Mission
The 28th Bomb Wing is assigned to the 8th Air Force under Air Force Global Strike Command. The mission of the 28th Bomb Wing is to put bombs on target. The 28th Bomb Wing is home to 19 B-1B Lancers, and in 2012 began flying MQ-9 Reaper missions. The 89th Attack Squadron is a tenant unit at Ellsworth Air Force Base assigned to Air Combat Command.
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.
The 28th Bomb Wing commander's staff consists of a deputy commander, an executive officer, secretary, director of staff, command chief master sergeant, wing inspector general, historian, information management, protocol, public affairs, legal office, chapel, equal opportunity, wing plans, treaty compliance, safety, antiterrorism, information protection, sexual assault response coordinator, retiree activities office and the 28th Comptroller Squadron.
28TH MAINTENANCE GROUP:
- 28th Maintenance Group
- 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
- 28th Maintenance Squadron
- 28th Munitions Squadron
- 28th Maintenance Operations Squadron
28TH MEDICAL GROUP:
28TH MISSION SUPPORT GROUP:
- 28th Mission Support Group
- 28th Civil Engineer Squadron
- 28th Communications Squadron
- 28th Contracting Squadron
- 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron
- 28th Force Support Squadron
- 28th Security Forces Squadron
28TH OPERATIONS GROUP:
History
Ellsworth was initially opened as the Rapid City Army Air Base in September 1942, and was a training base for the B-17 "Flying Fortress." In June 1953, the base was renamed Ellsworth Air Force Base in honor of Brig. Gen. Richard E. Ellsworth, commander of the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, who was killed in March 1953, when his RB-36 crashed in Newfoundland. President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicated the base in honor of General Ellsworth. For more on Ellsworth's history, visit the installation's homepage.
Population
Ellsworth AFB serves approximately 3,300 military members, 3,500 family members, 8,100 retirees and 1,000 civilians.
Ellsworth's two sister cities are Box Elder, whose population is 13,868 and Rapid City, whose population is over 79,404 as of March 2023.
Ellsworth AFB serves approximately 3,300 military members, 3,500 family members, 8,100 retirees and 1,000 civilians.
Location
Ellsworth AFB is located just outside of Box Elder, South Dakota. Rapid City, second largest city in South Dakota, is 10 miles away.
The military is the largest employer in the western part of the state (West River), and the second largest employer in the State.
There is no state income tax and housing costs have increased. There is a housing boom in progress, as the Box Elder and Rapid City areas are rapidly growing.
Directions
Directions if Driving
Ellsworth is located 10 miles east of Rapid City on Interstate 90. There are two exits that service Ellsworth -- Exit 63 and Exit 67B. New arrivals should use Exit 67B.
Directions from Airport
Travel on route 44 west to Interstate bypass (enter with a left turn). Exit right onto Interstate 90 east. Travel east on Interstate 90 until you reach either Exit 63 or 67B.
Base Transportation
Currently the installation does not have any shuttle services. Not all Lyft and Uber drivers can access the base.
For any travel questions for the base, please contact the 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron at 605-385-2910 or the Military and Family Readiness Center at 605-385-4663.
Contact Information
605-385-1000 or DSN 312-675-1000.