Ellsworth Air Force Base

Ellsworth Air Force Base
Part of Global Strike Command (GSC)
Located near: Box Elder, South Dakota
A B-1 Lancer from the 28th Bomb Wing practices "touch and go" procedures at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Coordinates	44°08′47″N 103°04′29″W / 44.14639°N 103.07472°W / 44.14639; -103.07472 (Ellsworth AFB)
Site information
Controlled by	United States Air Force
Site history
Built	1942
In use	1942–present
Garrison information
Garrison	28th Bomb Wing

Airfield information
IATA: RCA ICAO: KRCA FAA LID: RCA
Summary
Elevation AMSL	3,280 ft / 1,000 m
Coordinates	44°08′47″N 103°04′29″W / 44.14639°N 103.07472°W / 44.14639; -103.07472Coordinates: 44°08′47″N 103°04′29″W / 44.14639°N 103.07472°W / 44.14639; -103.07472
Website	www.ellsworth.af.mil
Map
KRCA Location of Ellsworth Air Force Base
Runways
Direction Length Surface ft m 13/31 13,497 4,114 Concrete

Map all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap

Download coordinates as: KML · GPX

Aerial view of Ellsworth AFB, c.1990.

Main entrance sign

Ellsworth AFB Main Gate with a B-52D on static display in the background, c.1988.

Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) (IATA: RCA, ICAO: KRCA, FAA LID: RCA) is a United States Air Force base located about 10 miles (16 km) northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota, just north of the town of Box Elder.

The host unit at Ellsworth is the 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW) assigned to the Global Strike Command's Eighth Air Force. The 28 BW is one of the Air Force's two B-1B Lancer wings (the other is the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas). As of 2017, the 28th Bomb Wing is commanded by Colonel John Edwards;^[1] its Command Chief Master Sergeant is Chief Master Sergeant Adam Vizi.^[2]

A controversial^{[citation needed]} expansion of a bomber training area encompassing the Northern Plains known as the Powder River Training Complex began in 2008.

Contents

• 
  1 Overview
  


• 
  2 Units
  


• 
  3 History
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 World War II
    
  
  
  • 
    3.2 Postwar era, 1945-1947
    
  
  
  • 
    3.3 28th Bombardment Wing, 1948-1958
    
    
    
    • 
      3.3.1 Air Defense Command, 1953-1962
      
    
    
    • 
      3.3.2 Nike missiles, 1957-1962
      
    
    
    • 
      3.3.3 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    3.4 B-1B Lancer, 1987-present
    
  
  
  • 
    3.5 44th Strategic Missile Wing
    
    
    
    • 
      3.5.1 HGM-25A Titan I Missile, 1960-1965
      
    
    
    • 
      3.5.2 LGM-30 Minuteman Missile, 1962-1994
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    3.6 Modern era 1990-present
    
    
    
    • 
      3.6.1 Operation Allied Force, 1999
      
    
    
    • 
      3.6.2 Operation Enduring Freedom 2001-present
      
    
    
    • 
      3.6.3 34th BS replaces the 77th BS, 2001
      
    
    
    • 
      3.6.4 Base Realignment and Closure 2004-2005
      
    
    
    • 
      3.6.5 Expansion of bomber training area
      
    
    
    • 
      3.6.6 Move to the Eighth Air Force
      
    
    
    
    
  
  
  • 
    3.7 Previous names
    
  
  
  • 
    3.8 Major commands to which assigned
    
  
  
  • 
    3.9 Major units assigned
    
  
  
  • 
    3.10 Intercontinental ballistic missile facilities
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Environmental contamination
  


• 
  5 Geography
  


• 
  6 Demographics
  


• 
  7 Nearby installations
  


• 
  8 See also
  


• 
  9 References
  


• 
  10 External links
  

Overview

Ellsworth AFB is 10 miles east of Rapid City, S.D. The relationship between Ellsworth and Rapid City was exemplified by Ellsworth's main entrance, a gift from the citizens of Rapid City, constructed to symbolize a B-52 Stratofortress, one of the aircraft formerly flown by the 28th Bomb Wing.^{[citation needed]} This entrance has recently been replaced.

The mission of the 28th Bomb Wing is to deliver combat power for global military response. It is divided into the 28th Operations Group, the 28th Maintenance Group, the 28th Mission Support Group and the 28th Medical Group.

Ellsworth has a population of about 8,000 military members, family members and civilian employees. Rapid City itself has a population of just more than 62,500. There are about 3,800 military retirees in western South Dakota.^{[citation needed]}

Units

Units assigned to Ellsworth are:

• 
  28th Bomb Wing (Host unit)

The Wing commander’s staff consists of a vice commander, an executive officer, a secretary, a director of staff, a wing inspector general, a command chief-master sergeant, a historian, information management, protocol, public affairs, legal, chapel, military equal opportunity, wing plans, treaty compliance, safety, honor guard, the 28th Comptroller Contracting Squadron and a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator.

• 28th Operations Group

Provides combat-ready B-1 aircraft and crews to support Joint Chiefs of Staff taskings, including conventional theater operations and power projection. It plans and executes training missions essential to attain versatile power projection and global reach, and provides the aviation infrastructure necessary to conduct safe flight operations for the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons. The 28th Operations Group has three squadrons under its command to assist in accomplishing its mission—the 28th Operations Support Squadron, the 34th Bomb Squadron and the 37th Bomb Squadron.

• 28th Maintenance Group

Formulates policies and implements procedures to ensure availability of the 29 B-1 aircraft and associated support equipment and munitions in support of Joint Chief of Staff-tasked and other contingency missions. The 28th Maintenance Group manages the production of a 1,500- member workforce comprising four squadrons, an annual organizational maintenance and reparable support division budget exceeding $42.5 million, aircraft and weapons valued at more than $9 billion and real property worth $168 million. Additionally, the group directs the implementation of plans supporting pre-planned and contingency mobility taskings in support of national objectives.

• 28th Mission Support Group

Provides mission essential "city" services at home and combat support services while deployed. Nearly 40 percent of military members and civilians stationed at Ellsworth are part of the 28 MSG team which maintains the base infrastructure by providing essential services to military members, Department of Defense civilians, retirees and their family members. Support operations range from base administration, personnel management, security, mobility readiness, vehicle maintenance, supply, educational services, phone and computer support to civil engineering and food services. Additionally, the group supports the base community through fire protection, disaster preparedness, family support. Recreational opportunities are also provided in the form of clubs, fitness facilities, the base library and other sport-related activities.

• 28th Medical Group


• Tenant Units

Air Force Financial Services Center

Area Defense Counsel

Detachment 226 AFOSI

Detachment 8, 372 TRS

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), the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing commander who was killed when his RB-36 Peacemaker aircraft crashed near Nut Cove, Newfoundland, during a training flight. During World War II, Ellsworth flew 400 missions in the China Burma India Theater.

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, 1945-1947

Rapid City AAB was reactivated on 11 October 1945 and was assigned to Continental Air Force. It was designated a permanent facility by the Army Air Force. 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, 1948-1958

Rapid City Air Force Base B-36 Hangar. Note 28th Bomb Wing B-36 with SAC Tail Code Triangle-S, Photo taken prior to 1953 when tail codes were eliminated by SAC

Nike missile air defense sites around Ellsworth

A B-1B of the 28th Bomb Wing deployed at Ellsworth AFB

A B-1B Lancer takes off from Ellsworth AFB in front of the control tower and radar.

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, in response to overwhelming public appeals, Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington returned the base name 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.

Headquarters Strategic Air Command (HQ SAC) reassigned the 28 BMW from 8th Air Force back to 15th Air Force in October 1955. About 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, 1953-1962

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 part of the ADC's planned deployment of 44 mobile radar stations across the United States to support the permanent air defense radar network established during the Cold War. The squadron was reassigned to the 29th Air Division on 16 February 1953, and Rapid City AFB was re-designated 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-20A 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).^[3][4]

Nike missiles, 1957-1962

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. Sites were located near Ellsworth AFB: E-01 was north 44°12′09″N 103°05′50″W / 44.20250°N 103.09722°W / 44.20250; -103.09722, E-20 was east-northeast 44°09′02″N 103°00′10″W / 44.15056°N 103.00278°W / 44.15056; -103.00278, E-40 was south-southeast 44°06′14″N 103°05′54″W / 44.10389°N 103.09833°W / 44.10389; -103.09833, and E-70 was west-southwest 44°09′12″N 103°12′59″W / 44.15333°N 103.21639°W / 44.15333; -103.21639. 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.

4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron

4th ACCS EC-135G Airborne Launch Control Center at Ellsworth AFB, SD

4th ACCS patch

EC-135A Airborne Launch Control Center

Airborne Launch Control System crew member

From 1 April 1970 to 30 September 1992, the 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (ACCS), part of the 28th BMW, provided airborne command post responsibilities with specially modified Boeing EC-135 airborne command post aircraft for Strategic Air Command. The 4th ACCS was the workhorse of Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) operations. Three dedicated Airborne Launch Control Centers (ALCC) (pronounced "Al-see"), designated ALCC No. 1, ALCC No. 2, and ALCC No. 3 were on ground alert around-the-clock providing ALCS coverage for five of the six Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) Wings. These dedicated ALCCs were mostly EC-135A aircraft but sometimes were EC-135C or EC-135G aircraft, depending on availability. ALCC No. 1 was on ground alert at Ellsworth AFB, SD and during a wartime scenario, its role would have been to take off and orbit between the Minuteman Wings at Ellsworth AFB, SD and F.E. Warren AFB, WY, providing ALCS assistance if needed. ALCCs No. 2 and No. 3 were routinely on forward deployed ground alert at Minot AFB, ND. During a wartime scenario, ALCC No. 3’s role would have been to take off and orbit between the Minuteman ICBM Wings at Minot AFB, ND and Grand Forks AFB, ND, providing ALCS assistance if needed. ALCC No. 2’s dedicated role was to take off and orbit near the Minuteman ICBM Wing at Malmstrom AFB, MT, providing ALCS assistance if needed. The 4th ACCS also maintained an EC-135C or EC-135G on ground alert at Ellsworth as the West Auxiliary Airborne Command Post (WESTAUXCP), which was a backup to SAC’s Looking Glass Airborne Command Post (ABNCP), as well as a radio relay link between the Looking Glass and ALCCs when airborne. Although equipped with ALCS, the WESTAUXCP did not have a dedicated Minuteman ICBM wing to provide ALCS assistance to.^[5][6]

B-1B Lancer, 1987-present

In 1986, the base and the 28 BMW made extensive preparations to phase out the 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 13,497-foot (4,114 m) 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.

44th Strategic Missile Wing

HGM-25A Titan I Missile, 1960-1965

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. Headquarters SAC named the 44th SMW 'host wing' at Ellsworth. The Titan I Missile retired in 1965.

LGM-30 Minuteman Missile, 1962-1994

In July 1962, SAC activated the 66th Missile Squadron, the first of three such units slated to operate 150 LGM-30B Minuteman I ICBMs under the 44th Strategic Missile Wing (SMW). The 67th Missile Squadron joined the 44th in August, followed by the 68th Missile Squadron in September 1962. The older Titan I's were inactivated in March 1965.

On 1 June 1971, SAC inactivated 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 missions for more than 15 years with relatively little change. Then, the 1980s brought many new challenges.

Modern era 1990-present

After the Berlin Wall fell in October 1989, presaging the demise of the Soviet Union, the Air Force reshuffled its organizations and resources to meet a shifting, diminishing, threat. On 3 January 1990, SAC re-designated 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 turned over to the National Park Service for preservation as part of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.^[7]

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, relying on 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.

In early 1996 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 about 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, 1999

Main article: 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 2001-present

Main article: 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, 2001

On 19 September 2001 the "Thunderbirds" of the 34th Bomb Squadron arrived from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho to rejoin the Ellsworth team. Due to a drawdown in the number of active B-1B aircraft in the Air Force inventory, the 77th BS at Ellsworth was inactivated.

Base Realignment and Closure 2004-2005

During the 2004 Senate race in South Dakota, Republican challenger John Thune made Ellsworth a campaign issue, stating in a 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."^{[citation needed]} 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."^{[citation needed]}

On 24 May 2004 campaigning in South Dakota for Thune, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist 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."^{[citation needed]}

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.^{[citation needed]} Thune stated in protest 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.^{[citation needed]}

Expansion of bomber training area

Since 2008, a bomber training area Powder River Training Complex is being expanded to about 28,000 square miles, including portions of Wyoming, Montana and the Dakota.^[8]

Move to the Eighth Air Force

On October 1, 2015, Ellsworth became part of the Eighth Air Force and fell under the command of Global Strike Command.^[9]

Previous names

• Established as Rapid City Army Air Base, December 1941


• Rapid City Army Air Field (unofficial designation), c. 1 September 1946


• Rapid City Air Field, 28 November 1947


• Weaver Air Force Base, 13 January 1948


• Rapid City Air Force Base, 24 June 1948


• Ellsworth Air Force Base, 1 June 1953–present

Major commands to which assigned

• 
  Second Air Force, 9 June 1942


• 
  Continental Air Forces, 16 April 1945

Redesignated: Strategic Air Command, 21 March 1946

• 
  Air Combat Command, 1 June 1992 – 30 September 2015


• 
  Global Strike Command, 1 October 2015 – present

Major units assigned

17th Bombardment Training Wing, 17 June 1942 – 28 June 1943 88th Bombardment Group, 20 Oct 1942 – 15 May 1943 (OTU/RTU) 96th Bombardment Group, 29 Sep 1942 – 28 Oct 1942 (VIII BC, England) 383d Bombardment Group, 12 Nov 1942 – 17 Jun 1943 (II BC OTU) 95th Bombardment Group, 17 Dec 1942 – 18 Apr 1943 (VIII BC, England) 41st Bombardment Wing, 25 March-2 May 1943 (VIII BC, England) 447th Bombardment Group, 13 June-1 August 1943 (VIII BC, England) 452d Bombardment Group, 9 July −8 October 1943 (VIII BC, England)

457th Bombardment Group, 9 July-25 October 1943 (VIII BC, England) 463d Bombardment Group, 1 September-1 November 1943 (VIII BC, England) III Reconnaissance Command, 13 November 1945 – 9 April 1946 28th Bombardment Wing, 15 August 1947–present 54th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1 December 1952 – 25 December 1960 (ADC) 821st Strategic Aerospace Division, 1 January 1959 – 30 June 1971 44th Strategic Missile Wing, 24 November 1961 – 5 July 1994

Intercontinental ballistic missile facilities

HGM-25A Titan I Missile Sites

LGM-30 Minuteman Missile Alert Facilities
66th MS (Black)
67th MS (Blue)
68th MS (Blue)

The 850th Strategic Missile Squadron Operated three HGM-25A Titan I ICBM sites: (1 Dec 1960 – 25 Mar 1965)

• 850-A, 4 miles NNW of Wicksville, South Dakota 44°08′10″N 102°37′02″W / 44.13611°N 102.61722°W / 44.13611; -102.61722 (850-A)
  


• 850-B, 5 miles SSE of Hermosa, South Dakota 43°46′34″N 103°08′46″W / 43.77611°N 103.14611°W / 43.77611; -103.14611 (850-B)
  


• 850-C, 10 miles SE of Sturgis, South Dakota 44°23′51″N 103°18′48″W / 44.39750°N 103.31333°W / 44.39750; -103.31333 (850-C)
  


• 850-C has been destroyed- after trying to sell it for a few years, owner gave up and let a scrapper excavate and destroy the entire complex

LGM-30 Minuteman ICBM Missile Alert Facilities (MAF) (each controlling 10 missiles) were located as follows:

• 
  66th Missile Squadron (1 Sep 1962 – 1 Sep 1993)

A-01 19.9 mi S of Howes, SD, 44°19′52″N 102°03′03″W / 44.33111°N 102.05083°W / 44.33111; -102.05083 (A-01)

B-01 7.5 mi NxNW of Wall SD, 44°05′56″N 102°17′01″W / 44.09889°N 102.28361°W / 44.09889; -102.28361 (B-01)

C-01 10.1 mi N of Philip SD, 44°11′01″N 101°42′09″W / 44.18361°N 101.70250°W / 44.18361; -101.70250 (C-01)

*D-01 6.7 mi SxSW of Cottonwood SD, 43°52′40″N 101°57′42″W / 43.87778°N 101.96167°W / 43.87778; -101.96167 (D-01)

*D-09 (Launch Facility) 4.4 mi SxSW of Quinn SD, 43°55′53″N 102°09′36″W / 43.93139°N 102.16000°W / 43.93139; -102.16000 (D-09)

*Designated as part of the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site

E-01 6.3 mi NxNE of Kadoka SD, 43°55′12″N 101°28′52″W / 43.92000°N 101.48111°W / 43.92000; -101.48111 (E-01)

• 
  67th Missile Squadron (1 Sep 1962 – 15 Aug 1992)

F-01 61.0 mi NxNE of Ellsworth AFB, SD. 44°59′49″N 102°45′43″W / 44.99694°N 102.76194°W / 44.99694; -102.76194 (F-01)

G-01 11.3 mi N of Union Center SD, 44°43′25″N 102°39′00″W / 44.72361°N 102.65000°W / 44.72361; -102.65000 (G-01)

H-01 10.0 mi SW of Union Center SD, 44°27′43″N 102°48′55″W / 44.46194°N 102.81528°W / 44.46194; -102.81528 (H-01)

I-01 5.7 mi E of White Owl SD, 44°36′10″N 102°18′57″W / 44.60278°N 102.31583°W / 44.60278; -102.31583 (I-01)

J-01 13.8 mi SE of Maurine SD, 44°54′20″N 102°21′55″W / 44.90556°N 102.36528°W / 44.90556; -102.36528 (J-01)

• 
  68th Missile Squadron (1 Sep 1962 – 5 July 1994)

K-01 5.6 mi N of Spearfish SD, 44°34′22″N 103°51′42″W / 44.57278°N 103.86167°W / 44.57278; -103.86167 (K-01)

L-01 6.2 mi SxSE of Vale SD, 44°32′29″N 103°20′42″W / 44.54139°N 103.34500°W / 44.54139; -103.34500 (L-01)

M-01 17.7 mi NxNW of Belle Fourche SD, 44°55′09″N 103°56′07″W / 44.91917°N 103.93528°W / 44.91917; -103.93528 (M-01)

N-01 6.7 mi NW of Newell SD, 44°47′41″N 103°30′09″W / 44.79472°N 103.50250°W / 44.79472; -103.50250 (N-01)

O-01 38.5 mi W of opal, SD, 44°55′29″N 103°14′13″W / 44.92472°N 103.23694°W / 44.92472; -103.23694 (O-01)

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 the 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.

Most Minuteman Launch Control Facilities 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. Some are used by farmers seemingly. The missile launch 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.

Environmental contamination

Ellsworth Air Force Base is a military superfundsite, listed in August 1990. Contaminants are petroleum products, waste solvents and radioactive waste polluting soil and groundwater.^[10] The Air Force has been cleaning up 12 areas, under supervision by EPA, including landfills, a fire protection training area, spill sites, industrial areas and an explosive-ordnance disposal area. Remedies have included groundwater pump-and-treat systems, bio-dechlorination, soil excavation, landfill covers, and institutional controls (fences/signs). In 2007, in-place reductive treatment for groundwater cleanup replaced the pump-and-treat systems. As of 2016^[update] operation and maintenance activities and groundwater monitoring are ongoing.^[11]

In February 2014 the air force found 12 places that needed more testing due to possible PFC contamination from A-FFF, a fire-fighting foam. 300 wells across Ellsworth are being sampled for PFC’s. in addition a site at the south end of the base, where former firefighters trained using A-FFF will be investigated with field work completed in August 2016.^[12]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 1.9 mi² (4.9 km²), all land.

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1970	5,805		—
1980	4,766		−17.9%
1990	7,017		47.2%
2000	4,165		−40.6%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the census^[13] 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 20 miles (32 km) NNW of Ellsworth AFB.

See also

• 
  United States Air Force portal
  


• 
  Military of the United States portal
  


• 
  World War II portal
  

• South Dakota World War II Army Airfields


• List of USAF Aerospace Defense Command General Surveillance Radar Stations


• 
  South Dakota Air and Space Museum Originally located inside the Ellsworth AFB, now located outside the front gate.

References

 This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency website http://www.afhra.af.mil/.
 This article incorporates public domain material from the United States Government document "Ellsworth Air Force Base".

1. 
   ^ "Colonel Gentry Boswell". US AirForce. June 2015. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 12 June 2015..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ "CMSgt Adam Vizi". US AirForce. December 2016. Archived from the original on 18 September 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2015.
   


3. 
   ^ A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization 1946 – 1980, by Lloyd H. Cornett and Mildred W. Johnson, Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado
   


4. 
   ^ Winkler, David F. (1997), Searching the skies: the legacy of the United States Cold War defense radar program. Prepared for United States Air Force Headquarters Air Combat Command.
   


5. 
   ^ ALCS Article, page 14
   


6. 
   ^ [Hopkins III, Robert S. 1997. Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker: More Than Just a Tanker. Leicester, England: Midland Publishing Limited, p. 114-117, 196]
   


7. 
   ^ "Minuteman Missile National Historic Site (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved 2016-09-18.
   


8. 
   ^ Brown, Matthew (July 20, 2014). "Air Force says decision near on four-state bomber training area over Northern Plains". Associated Press. ABC News .com.
   


9. 
   ^ "Ellsworth B-1 bombers under La. command". Associated Press. 28 October 2015. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
   


10. 
    ^ "Ellsworth Air Force Base:". South Dakota DENR. n.d. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
    


11. 
    ^ "Site Information for ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE". Superfund Information Systems. EPA. 29 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
    


12. 
    ^ http://www.kotatv.com/content/news/Health-and-safety-constant-concerns-for-Ellsworth-Air-Force-Base--377474501.html (29 April 2016). "Health and safety constant concerns for Ellsworth Air Force Base". KOTA Territory News. Gray Digital Media -. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
    


13. 
    ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 11 September 2013. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
    

• Maurer, Maurer. Air Force Combat Units of World War II. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office 1961 (republished 1983, Office of Air Force History,
  ISBN 0-912799-02-1).


• Ravenstein, Charles A. Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977. Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Office of Air Force History 1984.
  ISBN 0-912799-12-9.


• Mueller, Robert, Air Force Bases Volume I, Active Air Force Bases Within the United States of America on 17 September 1982, Office of Air Force History, 1989


• Ellsworth AFB history

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ellsworth Air Force Base.

• 
  Ellsworth Air Force Base at GlobalSecurity.org


• 
  FAA Airport Diagram (PDF), effective December 6, 2018


• 
  FAA Terminal Procedures for RCA, effective December 6, 2018


• Resources for this U.S. military airport:
  
  
  
  • FAA airport information for RCA
    
  
  
  • AirNav airport information for KRCA
    
  
  
  • ASN accident history for RCA
    
  
  
  • NOAA/NWS latest weather observations
    
  
  
  • SkyVector aeronautical chart for KRCA
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  Media related to Ellsworth Air Force Base (HAER images) at Wikimedia Commons


• 
  Ellsworth Air Force Base EPA Superfund program

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100th Bombardment 301st Bombardment 302d Bombardment 303d Bombardment 304th Bombardment 305th Bombardment 306th Bombardment 307th Bombardment 308th Bombardment 312th Bombardment 330th Bombardment 331st Bombardment 333d Bombardment 346th Bombardment 351st Bombardment 376th Bombardment 379th Bombardment 381st Bombardment 382d Bombardment 383d Bombardment 384th Bombardment 385th Bombardment 388th Bombardment 390th Bombardment 393d Bombardment 395th Bombardment 396th Bombardment 398th Bombardment 399th Bombardment 400th Bombardment 401st Bombardment 407th Bombardment 415th Bombardment 418th Bombardment 444th Bombardment 445th Bombardment 446th Bombardment 447th Bombardment 448th Bombardment 449th Bombardment 450th Bombardment 451st Bombardment 452d Bombardment 453d Bombardment 454th Bombardment 455th Bombardment 456th Bombardment 457th Bombardment 458th Bombardment 459th Bombardment 460th Bombardment 461st Bombardment 462d Bombardment 464th Bombardment 467th Bombardment 468th Bombardment 469th Bombardment 470th Bombardment 471st Bombardment 472d Bombardment 484th Bombardment 485th Bombardment 486th Bombardment 487th Bombardment 488th Bombardment 489th Bombardment 490th Bombardment 491st Bombardment 493d Bombardment 494th Bombardment 497th Bombardment 498th Bombardment 499th Bombardment 500th Bombardment 501st Bombardment 502d Bombardment 504th Bombardment 505th Bombardment 509th Composite Fighter 20th Fighter 54th Fighter 84th Fighter 85th Fighter 507th Fighter 508th Fighter Reconnaissance 2d Reconnaissance 3d Reconnaissance 4th Reconnaissance 5th Reconnaissance 6th Reconnaissance 7th Reconnaissance 8th Reconnaissance 71st Reconnaissance 77th Reconnaissance Troop Carrier 443d Troop Carrier United States Army Air Forces First Second Third Fourth Fifth Sixth Seventh Eighth Ninth Tenth Eleventh Twelfth Thirteenth Fourteenth Fifteenth Twentieth v t e Municipalities and communities of Meade County, South Dakota, United States County seat: Sturgis Cities Box Elder‡ Buffalo Chip Faith Piedmont Sturgis Summerset CDPs Black Hawk Blucksberg Mountain Union Center Former CDP Ellsworth AFB‡ Unincorporated communities Bend Boneita Springs Cedar Canyon Dalzell Elm Springs Enning Fairpoint Haydraw Hereford Howes Marcus Maurine Mud Butte Opal Plainview Stoneville Tilford Viewfield White Owl Indian reservations Cheyenne River Indian Reservation‡ Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation‡ Ghost towns Avance Big Bottom Clough Edson Fox Ridge Sulphur Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties v t e Municipalities and communities of Pennington County, South Dakota, United States County seat: Rapid City Cities Box Elder‡ Hill City New Underwood Rapid City Towns Keystone Quinn Wall Wasta CDPs Ashland Heights Colonial Pine Hills Green Valley Johnson Siding Rapid Valley Former CDP Ellsworth AFB‡ Unincorporated communities Ajax Caputa Creston Deerfield Farmingdale Hisega Imlay Mystic Owanka Rochford Rockerville Scenic Silver City Three Forks Ghost towns Addie Camp Conata Creighton Etta Moon Myers City Pactola Pedro Sheridan Teddy Bear Tigerville Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties v t e Municipalities and communities of Jackson County, South Dakota, United States County seat: Kadoka City Kadoka Towns Belvidere Cottonwood Interior CDP Wanblee Unincorporated communities Cactus Flat Hisle Long Valley Potato Creek Stamford Weta Indian reservation Pine Ridge Indian Reservation‡ Ghost town Wanamaker Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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