The U.S. Air Force is temporarily relocating 17 B-1B Lancer bombers and 800 airmen from Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, to Grand Forks Air Force Base, North Dakota. This marks the return of the B-1 to Grand Forks after 30 years. The move is necessary to allow for runway construction at Ellsworth AFB in preparation for the arrival of the new B-21 Raider.
Grand Forks AFB was home to B-1 bombers until 1994. Many of the features needed to house the bomber are still present at Grand Forks, including runway length, munitions storage, and refueling capabilities. In October, the 28th Bomb Wing collaborated with the 319th Reconnaissance Wing to perform a hot pit refueling operation at Grand Forks Air Force Base, testing the adaptability of the base and its Airmen. The hot pit refueling, which involved refueling the B-1B while its engines were still running, came 30 years after the last of the B-1B Lancers left Grand Forks.
Ellsworth AFB is undergoing a runway construction project to prepare for the arrival of the B-21 Raider. The temporary relocation allows the B-1 mission to continue without interruption. “The runway construction at Ellsworth AFB is a key milestone in ensuring we’re ready to receive the B-21 Raider,” said Col. Derek Oakley, 28th BW commander. “This project illustrates the U.S. Air Force’s commitment to our nation’s newest long-range strike bomber and to the surrounding community.”
The relocation is expected to last about 10 months. The first B-1B is expected to arrive in December 2024, with the full fleet arriving early next year. The bombers will continue to support home station taskings from Grand Forks. Day-to-day maintenance will be conducted at Grand Forks, while large-scale maintenance will be performed at Dyess AFB, Texas.
Residents around Ellsworth will experience increased construction traffic. Locals in the Red River Valley will see an increase in military vehicle freight and air traffic noise. “There’s no doubt integrating the B-1 community into our Grand Forks Unmanned Aerial System ecosystem will pay dividends for everyone involved,” said Col. Tim Monroe, 319th Reconnaissance Wing commander. “This temporary relocation is the vanguard of Air Force integration, readiness, and agile combat employment, and epitomizes the mantra of One Team, One Fight.”
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