Gosnell in Mississippi County, Arkansas — The American South (West South Central)

Brave Men from the 97th Bombardment Wing

1. Brave Men from the 97th Bombardment Wing Marker

Inscription.
To honor the memory of these brave men from the 97th Bombardment Wing at Blytheville Air Force Base who did not return after their B-52 aircraft was shot down over Hanoi, North Vietnam in December 1972

Col. Keith R. Heggen • Lt. Col. Donald L. Rissi • Major Bobby A. Kirby • Capt. Randall J. Craddock • Capt. George D. Lockhart • Capt. Ronald D. Perry • Capt. Robert J. Thomas • Capt. Charles E. Darr • SmSgt. Walter L. Ferguson

Erected by their families, compatriots and friends.

Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Vietnam. A significant historical month for this entry is December 1972.

Location. 35° 57.54′ N, 89° 57.74′ W. Memorial is in Gosnell, Arkansas, in Mississippi County. It is at the intersection of Memorial Drive and Chestnut Drive, on the right when traveling east on Memorial Drive. Located on the former Eaker Air Force Base (also known as Blytheville Air Force Base), a few blocks inside the west gate. Touch for map. Memorial is in this post office area: Gosnell AR 72319, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Arkansas Delta,

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Crowley’s Ridge,

and in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

the Louisiana Purchase,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 7 other markers are within 13 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Blytheville Black Commercial Historic District (approx. 3.8 miles away); Mississippi County Korean War Memorial (approx. 3.8 miles away); In Memoriam to those Men From Mississippi County Who Gave Their Lives in The Viet Nam War (approx. 3.8 miles away); Medal of Honor (approx. 3.8 miles away); United States of America (approx. 4 miles away); Hornersville (approx. 10 miles away in Missouri); Herman Davis (approx. 12.9 miles away).

More about this memorial. The Gosnell community has taken steps to ensure this memorial is preserved for future generations.

Also see . . . Eaker Air Force Base.

Close Up of the Plaque image. Click for full size.

2. Close Up of the Plaque

Blytheville/Eaker was an active Strategic Air Command until the post Cold War draw down in the 1990s. (Submitted on November 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.)

Photos at the Base of the Memorial (Part 1) image. Click for full size.

3. Photos at the Base of the Memorial (Part 1)

Photos at the Base of the Memorial (Part 2) image. Click for full size.

4. Photos at the Base of the Memorial (Part 2)

Photos at the Base of the Memorial (Part 3) image. Click for full size.

5. Photos at the Base of the Memorial (Part 3)

6. B-52 Model

7. Brave Men from the 97th Bombardment Wing Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on November 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 4,404 times since then and 57 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on November 4, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia.