B-1Bs return home

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Nathan Gallahan
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  Aircrews and B-1B Lancers began returning to Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. Sept. 15 after operating out of Dyess Air Force Base, Texas since June 2011, while the base runway was closed for repairs.

The Texas move was required so the 28th Civil Engineer Squadron and contractors could repair a 3,400-foot stretch of runway. The work was done on the 40-foot-wide keel - or center section - of the runway to prevent further deterioration. The last time the keel had been repaired was 20 years ago, and the new repairs should last for another 20 to 25 years.

"We're pretty excited about this project because it's a project worth more than $5 million ... money that went into the local community through contractors who bought the materials here and the jobs it created," said Lt. Col. Michael Johnson, 28th CES commander. "It also helped relieve some of the maintenance we have to do. As things get older, they take more maintenance - just like a car. The older a car gets, the more maintenance it requires to keep going. So by having new concrete on the runway, it's less day-to-day maintenance we have to do."

As for those temporarily assigned to Texas, they were happy to be home.

"It was great to fly back and see the old neighborhood," said Capt. Lincoln Coleman, 37th Bomb Squadron weapons system officer. "[The 37th BS was] deployed and then went back out to Texas. It's been hard to be away from the family, but we're home now. I've spent about a month with the family over the last eight months, so it will be great to spend some time with my family."