Ellsworth Air Force Base

Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located approximately 10 miles northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, near Box Elder, South Dakota. The base is home to the 28th Bomb Wing and is named in honor of Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth, a United States Army Air Forces officer who was killed in a plane crash in 1953. The base has a long history dating back to 1942, when it was established as a United States Army Air Forces base during World War II, with notable commanders including General Curtis LeMay and General Carl A. Spaatz. The base has also been associated with notable figures such as Chuck Yeager, Jimmy Doolittle, and Curtis LeMay.

● History

The history of the base is closely tied to the development of the United States Air Force and its predecessors, including the United States Army Air Corps and the United States Army Air Forces. The base was established in 1942 as a training facility for B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator bomber crews, with the 44th Bombardment Group and the 90th Bombardment Group being among the first units to be stationed at the base. During World War II, the base played an important role in the training of bomber crews, with notable squadrons including the 366th Bombardment Squadron and the 367th Bombardment Squadron. The base was also home to the 28th Bombardment Group, which was commanded by Colonel Paul W. Tibbets, the pilot of the Enola Gay. The base has been associated with other notable military leaders, including General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, and General George S. Patton.

● Operations

The base is currently home to the 28th Bomb Wing, which operates the B-1B Lancer bomber, with the 34th Bomb Squadron and the 37th Bomb Squadron being among the units stationed at the base. The wing is part of the Air Force Global Strike Command and is responsible for providing nuclear deterrence and conventional bombing capabilities, with support from units such as the 28th Operations Support Squadron and the 28th Maintenance Group. The base has also been involved in a number of notable operations, including Operation Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom, with participation from units such as the 366th Fighter Wing and the 388th Fighter Wing. The base has been supported by a number of other units, including the 12th Flying Training Wing, the 14th Flying Training Wing, and the 47th Flying Training Wing, with aircraft including the T-1 Jayhawk, the T-6 Texan II, and the T-38 Talon.

● Facilities

The base has a number of facilities, including a runway that is over 13,000 feet long, making it one of the longest in the United States Air Force. The base is also home to a number of hangars, including the B-1B Lancer hangar, which is one of the largest in the world, with support from units such as the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron and the 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron. The base has a number of other facilities, including a commissary, a base exchange, and a hospital, with medical support from units such as the 28th Medical Group and the 28th Medical Operations Squadron. The base is also home to a number of recreational facilities, including a golf course, a bowling alley, and a fitness center, with support from units such as the 28th Force Support Squadron and the 28th Services Squadron.

● Environment

The base is located in a semi-arid region, with a climate that is characterized by low humidity and moderate temperatures. The base is surrounded by a number of natural areas, including the Black Hills National Forest and the Badlands National Park, with support from units such as the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service. The base has a number of environmental programs in place, including a recycling program and a wildlife conservation program, with support from units such as the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron and the 28th Bioenvironmental Engineering Flight. The base is also home to a number of endangered species, including the black-footed ferret and the mountain lion, with support from units such as the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks.

● Units

The base is currently home to a number of units, including the 28th Bomb Wing, the 34th Bomb Squadron, and the 37th Bomb Squadron. The base is also home to a number of support units, including the 28th Operations Support Squadron, the 28th Maintenance Group, and the 28th Medical Group. The base has been associated with a number of other units, including the 12th Flying Training Wing, the 14th Flying Training Wing, and the 47th Flying Training Wing, with aircraft including the B-2 Spirit, the B-52 Stratofortress, and the F-16 Fighting Falcon. The base has also been supported by a number of other units, including the 366th Fighter Wing, the 388th Fighter Wing, and the 552nd Air Control Wing, with participation from units such as the North American Aerospace Defense Command and the United States Northern Command.