28TH BOMB WING
The 28th Bomb Wing is assigned to the 12th Air Force under Air Combat Command. 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.

The 28th Bomb 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
The mission of the 28th Operations Group is to provide 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 Operations Support Squadron
The 28th Operations Support Squadron supports the flying operations of all flying units at Ellsworth.

One of the most diverse squadrons in the wing, the 28 OSS is responsible for airfield management, weather support, intelligence analysis, current operations, and weapons and tactics training for the wing. The airfield operations flight manages the airfield’s runway and taxiways, and runs base operations, radar approach control and the control tower.

The weather flight provides global weather information for all organizations on the base. The intelligence flight furnishes current intelligence information and analysis tailored to meet the needs of those they support, from the strategic intelligence required by the base’s senior leadership to the tactical threat intelligence needed by combat aircrews.

The current operations flight accomplishes long-range scheduling for 28th Bomb Wing aircraft. Staff support for the wing is provided by the weapons and tactics flight, which is also responsible for tactics training for the flying squadrons and operation of the weapons system trainer, a B-1 flight simulator.

The squadron is prepared to mobilize and deploy worldwide and functions autonomously at a forward location. In a combat situation, the various squadron elements would come together to plan air strikes and provide combat support for tactical B-1 squadrons. The support provided by this squadron can be tailored to fit any situation.

34th Bomb Squadron
The 34th Bomb Squadron “Thunderbirds” mission is to defeat America’s enemies across the globe on a moment’s notice.

The history of the 34th Bomb Squadron dates back to WorldWar I, when the Army organized the 34th Aero Squadron on June 11, 1917. During assignment with the 17th Pursuit Group, the squadron became equipped with the P12 bi-plane fighter. In 1935 and 1936, the squadron gradually transitioned from the P12 and P26 to the A17 and YA19 aircraft, which it would keep until 1940. The unit eventually flew with the B-18 bomber, the B-23 and then the B-25, flying with the 37th Bomb Squadron during the Doolittle Raid in 1940s.

Throughout the war, the 34th flew bombing missions in the B-26 overseas and then returned to the United States in November 1945. The day after its arrival, the squadron was inactivated. The 34th Bomb Squadron went through numerous activations and inactivations over its history, but was able to fly interdictions and close air support missions in Korea, transitioning aircraft to the B-57, the B-66, and then finally the B-52.

The unit was activated for the first time at Ellsworth on April 1, 1994. This time the unit was equipped with the B-1 Lancer. On April 1, 1997, the squadron transferred its flag from Ellsworth to Mountain Home. After the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States, the 34th Bomb Squadron was one of the first units to deploy overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. On Sept. 19, 2002, the 34th Bomb Squadron moved back from Mountain Home to Ellsworth. As tensions rose in Iraq, the 34th deployed from Jan. 15 to May 15, 2003, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Southern Watch, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the 34th Bomb Squadron’s most recent deployment from Feb. 4 to July 25, 2007, the mighty “T-Birds” flew more than 5,500 hours and dropped more than 1 million pounds of guided weapons in support of U.S. Central Command taskings.

Today, the 34th Bomb Squadron continues to support combatant commanders in both the Pacific Command and U.S. Central Command Areas of Responsibility. As the 34th Bomb Squadron has been combat proven many time before, the “Thunderbirds” will continue to be essential players in America’s defense and a credit to their legacy as Doolittle Raiders.

37th Bomb Squadron
The 37th Bomb Squadron “Tigers” are responsible for employing the B-1 bomber in support of the U.S. National Military Strategy. The 37th Bomb Squadron is a diverse, deployable squadron of approximately 100 people, consisting of aviators, intelligence, and life support personnel. These people enable the Tigers to remain on the leading edge of B-1 employment and significantly advance the Air Force’s core competencies of air, space and cyberspace superiority, precision engagement, and global attack.

The 37th Bomb Squadron is among the Air Force’s most senior units. It began as the 37th Aero Squadron in June 1913, and served with the American Expeditionary Force in France during WorldWar I. During WorldWar II, the 37th served for a short time with the 28th Composite Group in 1940 then went to Europe with the 17th Bomb Group. As part of the 17th Bomb Group, the 37th participated on one of the most famous air raids of the war. Three crews trained in the B-25 with Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle and flew the famous raid over Tokyo in April 1942. In 1950, the 37th reactivated as the night intruder squadron and transferred to Pusan, Korea. The squadron flew the B-26 “Invader” on dangerous night interdiction missions against the communist forces. The squadron “hunted at night, like tigers.” Thus, the 37th became the Tiger Squadron, and the current patch, complete with a Bengal Tiger, was adopted. The 37th Bomb Squadron rejoined the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth in 1977, flying the B-25H, and on Jan. 1, 1987, transitioned to its current aircraft, the B-1 Lancer.

Recently, the Tigers made Air Force history. In December 1998, the Tigers became the first unit to employ the B-1 in combat in support of Operation Desert Fox, halting Iraqi aggression. One year later, Tiger crews supported the 77th Bomb Squadron in the NATO Operation Allied Force against the former Republic of Yugoslavia. Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, several Tiger crews joined the 34th Expeditionary Squadron to prosecute their deadly attacks on Taliban and al-Qaeda forces in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Tiger crews again joined the 34th Bomb Squadron to thwart Iraqi defiance of the U.N. resolutions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Having proven its worth in a multitude of novel combat roles, the 37th Bomb Squadron “Tigers” will be a critical part of U.S. national security well into the 21st century.

28TH MAINTENANCE GROUP
The 28th Maintenance Group is responsible for formulating policies and implementing 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 comprised of 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.

The Quality Assurance Flight consists of 29 assigned personnel and directs the quality of maintenance throughout the group, performing more than 9,000 assessments annually. Also assigned under Quality Assurance is the Product Improvement Management Program which includes technical order, material and product deficiency reporting. Finally, the Air Force Repair Enhancement Program, consisting of Circuit Card Repair, generates a savings of $3 million annually. The Weapons Standardization Flight consists of 18 assigned personnel and is responsible for training and maintaining proficiency of all flight line weapons personnel. Additionally, they interpret and set policy for Technical Orders and Operation Instructions and how they pertain to B-1 weapons loading operations. They also conduct annual weapons academic training to all of the Wing’s weapons personnel.

28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
The 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron is the largest squadron in the 28th Bomb Wing and manages the on-equipment maintenance, weapons loading and support activities of the B-1s at home and with the deployment of each aircraft maintenance unit to meet the wing’s flying requirements. The squadron ensures compliance with technical data, safety, security, documentation and supply procedures.

The Lancer Aircraft Maintenance Unit supports both the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons. The Lancer Aircraft Maintenance Unit has Production, APG, Specialist, Weapons, Debrief and Support Sections.

The Production Section directly manages the flight line operations for B-1 generations to support flying operations. The section ensures all critical assets are maintained in a high state of readiness to support a full range of peacetime, contingency and wartime missions.

The APG Section directly supervises all maintenance performed on the B-1s. The crew chiefs are each assigned to a B-1 aircraft as a Dedicated Crew Chief or an Assistant Crew Chief and are responsible for the daily and long-term maintenance of their aircraft. They ensure proper record keeping of all maintenance actions, utilizing the Integrated Maintenance Data System and are the owners of the aircraft forms. The crew chiefs are the last maintainers to send the B-1 into flight as they are responsible for the launch and recovery of every sortie flown at Ellsworth.

The Specialist Section is broken in to six elements. All elements of the Specialist Section ensure proper record keeping of maintenance actions utilizing the Integrated Maintenance Data System, aircraft forms and logbooks. The Electronic Warfare Section performs maintenance on the electronic warfare systems and associated equipment on the B-1 aircraft. The Communication, Navigation and Mission Systems Section perform maintenance on the communication, navigation and electrical multiplexing systems. The Electro-Environmental Control Systems Section maintains the B-1’s numerous electrical power and environmental systems including air conditioning and aircraft generator systems. The Hydraulics Section maintains the pneudraulic system and associated components needed to power the B-1’s flight control, landing gear and nose wheel steering systems. The Propulsion Systems Section performs on-equipment maintenance on the F101-GE-102 engine and secondary power systems including aircraft auxiliary power unit and accessory drive gearbox maintenance.

The Weapons Section is responsible for maintaining proficient combat ready B-1 load crews to support aircrew training operations and contingency operations. The “Load Toads” are responsible for loading all weapons, chaff/flare and decoys on the B-1s.

The Debrief Section codes aircraft systems, tracks discrepancies and inputs in-flight discrepancies into CAMS. They provide a vital communications link and liaison between flight line personnel, aircrew and maintenance supervision, and function as the Unit Control Center for exercise and contingency deployments.

The Support Section ensures proper support to B-1 aircraft maintainers with all the tools and support equipment needed to properly support the B-1. The tool crib controls and monitors the Composite Tool Kit program and maintains specialized B-1 tools and a variety of common hand tools. The COSO monitors and controls tail number bins, parts removed to facilitate other maintenance and issue and turn-in of Due-In-for- Maintenance parts. It also oversees the routing and shipping of repairable assets to the proper facilities and coordinates with MICAP to source and procure DIFM parts, tracks all aircraft CANN actions, and orders and tracks all parts needed to maintain aircraft. The Equipment Custodian controls and monitors all specialized equipment, and tracks and coordinates the procurement of common and specialized equipment. TMDE coordinates tracks and ensures all calibrated tools and test equipment is routed through PMEL for inspection, repair and calibration as needed. They also maintain, inspect and repair or replace specialized test equipment as authorized. The Technical Orders Distribution Office maintains, updates, orders and distributes all technical orders required by flight line personnel to perform B-1 maintenance.

28th Maintenance Operations Squadron
The 28th Maintenance Operations Squadron combines training management for all wing aircraft maintenance and munitions personnel and manages the health of the fleet, which consists of 29 combat-coded B-1 bombers. The squadron consists of three flights and 78 authorized personnel. The 28th Maintenance Training Flight provides B-1 maintenance training and training management services for four squadrons and more than 1,400 people, and is the single point of contact for all training related matters within the 28th Maintenance Group.

The Programs and Resources Flightmanages the facilities, support agreements and deployment functions for the group. The flight is also responsible for management of manpower and assignments with the exception of weapons personnel who are managed by the wing weapons manager. The Maintenance Data System Analysis Section collects and stores maintenance data performed on the B-1 and all its support equipment. The section compiles and provides reports of the wing’s maintenance and operational performance that is used to build the maintenance performance indicator briefing. The section is the source for historical data for the B-1s at Ellsworth. The Software Analysis Section provides B-1 software validation, to include in-depth analysis of all flight and ground generated discrepancies.

They identify and submit corrective actions for discrepancies that require aircraft hardware or software deficiency reports and technical data changes. They provide flight line support and technical assistance for software development, recommending maintenance actions as required. The Maintenance Operations Center develops, coordinates and executes maintenance policies for the 28th Bomb Wing. They design and implement procedural checklists to notify and inform affected agencies of critical flight line situations. Plans, Scheduling and Documentation provides oversight for all wing-scheduling matters while monitoring the Wing Flying Hour Program. They also manage wing shared resources to include training aircraft, phase, washes, and aircraft paint touch-up.

The Engine Management Section manages the unit’s efforts to maintain adequate engine support for mission requirements. The B-1 Technical Engineering Flight identifies and resolves B-1 aircraft system faults beyond the scope of normal technical data including environmental controls, electrical power, fuel, hydraulics, propulsion, structures and the Central Integrated Test System.

28th Maintenance Squadron
The 28th Maintenance Squadron combines avionics, aircraft systems and maintenance capabilities into one squadron. They are responsible for all off-equipment maintenance and heavy repairs for 29 assigned B-1s and related subsystems. The squadron maintains aerospace ground equipment and engines, and consists of seven flights and more than 400 personnel.

The Avionics Flight provides in-shop support by repairing electronic components for the B-1 using 24 automated test stations and more than 200 test programs. They provide off-equipment maintenance of navigational, offensive and defensive components, and provide unique support on certain offensive and defensive components to the entire B-1 fleet.Aerospace Ground Equipment Flight services inspects and maintains more than 560 pieces of powered and non-powered equipment, 29 munitions handling trailers and 22 centralized aircraft support system pits, supporting flight line maintenance and flying operations.

The Accessory Flight services inspects and maintains the components that comprise the electrical, environmental, egress, pneudraulic and fuel systems on assigned and transient aircraft. Maintenance is performed in-shop as well as on aircraft.The Fabrication Flight manufactures, inspects and repairs aircraft components and support equipment within the structural maintenance, metals technology and non-destructive inspection sections.

The Maintenance Flight includes bomber isochronal inspections, repair and reclamation and wheel and tire sections. The men and women of this flight perform calendar inspections to ensure the aircraft are prepared for daily training missions and or contingency operations, and do heavy repairs on flight controls, brakes, wheels, tires and other aircraft systems.The Propulsion Flight performs nine retained maintenance tasks, as well as testing and monitoring of all assigned engines. Engines requiring heavy or core maintenance are returned to the engine regional repair center. The Flight also inspects and maintains 29 3,000 trailers and seven 4,000 trailers which support both aircraft maintenance units as well as the isochronal inspection dock.

Programs Flight personnel maintain and monitor the squadron’s deployment commitment for real-world and exercises, ancillary training, environmental program, all motor vehicles,maintenance and upgrades of assigned facilities, budget, safety and manning status.

28th Munitions Squadron
The 28th Munitions Squadron puts the “bomb” in bomb wing. It consists of more than 280 professionals working in four flights supporting the 34th and 37th Bomb Squadrons, two detachments and three National Guard units. The squadron is responsible for more than 1,600 munitions line items, 87 facilities, 3.5 million pounds net explosive weight and a 640-acre munitions storage area. The Production Flight assembles, maintains and delivers all types of munitions maintained at Ellsworth.

The Materiel Flight stores, inspects and accounts for all types of munitions maintained at Ellsworth. It also ensures that munitions are available to support both peacetime and wartime operations.

The Armament Flight maintains the 28th Bomb Wing’s 62 conventional bomb modules, 62 conventional rotary launchers and ACC’s inventory of strategic launchers. The Systems Flight operates the munitions control center, conducts training and serves as the focal point for squadron deployments.

28TH MISSION SUPPORT GROUP
The 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 Civil Engineer Squadron
The 28th Civil Engineer Squadron provides the necessary assets and skilled personnel to prepare and sustain installations throughout the world, whether in peace or war. The squadron’s dual mission is to provide quality home-station engineer services for rapid, decisive, sustainable combat support, anytime-anywhere. Additionally, the Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force mobility teams stand constantly ready to rapidly deploy anytime, anywhere to provide fully responsive engineer capabilities in support of our nation’s contingencies. This dual mission of war readiness and infrastructure maintenance is accomplished with a combined military and civilian work force capable of rapid transition between missions.

Civil engineers support the installation and the Air Force mission by applying resources to accomplish required tasks in the following areas—readiness, real property maintenance and accountability, utility service, fire protection, explosive ordnance disposal, disaster preparedness, environmental protection, non-real property services and technical and management services.

The squadron consists of seven flights—asset management, programs, operations, resources, emergency management, explosive ordnance disposal, fire and emergency services.

In addition to daily operations, the civil engineer Prime Base Engineer Emergency Force is responsible for maintaining, repairing, operating and recovering the base—or any base worldwide— before, during and after a peacetime or wartime disaster, or deploying a fully capable engineer force in support of contingency operations.

28th Communications Squadron
The 28th Communications Squadron lives up to its motto, “Wired for War,” by providing the highest level of communications and information support, airfield systems management and maintenance and Air Force Portal services to Ellsworth and deployed personnel.

It consists of two flights—Operations and Plans and Resources.The Operations Flight manages a variety of functions. It provides a network control center capability, including a client service center, network management, server administration and network information assurance services. Also, the flight enables knowledge operations through such services as records management, content and collaboration management, work flow, electronic communications management and publishing.

Additionally, it supports the B-1B flying training mission with superior airfield systems and weather maintenance to Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City Regional, Minot AFB and Western Air Defense supporting the Homeland Defense mission. The flight further provides technical and systems support for wing communications and computer systems including ground radio, voice networks and secure communications maintenance.

The Plans and Resources Flight manages activities related to base-level Command, Control, Communications and Computers systems planning; plans support, including mobility and deployment planning, strategic planning, and requirements analysis; implementation, including architectures, integration, direction, and standards; resources, including budgeting and billing; and human resources and functional management, including memorandum of agreements and contract management. The flight is also responsible for base-level communication security programs (Communications Security, Emission Security, Spectrum Information Assurance). Also, base postal activities are managed within the flight.