger in a car driven by someone who has been drinking. It offers students the assurance that parents will avoid placing students in drunk-driving situations by coming to their assistance when needed. The contract also offers students the chance to trust parents with their problems.“As graduation appproaches, frequent alcohol use will be apparent. Kids are going to want tocelebrate their accomplishments and overcoming a major milestone ir their life,” said BHS coach J.C. Comet, who is club sponsor. “What we are trying to do at S.A.D.D. is provide an alternative choice for these students. In case they are in a serious drunk-driving situation, these students will have an alternative.The key to the success of this program has to be the agreement of both parties, says Comet. “By this contract, if a student gets drunk or is found in a situation compromising his safety by driving with someone who has been drinking, he can count on his parents to come and pick him up, no questions asked. A family discussion will be postponed until the morning when everyone is feeling a little more rational.Once the student takes the contract home, the family should discuss the entirety of the contract and any problems that may arise because of it, Comet suggested. “After the contract is signed it should be displayed somewherewhere the parent and the student can see it, thus reminding them of their cooperative responsibilities.”S.A.D.D. — with the help of the Blytheville police department and the Blytheville Junior Auxilary — will provide “parent volunteer drivers” who will be on call 24 hours on May 27, the night of the senior prom, to drive students home after parties. “A student can call the police department and the dispatcher will contact a pair of the parents on call that that evening. Once the parents arrive, they will request the student’s name, address and directions to their home. After each trip the parents will report back to the dispatcher, and will be available for further calls as needed. ’ ’Each volunteer parent will be on call for one 12-hour shift, either the morning or evening shift. For more information on becoming a volunteer, call Jeanie Townsend at the Junior Auxilary House at 763-9450 or Comet at 763-7111.
Newspaper Details
Blytheville Courier News
Blytheville, Arkansas, US
Fri, May 13, 1988
Page 14
Full Page
Clipped by
Arkansas S.
AR, USA 26 Aug 2021
Other Publications Near Blytheville, Arkansas
Blytheville Army Air Corps News
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