[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 464 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 464

    Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Ellsworth Air Force Base.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 16, 2012

 Mr. Johnson of South Dakota (for himself and Mr. Thune) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
    Commemorating the 70th anniversary of Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Whereas on January 2, 1942, the War Department established Rapid City Army Air 
        Base in South Dakota as a training location for B-17 Flying Fortress 
        crews;
Whereas thousands of pilots, navigators, radio operators, and gunners were 
        trained at Rapid City Army Air Base and went on to support the allied 
        efforts in World War II;
Whereas on June 13, 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower visited the base and 
        dedicated it in memory of Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth;
Whereas during the Cold War, Ellsworth Air Force Base maintained 2 legs of the 
        strategic triad, strategic bombardment, and intercontinental ballistic 
        missiles, earning the title ``The Showplace of Strategic Air Command'';
Whereas 2012 marks the 25th year of the B-1B Lancer mission at Ellsworth Air 
        Force Base;
Whereas in 1999, B-1Bs from Ellsworth Air Force Base flew over 100 combat 
        missions in support of NATO forces in Operation Allied Force in Kosovo;
Whereas Ellsworth Air Force Base has played a crucial role in support of 
        Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn, and Operation Enduring 
        Freedom, deploying over 10,000 personnel and flying over 6,000 combat 
        sorties in those operations;
Whereas the first ever B-1B global strike mission launched from the United 
        States came from Ellsworth Air Force Base on March 30, 2011, striking 
        targets in Libya before refueling, rearming, and hitting additional 
        targets in Libya on the return;
Whereas, for 70 years, Ellsworth Air Force Base has served as an integral part 
        of the defense strategy of the United States and served as the proud 
        home to thousands of bomber pilots, navigators, radio operators, 
        gunners, missile launch control facility personnel, and aircraft and 
        missile maintenance personnel;
Whereas, the personnel from Ellsworth Air Force Base have a history of compiling 
        some of the highest marks in competitive readiness and maintenance 
        exercises and competitions;
Whereas, for the past 65 years, Ellsworth Air Force Base has--

    (1) been home to the 28th Bomb Wing and some of the most impressive 
aircraft in the United States, including the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-29 
Superfortress, the RB-36 Peacemaker, the B-52 Stratofortress, the KC-135 
Stratotanker, KC-97 Stratofreighter and the B-1B Lancer; and

    (2) for parts of 4 decades, served as an important cog in the missile 
defense system of the United States, featuring the Titan and Minuteman 
missile systems;

Whereas Ellsworth Air Force Base continues to evolve and is preparing to welcome 
        the MQ-9 Reaper mission later in 2012; and
Whereas, Ellsworth Air Force Base and the communities of Rapid City and Box 
        Elder, South Dakota have and will continue to enjoy a long standing, 
        mutually beneficial relationship: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the contributions of Ellsworth Air Force 
        Base to the security of the United States;
            (2) commemorates 70 years of excellence and service by 
        Ellsworth Air Force Base to the United States; and
            (3) encourages the people of the United States to recognize 
        and honor the dedicated and exemplary service of the airmen and 
        their families, past and present, stationed at Ellsworth Air 
        Force Base.
                                 <all>