Ellsworth Air Force Base Ellsworth Air Force Base ( AFB ) is a United States Air Force base located approximately northeast of Rapid City , South Dakota just north of Box Elder , South Dakota . The host unit at Ellsworth is the 28th Bomb Wing ( 28 BW ) assigned to the Air Combat Command ' s Twelfth Air Force . The 28 BW is one of only two B - 1B Lancer strategic bomber wings in the United States Air Force , the other being the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB , Texas . The 28th Bomb Wing is commanded by Colonel Kevin B . Kennedy . Its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Kevin S . Peterson . Overview . Ellsworth AFB is 10 miles east of Rapid City , S . D . The relationship between Ellsworth and Rapid City is exemplified by Ellsworth ' s main entrance , constructed to symbolize a B - 52 Stratofortress , one of the aircraft formerly flown by the 28th Bomb Wing . It was a gift from the citizens of Rapid City . The mission of the 28th Bomb Wing is to deliver decisive combat power for global response . The 28th Bomb Wing is divided into the 28th Operations Group , the 28th Maintenance Group , the 28th Mission Support Group and the 28th Medical Group . Ellsworth ' s population of approximately 8 , 000 includes military members , family members and civilian employees . The base ' s sister city , Rapid City , has a population of just more than 62 , 500 . There are also about 3 , 800 military retirees in Western South Dakota . Units . Units assigned to Ellsworth are : History . Ellsworth AFB was established in 1941 as Rapid City Army Air Base ( AAB ) . It is named in honor of Brigadier General Richard E . Ellsworth ( 1911 – 1953 ) , who was killed when his RB - 36 Peacemaker aircraft crashed near Nut Cove , Newfoundland during a training flight . During World War II General Ellsworth flew 400 missions in the China / Burma / India Theater . At the time of his death he commanded the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing . World War II . On 2 January 1942 , the U . S . War Department established Rapid City Army Air Base as a training location for B - 17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber units . Construction proceeded rapidly on the base , with the Control tower opening on 30 Sep 1942 ; runways , quarters , offices , and facilities completed 1 Oct 1942 , and five hangars being completed in late 1942 . The airfield had three concrete runways , 7050x300 ( N / S ) , 7000x300 ( E / W ) , 7872x300 ( NW / SE ) . Rapid City AAF was assigned to the 17th Bombardment Training Wing , II Bomber Command . The 88th Bombardment Group was reassigned to the new base in October 1942 to be the base ' s Operational Training Unit . In March 1944 , heavy bomber operational training ended and the 225th Army Air Force Base Unit began training of replacement personnel for deployed heavy bombardment units in the overseas combat theaters . The field ' s instructors taught thousands of pilots , navigators , radio operators and gunners from nine heavy bombardment groups and numerous smaller units . All training focused on the Allied drive to overthrow the Axis powers in Europe . On 15 July 1945 , the 225th AAFBU was inactivated and Rapid City AAB was placed on standby status as the Army Air Forces began to demobilize . Postwar era . Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Forces . It was designated a permanent facility by the Army Air Forces . The base briefly trained weather reconnaissance and combat squadrons using P - 61 Black Widow , P - 38 Lightning , P - 51 Mustang , and B - 25 Mitchell aircraft . The airfield was again temporarily shut down from September 1946 – March 1947 and underwent a major construction program to upgrade the temporary wartime facilities to that of a permanent base . The runway was extended to accommodate the B - 29 Superfortress , which was completed in the spring of 1948 , along with a major overhaul of base facilities . 28th Bombardment Wing . When operations resumed in 1947 the base was a new United States Air Force asset . The primary unit assigned to Rapid City Air Force Base was the new 28th Bombardment Wing ( 28 BMW ) flying the B - 29 Superfortress . The installation changed names a few more times during its early years . In January 1948 , Air Force Chief of Staff Gen Carl A . Spaatz renamed it Weaver Air Force Base in honor of Brig Gen Walter R . Weaver , one of the pioneers in the development of the Air Force . In June of that year , however , in response to overwhelming public appeals , Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington returned the base it to its previous name of Rapid City AFB . Shortly after additional runway improvements , in July 1949 , the 28 BMW began conversion from B - 29s to the huge B - 36 Peacemaker . In April 1950 , the Air Staff reassigned the base from 15th Air Force to 8th Air Force . The base experienced one of its worst peacetime tragedies in March 1953 when an RB - 36 and its entire crew of 23 crashed in Newfoundland while returning from a routine exercise in Europe . On 13 June 1953 , President Dwight D . Eisenhower made a personal visit to dedicate the base in memory of Brig Gen Richard E . Ellsworth , commander of the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing , who lost his life in that mishap . The base was subsequently renamed Ellsworth AFB , and unlike the previous local controversy in 1948 , there was no community objection to the name change . Military organizations periodically upgrade manpower and machines from time to time to meet new national security requirements and Ellsworth Air Force Base ' s organizations were no exception . Headquarters Strategic Air Command ( HQ SAC ) reassigned the 28 BMW from 8th Air Force back to 15th Air Force in October 1955 . Approximately one year later , SAC set plans in motion to replace the 28th ' s B - 36s with the new all - jet B - 52 Stratofortress . The last B - 36 left Ellsworth on 29 May 1957 and the first B - 52 arrived sixteen days later . In 1958 , all base units came under the command of the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division , headquartered at Ellsworth . Air Defense Command . Air Defense Command activated the 740th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron at Rapid City AFB on 1 February 1953 under the ADC 31st Air Division . The site was located on the base , and was given designation " M - 97 " . The site was established as part of the planned deployment by ADC of forty - four Mobile radar stations across the United States to support the permanent Radar network established during the Cold War for air defense of the United States . Prior to its operational use , the squadron was reassigned to the 29th Air Division on 16 February 1953 , and Rapid City AFB was re - designated as Ellsworth AFB . The 740th AC & W Squadron began operations in 1955 with AN / MPS - 7 search radar , and initially the station functioned as a Ground - Control Intercept ( GCI ) and warning station . As a GCI station , the squadron ' s role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit ' s radar scopes . An AN / MPS - 14 height - finder radar was added in 1956 . In 1959 an AN / FPS - 20 A search radar replaced the AN / MPS - 7 set . The squadron was reassigned to the Minot Air Defense Sector on 1 January 1961 . Air Defense Command deactivated the Ellsworth radar site on 15 August 1962 and the 740th was discontinued . After M - 97 closed , coverage was assumed by Sundance AFS , Wyoming ( TM - 201 / Z - 201 ) . Nike missiles . To provide air defense of the base , the United States Army established the Ellsworth AFB Defense Area in 1957 and constructed Nike - Ajax Surface - to - air missile sites for air defense . Sites were located near Ellsworth AFB E - 01 was north , E - 20 was east - northeast , E - 40 was south - southeast , and E - 70 was west - southwest . Headquarters facilities were located at Ellsworth . In 1958 , batteries E - 20 , E - 40 , and E - 70 were removed from service and E - 01 was converted to fire Nike Hercules missiles . This battery remained in service until 1961 . as part of the reduction of the air defenses in the United States against aircraft . An Army Air - Defense Command Post ( AADCP ) was established at Ellsworth in 1960 for Nike missile command - and - control functions . The site was equipped with the AN / GSG - 5 ( V ) BIRDIE solid - state computer system . The AADCP was integrated with the Air Defense Command General Surveillance radar facilities . The AADCP ceased all operations when the ADC radar site shut down in 1962 . After the Army closed their facilities , the military housing at the Nike Integrated Fire Control sites was transferred to control of Ellsworth , and was used as Air Force military family housing until about 1990 . HGM - 25A Titan I Missile . In October 1960 , Ellsworth entered the " Space Age , " with the activation of the 850th Strategic Missile Squadron , initially assigned to the 28 BMW . For more than a year this squadron prepared for the emplacement of HGM - 25A Titan I intercontinental ballistic missiles ( ICBM ) , which finally arrived in 1962 , shortly after the activation of the 44th Strategic Missile Wing ( 44 SMW ) in January . At that time , Headquarters SAC also named the 44th SMW as host wing at Ellsworth . LGM - 30 Minuteman Missile . The Titan I ' s life span was short in western South Dakota . In July 1962 , SAC had effectively rendered it obsolete by activating the 66th Strategic Missile Squadron , the first of three such units slated to operate 150 LGM - 30B Minuteman I ICBMs under the 44 SMW . The 67th Strategic Missile Squadron joined the 44th in August , followed by the 68th Strategic Missile Squadron in September 1962 . The older Titan I ' s were inactivated in March 1965 . On 1 June 1971 , SAC deactivated the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division and by October of that year , an upgraded LGM - 30F Minuteman II also replaced the Minuteman I missiles . Ellsworth soon became known as one of " The Showplaces of SAC " along with Minot AFB and Grand Forks AFB in North Dakota as it continued to fight the Cold War by maintaining two legs of America ' s strategic triad : strategic bombardment and ICBMs . It carried out these vital missions for more than 15 years with relatively little change . Then , the 1980s brought many new challenges . B - 1B Lancer . In 1986 , the base and the 28 BMW made extensive preparations to phase out the aging B - 52 fleet and become the second home for the advanced B - 1B Lancer . Contractors completed new unaccompanied enlisted dormitories in March , a new security police squadron headquarters in October , and gave Ellsworth ' s runway a much - needed facelift . In addition , they completed new aircraft maintenance facilities for the complex new aircraft . The last of the 28 BMW ' s B - 52Hs left in early 1986 and in January 1987 , the wing received the first of 35 B - 1B bombers . The 12th Air Division moved to Ellsworth on 15 July 1988 . This organization was responsible for training B - 1B , B - 52 , and KC - 135 Stratotanker aircrews at Ellsworth and other SAC bases in the region . Headquarters SAC activated a third wing , the 99th Strategic Weapons Wing , at Ellsworth on 10 August 1989 . This wing assumed primary responsibility for B - 1B advanced aircrew training . Modern era . Internationally , the destruction of the Berlin Wall in October 1989 symbolized the imminent demise of the Soviet Union over the next several months . During this transition the Air Force also had to reshuffle its organizations and resources to meet the shifting , although diminishing , threat . Changes came quickly . On 3 January 1990 , SAC redesignated the 812th Combat Support Group as the 812th Strategic Support Wing ( 812 SSW ) , which , for a short time , became Ellsworth ' s fourth wing . The 812 SSW consolidated all combat support activities into one organization . On 31 July 1990 , SAC replaced the 12th Air Division with the Strategic Warfare Center ( SWC ) , which provided operational command and administrative control over Ellsworth ' s subordinate units . Then , as part of SAC ' s intermediate headquarters and base - level reorganization plan , on 1 September 1991 , SAC renamed the 28 BMW the 28th Wing ( 28 WG ) , the 44 SMW the 44th Wing ( 44 WG ) and the 99 SWW the 99th Tactics and Training Wing ( 99 TTW ) . Ten days later , SAC inactivated both the SWC and the 812 SSW . Once again , the 28th became Ellsworth ' s host organization and it soon absorbed all previous 812 SSW functions . It was also during this period that , in acknowledgment of the elimination of the Warsaw Pact , that the President , via the Secretary of Defense , ordered all strategic nuclear alert operations to stand - down . The decades - long Cold War was over . On 1 June 1992 , as part of the first major reorganization since the creation of USAF , the Air Force inactivated Strategic Air Command and assigned Ellsworth ' s organizations ( including a renamed 28th Bomb Wing ( 28 BW ) ) to the newly activated Air Combat Command ( ACC ) . After less than a year under the new command , the 28th ’ s mission changed from that of strategic bombardment to one of worldwide conventional munitions delivery . The mission of the 99th Tactics and Training Wing ( later to become the 99th Wing ) also continued , albeit slightly modified to fit the requirements of the new force concept . The 44th Missile Wing , however , had ably accomplished its deterrence mission . On 3 December 1991 , the wing permanently pulled the first Minuteman II missile from its silo and on 6 April 1992 , the first Minuteman II launch control center shut down . Inactivation of the entire missile complex ended in April 1994 . In keeping with its patriotic Minuteman tradition , the 44th Missile Wing formally inactivated on 4 July 1994 . Under conditions of the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty , all of the 44th Missile Wing ' s Minuteman silos and launch control centers were slated for demolition with the exception of Sites Delta - 01 and Delta - 09 . These latter two sites were subsequently turned over to the National Park Service for preservation as part of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site . In March 1994 , Ellsworth welcomed the 34th Bomb Squadron , a geographically separated unit ( GSU ) that was awaiting airfield upgrades before it could return to its parent organization , the 366th Wing ( 366 WG ) , at Mountain Home Air Force Base , Idaho . While under the aegis of the 366 WG , the 34th ' s B - 1Bs were part of one of the Air Force ’ s composite wings , which also included C / D and E model F - 15 Eagles , C / D model F - 16 Fighting Falcons , and R model KC - 135 Stratotankers . Also during 1994 , the Air Force selected Ellsworth as the exclusive location from which to conduct a Congressionally mandated operational readiness assessment of the B - 1B , known locally as " Dakota Challenge . " After six months of hard work , under both peacetime and simulated wartime conditions , the 28 BW and Ellsworth , with extensive personnel , technical and logistical support from sister B - 1 units at McConnell , Grand Forks and Dyess Air Force Bases , passed the test " with flying colors " ; and proved the B - 1 to be a reliable and capable weapons system ; the mainstay of America ' s heavy bomber fleet for years to come . In 1995 , the 99th Wing departed Ellsworth for a new assignment at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada , although a small contingent formerly attached to that wing remained behind to continue bomber tactics training and radar munitions scoring from a handful of dispersed detachments . The year also saw the inactivation of one of Ellsworth ’ s oldest units , the 77th Bomb Squadron . While the unit ( as an administrative entity ) departed to save Air Force dollars for development of new follow - on B - 1 munitions , the organization ’ s aircraft remained at Ellsworth ( in a flying reserve status ) under the able care of its sister unit , the 37th Bomb Squadron . A reversal of fortune occurred in early 1996 when , on 26 March , an announcement was made that the 77th Bomb Squadron would soon return to Ellsworth . On 1 April , the squadron again activated at Ellsworth as the geographically separated 34th Bomb Squadron completed its transfer to its new home with the 366th Wing at Mountain Home AFB , Idaho . By June 1998 , the 77th had six of its B - 1Bs out of the reconstitution reserve . This number balanced those lost by the 34th BS . In March 1999 , the Air Force announced a reorganization plan that makes Ellsworth AFB and the 28 BW partners in the new Expeditionary Air Force ( EAF ) concept , now known as the Air & Space Expeditionary Force ( AEF ) . The 28 BW was named a lead wing in the EAF , which enabled the 77 BS to gain six additional B - 1Bs , and Ellsworth AFB to gain approximately 100 additional military personnel . The expeditionary force construct enables the Air Force to respond quickly to any worldwide crisis while making life more predictable for military members . The summer of 2007 marked the last time that Ellsworth hosted a college / university level Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps Field Training ( FT ) encampment . All college AFROTC FT encampments were subsequently consolidated at the Air Force Officer Training School at Maxwell Air Force Base , Alabama . Operation Allied Force . It was not long before Ellsworth and the 28th Bomb Wing were taking the lead in the AEF concept . Five B - 1Bs from the 28th Bomb Wing joined NATO forces in Operation Allied Force and began striking military targets in Kosovo on 1 April 1999 . By the end of the conflict in June 1999 , B - 1Bs from Ellsworth flew 100 combat missions and dropped over 1 , 260 tons of Mk - 82 general - purpose bombs . Operation Enduring Freedom . After the events of the September 11 , 2001 attacks , Ellsworth deployed a number of B - 1s in support of Operation Enduring Freedom . Aircraft from the 37th BS at Ellsworth AFB joined additional B - 1s from the 34th BS at Mountain Home AFB and formed the 34th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron . This squadron , along with other elements from Ellsworth , deployed to Diego Garcia and joined the 28th Air Expeditionary Wing . Their combat mission effectiveness was greater than 95 % and they flew 5 % of the total strike aircraft missions . They dropped 39 % of the total tonnage of bombs , which was more than any other platform . During their deployment the 28th EBS dropped 2 , 974 JDAMs , 1 , 471 Mk - 82 , 135 Mk - 84 , and 70 CBU - 87 bombs . Currently , the 28th Bomb Wing and personnel from Ellsworth Air Force Base continue to be the lead wing for AEF 8 , and Ellsworth personnel continue to prepare for ongoing deployments in support of operations around the globe . 34th BS replaces the 77th BS . On 19 September 2001 the 34th Bomb Squadron rejoined the Ellsworth team and arrived from Mountain Home AFB , Idaho . Due to a drawdown in the number of active B - 1B aircraft in the Air Force inventory , the 77th BS at Ellsworth was inactivated and the " Thunderbirds " of the 34th BS were moved to Ellsworth to take their place . Mistaken landing . In 2004 a Northwest Airlines flight mistakenly landed at Ellsworth instead of the nearby Rapid City airport . Passengers aboard were asked to close their window shades by US Air Force security personnel . Base Realignment and Closure . During the 2004 Senate race in South Dakota , Republican challenger John Thune made Ellsworth a campaign issue , stating in an 16 April 2004 appearance at the base that if he were elected over incumbent Democrat and Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle : “ It puts Ellsworth in a lot stronger position than having someone who ' s going to be in the minority and someone who doesn ' t have a relationship with the President of the U . S . ” In a debate between the two men broadcast on KSFY - TV and KOTA - TV television on 17 October 2004 , Thune said : " I think we have got to have somebody that has a relationship with the President of the United States , can work constructively across party lines in the Congress to get this done if we ' re going save Ellsworth " and was later quoted in the " Rapid City Journal " newspaper on 27 October 2004 claiming that : " an all - Democratic congressional delegation would have little political influence if President Bush is elected to a second term . ” In campaigning in South Dakota for Thune , Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist on 24 May 2004 said of Daschle : " Who is the president going to listen to more ? The majority leader of the Senate , who he works with on almost a daily basis , or a senator from another party who every day is saying things on the floor that demonstrate a lack of support ? " also adding : “ This time around , the President is appointing who ' s on that BRAC commission , all of them . " Thune defeated Daschle with 51 % of the vote in the election and president Bush was elected to a second term . Nevertheless , on 13 May 2005 , the Department of Defense recommended that Ellsworth Air Force Base be closed . Thune in protest stated he would vote against confirmation of the president ' s nominee for United Nations Ambassador , John Bolton . On 26 August 2005 the nine - member BRAC commission voted 8 – 1 to spare Ellsworth from the closure list . Commissioner Harold Gehman said , " We have no savings , we ' re essentially moving the airplanes from one very , very good base to another very , very good base , which are essentially equal . " Senator Thune called the move a good , nonpolitical decision . Intercontinental ballistic missile facilities . The 850th Strategic Missile Squadron Operated three HGM - 25A Titan I ICBM sites : ( 1 Dec 1960 – 25 Mar 1965 ) LGM - 30 Minuteman ICBM Missile Alert Facilities ( MAF ) ( each controlling 10 missiles ) were located as follows : A complete list of Minuteman missile launch control facilities and missile silos can be found here . The Titan - I sites still exist , in various states of abandonment . Site " A " is still fenced , with all thee missile silos capped and in place . Most of the concrete roads remain , along with what remains of the launch control blockhouse and several axillary buildings . Site " B " is in similar condition , abandoned with prairie grass in a very remote location . Site " C " also has the three missile silos capped , but much of the concrete has been removed and appears to be part of a grazing rangeland , the outlines of the missile site still very visible in aerial imagery . The Minuteman Launch Control Facilities ( with the exception of D - 01 ) all appear to be still in federal government ownership , as after fifteen or more years of inactivation , all are standing but abandoned ; the buildings still standing within the locked security fence . The missile sites ( again , with the exception of D - 09 ) are all in private ownership , most being used for agricultural use , the remainder abandoned and returning to a natural state . Geography . According to the United States Census Bureau , the CDP has a total area of 1 . 9 mi² ( 4 . 9 km² ) , all land . Demographics . As of the census of 2000 , there were 4 , 165 people , 1 , 056 households , and 991 families residing in the CDP . The population density was 2 , 217 . 8 / mi² ( 855 . 4 / km² ) . There were 1 , 076 housing units at an average density of 573 . 0 / mi² ( 221 . 0 / km² ) . The racial makeup of the CDP was 82 . 2 % White , 6 . 7 % Black or African American , 0 . 9 % Native American , 2 . 3 % Asian , 0 . 3 % Pacific Islander , 2 . 6 % from other races , and 5 . 1 % from two or more races . Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6 . 6 % of the population . There were 1 , 056 households out of which 74 . 0 % had children under the age of 18 living with them , 86 . 6 % were married couples living together , 4 . 5 % had a female householder with no husband present , and 6 . 1 % were non - families . 4 . 5 % of all households were made up of individuals , none of whom were 65 years of age or older . The average household size was 3 . 41 and the average family size was 3 . 51 . In the CDP the population was spread out with 36 . 4 % under the age of 18 , 24 . 7 % from 18 to 24 , 36 . 3 % from 25 to 44 , 2 . 4 % from 45 to 64 , and 0 . 2 % who were 65 years of age or older . The median age was 22 years . For every 100 females there were 119 . 0 males . For every 100 females age 18 and over , there were 131 . 0 males . The median income for a household in the CDP was $ 31 , 919 , and the median income for a family was $ 31 , 941 . Males have a median income of $ 20 , 721 versus $ 15 , 238 for females . The per capita income for the CDP was $ 11 , 362 . About 3 . 4 % of the population and 4 . 3 % of the population were below the poverty line , including 3 . 9 % of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 and older . Nearby installations . The nearest major military installations to Ellsworth are F . E . Warren AFB in Cheyenne , Wyoming and Minot AFB in Minot , North Dakota , both over 200 mi ( 300 km ) away . Smaller installations include Camp Rapid in Rapid City , which serves as the headquarters for the South Dakota National Guard . The 114th Fighter Wing ( 114 FW ) , an Air Combat Command - gained unit of the South Dakota Air National Guard flying the F - 16 Fighting Falcon , is located at Sioux Falls Regional Airport / Joe Foss Field Air National Guard Station in Sioux Falls . The South Dakota Army National Guard also operates the South Dakota Military Academy located at Fort Meade , South Dakota , approximately NNW of Ellsworth AFB .