Strategic B-1B bomber base in the South Dakota Badlands.
Opened
1942
Location
Rapid City, United States
Ellsworth Air Force Base is a United States Air Force installation located approximately 10 miles northeast of Rapid City, South Dakota. It serves as the home of the 28th Bomb Wing, the host unit operating the B-1B Lancer supersonic bomber, and falls under Air Force Global Strike Command.
The base plays a critical role in U.S. strategic deterrence and power projection missions. While primarily a military installation, it is assigned the IATA code RCA and ICAO code KRCA for aviation coordination purposes. Limited civil aviation activity may occur at the facility, but it is not a commercial passenger airport.
Getting to & from
The base is accessible via personal vehicle or military transportation from Rapid City, approximately 10 miles to the southwest.
Notable facts
- ›Home of the 28th Bomb Wing, operating the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.
- ›Falls under Air Force Global Strike Command.
- ›Originally opened during World War II as a training facility.
- ›Named in honor of Brigadier General Richard Ellsworth, killed in a 1953 aircraft crash.
- ›One of only two B-1B Lancer bases in the United States, alongside Dyess AFB in Texas.
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
