Dyess hosts Ellsworth AFB B-1 Lancers, 250+ personnel while crash investigation continues

Karley Cross
·1 min read
6

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Dyess Air Force Base will be ushering in hundreds of crewmembers and several B-1 lancers from a South Dakota base, some already on base.

In an urgent meeting Thursday afternoon, Dyess told KTAB/KRBC it would welcome 250-plus pilots, mechanics, and other necessary personnel from Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB) in South Dakota while a B-1 crash investigation is conducted there.

“It’s not out of the ordinary to have jets from different squadrons included in training packages, whether we are operating at home or deployed,” Col. Seth Spanier, commander of the 7th Bomb Wing, said in a statement. “But 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.”

According to an Air Force Times article, B-1 Lancer flights at Ellsworth AFB were halted following a nonfatal crash on Thursday, January 4. All four crew members on board ejected, sending one airman to the hospital.

B-1 bomber crashes while landing at South Dakota AFB, crew ejects safely

In response to this crash, Dyess AFB will host the additional aircrafts and personnel for at least the next two weeks so that the airmen may maintain combat readiness through continued training.

“We consider our airfield a weapon system,” Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander, added in the statement. “While our airfield operations are currently on hold as part of the investigation, today, we proved that this weapon system is mission capable.”

The supersonic bomber aircrafts first came into service in the 1980s, the AP reported. Today, fewer than 60 are used exclusively at Dyess and Ellsworth AFBs.

The latest on Dyess’ B-1 Lancers: A B-1B Lancer returned to Texas from the United Kingdom this last November after completing Bomber Task Force Mission 24-1.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.