"Speed" comes to Ellsworth

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Steven D. Wilson
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  A production team and show host from The Speed Channel's motorcycle centric program, "American Thunder," visited here Feb. 11 and filmed part of an upcoming episode at the S.D. Air and Space Museum.

The future episode concentrates on the attractions and cultural icons in the Black Hills area available to the public before and after the world-famous Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. The SDASM features legacy aircraft, nuclear missile exhibits and other historical icons unique to America's airpower heritage.

The show's host, Colby Donaldson, toured the museum's airpark, the interior exhibits and the museum archives area, where he was shown artifacts not on daily display.

Mr. Donaldson said he has a familial tie to Ellsworth.

"My grandfather flew B-17s out of here," he said. "Part of his job after World War II was to fly all over Europe and pick-up prisoners-of-war recently released liberated from prison camps."

Col. Peter Castor, 28th Bomb Wing vice-commander, said he hopes the visit will do great things for the museum as a unique Black Hills attraction.

"It's exciting the American Thunder production team visited our museum," he said. "We're very fortunate to have such a unique asset right outside Ellsworth's gate to showcase the Air Force's air and space history. I'm looking forward to watching the episode and excited to know we're going to have an opportunity to share it with a national audience." 

Mr. Donaldson said he'll carry the memory of his visit to the Black Hills area for quite some time.

"My most enjoyable moment [of this trip] was coming to the base where my grandfather learned to fly the B-17. It was a memorable experience."

The episode featuring American Thunder's visit to the SDASM is scheduled to air April 1. For more information on the show, visit http://www.speedtv.com/programs/american-thunder/.