{"id":39257,"date":"2024-01-25T22:24:43","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T22:24:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/uncategorized\/2024\/01\/25\/ellsworth-afb-moves-b-1-bombers-to-texas-amid-crash-probe\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:17:43","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:17:43","slug":"ellsworth-afb-moves-b-1-bombers-to-texas-amid-crash-probe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/airforcetimes\/news\/your-air-force\/2024\/01\/25\/ellsworth-afb-moves-b-1-bombers-to-texas-amid-crash-probe\/","title":{"rendered":"Ellsworth AFB moves B-1 bombers to Texas amid crash probe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ellsworth Air Force Base is moving some of its B-1B Lancer bombers from South Dakota to Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, as investigators continue to look for clues into what caused the nonfatal crash of a Lancer earlier this month<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ellsworth began relocating its bombers around 9:30 a.m. local time Thursday, and the mission continued throughout the afternoon, 28th Bomb Wing spokesman Steve Merrill told Air Force Times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merrill said \u201cseveral\u201d aircraft were part of the move, but declined to provide an exact number. About 250 aircrew, maintainers and logistics support personnel accompanying the jets are expected to work at Dyess for \u201cseveral\u201d weeks, said Capt. Hannah Durbin, a spokesperson for the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not out of the ordinary to have jets from different squadrons included in training packages, whether we are operating at home or deployed,\u201d Col. Seth Spanier, commander of the 7th Bomb Wing, said in a statement. \u201cBut anytime we have the opportunity to share knowledge and experiences across squadrons is extremely valuable and contributes to the overall readiness and lethality of the conventional bomber force.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flight operations at Ellsworth, which features a single runway, have been halted since Jan. 5, the day after the crash. They were slated to resume Jan. 19<\/a>, but investigators are still working at the scene, Merrill said. The move allows airmen to continue to train and maintain readiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Merrill told Air Force Times Thursday that the downed aircraft remains along the runway. The base worked with investigators to open the airfield to enable the flights and closed it again Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis clearly shows the Raiders of the 28th Bomb Wing are capable of executing our mission and remain ready at a moment\u2019s notice to respond to any tasking we are given when called upon,\u201d Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander, said in a statement. \u201cIt also reassures our allies and partners that we are steadfast in supporting them when needed, and also reminds our nation\u2019s adversaries of the capabilities we are able to bring to any fight, anywhere around the globe.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe consider our airfield a weapon system,\u201d Oakley added. \u201cWhile our airfield operations are currently on hold as part of the investigation, today, we proved that this weapon system is mission capable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t