III 

112TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 464 

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Ellsworth Air Force Base. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MAY 16, 2012 

Mr. JOHNSON of South Dakota (for himself and Mr. THUNE) submitted the 

following resolution; which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Ellsworth Air Force 

Base. 

Whereas on January 2, 1942, the War Department established Rapid City Army Air Base in South Dakota as a 

training location for B–17 Flying Fortress crews; 

Whereas thousands of pilots, navigators, radio operators, and 

gunners were trained at Rapid City Army Air Base and 

went on to support the allied efforts in World War II; 

Whereas on June 13, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower 

visited the base and dedicated it in memory of Brigadier 

General Richard E. Ellsworth; 

Whereas during the Cold War, Ellsworth Air Force Base 

maintained 2 legs of the strategic triad, strategic bombardment, and intercontinental ballistic missiles, earning 

the title ‘‘The Showplace of Strategic Air Command’’; 


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•SRES 464 ATS 

Whereas 2012 marks the 25th year of the B–1B Lancer mission at Ellsworth Air Force Base; 

Whereas in 1999, B–1Bs from Ellsworth Air Force Base flew 

over 100 combat missions in support of NATO forces in 

Operation Allied Force in Kosovo; 

Whereas Ellsworth Air Force Base has played a crucial role 

in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New 

Dawn, and Operation Enduring Freedom, deploying over 

10,000 personnel and flying over 6,000 combat sorties in 

those operations; 

Whereas the first ever B–1B global strike mission launched 

from the United States came from Ellsworth Air Force 

Base on March 30, 2011, striking targets in Libya before 

refueling, rearming, and hitting additional targets in 

Libya on the return; 

Whereas, for 70 years, Ellsworth Air Force Base has served 

as an integral part of the defense strategy of the United 

States and served as the proud home to thousands of 

bomber pilots, navigators, radio operators, gunners, missile launch control facility personnel, and aircraft and 

missile maintenance personnel; 

Whereas, the personnel from Ellsworth Air Force Base have 

a history of compiling some of the highest marks in competitive readiness and maintenance exercises and competitions; 

Whereas, for the past 65 years, Ellsworth Air Force Base 

has— 

(1) been home to the 28th Bomb Wing and some of 

the most impressive aircraft in the United States, including the B–17 Flying Fortress, the B–29 Superfortress, 

the RB–36 Peacemaker, the B–52 Stratofortress, the 


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KC–135 Stratotanker, KC–97 Stratofreighter and the B– 

1B Lancer; and 

(2) for parts of 4 decades, served as an important 

cog in the missile defense system of the United States, 

featuring the Titan and Minuteman missile systems; 

Whereas Ellsworth Air Force Base continues to evolve and is 

preparing to welcome the MQ–9 Reaper mission later in 

2012; and 

Whereas, Ellsworth Air Force Base and the communities of 

Rapid City and Box Elder, South Dakota have and will 

continue to enjoy a long standing, mutually beneficial relationship: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) recognizes the contributions of Ellsworth 

3 Air Force Base to the security of the United States; 

4 (2) commemorates 70 years of excellence and 

5 service by Ellsworth Air Force Base to the United 

6 States; and 

7 (3) encourages the people of the United States 

8 to recognize and honor the dedicated and exemplary 

9 service of the airmen and their families, past and 

10 present, stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base. 

Æ 


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