Tour of Ellsworth Air Force Base & Museum 

Wow... a blast from the past. I was stationed at Ellsworth from 1989-1996 (seven years, six months and two days... not that I was counting). At one point in time the base was on a list of possible closure bases, but it has obviously endured. It would be fun to see how not only the base has changed in the last 27 years, but also how Rapid City has changed. As a former resident, it was fun to see Washington Inn in the video and the little movie theater. Also, it was nice to see the newer housing area. Centennial Housing was developed in the early 90s; some buddies of mine and their families were new residents and were dealing with problems almost immediately. I remember reading something online about how the developer was on the receiving end of a multi-million dollar False Claims Act lawsuit because of the severe lack of quality control during the building and inspection process.

Thank you for that tour of Ellsworth AFB. Everything looks brand new, completely different from when I was stationed there between 1967 thru 1971. I was in the 44th Missile Squadron as a Missile Technician traveling to and from Minuteman Missile sites by military truck convoy or by military helicopter. Our work section was located at the Pride Hanger at Ellsworth. I met my first wife, a Sioux Indian from Rapid City. WE were transferred in 1971 to Minot AFB, ND 91st Missile Maintenance Squadron until discharged in 1975. Those US Air Force years were the most fond years of my life, where I transitioned from a young teenager with basic interior wiring skills into my adult life with multiple skills... Afterwards working for a Chemical Company in Pennsylvania for 37 years into my current retirement. Go Air Force!

Thanks for sharing! Lived there for close to 9 years when I was a kid more than 31 years ago. Lots of fond memories from this place. Would never want to live there again. lol

Assigned to the 28FMS welding shop from August 1976 to December 1979. I donated my collection of eight B-52 models to the South Dakota Air and Space Museum

was stationed there 1990 to 1992. Washington Inn dorm. Thanks for this video brings back memories :)

Thank you forvthe video! Really helps to figure out what ellaworth will be like

The Pride Hanger was built to house the B-36 bomber. An exact copy was built at Loring AFB Maine. Later on the hanger housef yhe 44th SMW

Thank you for making this video and sharing your experience! I'm going to this base with my husband all the way from Germany and it's really nice to have a little preview.

Wow, what a change from 1970!

I worked as a security police aircraft there from 1974-1975 then reassigned to Utapao Thailand. Finished my 4 year stint at Seymour Johnson. Walked many a step around B-52’s and KC 135’s

jeepers. they call them dorms now? they were still called barracks when i was in the U.S.A.F. Seymour Johnson, Goldsboro, NC and Incirlik, Turkey be safe, thank you for your service. GO AIR FORCE!!

Thanks for uploading this. From 6:19 to 6:33, the empty space across the road that just has trees and shrubs in it is where my family and I moved to 50 years ago this past summer. I was quite young. We lived there for 5 years. My dad was stationed there after a year in Vietnam. My family loved living there. We especially loved the black hills. In 1997, I took my wife and kids on a vacation to the hills, and we were blessed with being allowed on base to see my old home. The lady who was living there was kind and asked us inside after explaining why I wanted to film the exterior. She had also lived on that base as a child and understood why I was wanting to see a place with such priceless memories - and it had barely changed at all. Here’s the video, if you are interested in seeing what used to be in that empty space - ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-GugS-prk05w.html I’m glad I preserved it on film before it was destroyed.

my son just got orders to Ellsworth , when he finishes tech school. looks pretty bleak but I'm sure it could be worse

Our cadet daughter 2024 USAFA grad stationed here for AF Operations 2022 summer session 1. Is Taylor still assigned here?

I was born on that base in 1970.

I was helicopter crewchief there from1971-1973

Pretty sure this film is illegal and could cause you to be arrested.

Didn't see anything that looked like it did in 73