Ellsworth Airmen return from Southwest Asia

  • Published
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Approximately 400 Ellsworth Airmen were met with sirens, cheers and hugs from anxious family members when they returned home from a deployment to Southwest Asia in support of missions in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.

"We're very proud of all that they have accomplished and thrilled to have them safely back home," said Col. Mark E. Weatherington, 28th Bomb Wing commander. "Our Airmen provided phenomenal support for operations in that region."

Aircrews from Ellsworth provided critical air presence, precision strike, and surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to support military objectives in the region. Additionally, Airmen in a variety of non-aviation roles performed a wide range of sortie generation and mission assurance duties.

Weatherington added that the return of these Airmen is the culmination of a tremendous year for Ellsworth aircraft and personnel, who have accumulated a remarkable record of success. In the last 12 months, B-1s from Ellsworth flew more than 1,200 combat sorties totaling more than 15,000 hours, with a remarkable mission effectiveness rate of 98.83 percent. During this period, they also received nearly 200 million pounds of fuel during in-flight refueling operations, searched nearly 15,000 named areas of interest and filled 3,000 joint tactical air requests for the joint force.

Ellsworth Airmen also responded to troops-in-contact situations 432 times, providing B-1B top cover to American soldiers, sailors, Airmen, and Marines in Afghanistan who were receiving enemy fire. During a phenomenal year of combat, Ellsworth B-1Bs dropped nearly 700 weapons resulting in the destruction of over 320 targets and an estimated 150 enemies killed.

Weatherington noted that all of this is only possible through the tremendous dedication of Ellsworth's Airmen, and the continued support from families, friends and the community.