The United States Air Force has temporarily relocated its entire fleet of B-1B Lancer bombers from Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, in a move not seen in 30 years.
The relocation is part of a major runway construction project at Ellsworth, ahead of the planned B-21 Raider deployment, and sees dozens of B-1s repositioned to Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, and Andersen AFB, Guam, as part of a Bomber Task Force deployment.
The full-scale mobilisation underscores the continued strategic importance of the B-1B even as the B-21 Raider prepares to take over the long-range strike role in the future.
The last B-1B departed Ellsworth on January 25, 2025, leaving its flightline empty of Lancers for the first time in 30 years. The move represents a significant logistical and operational challenge for the 34th and 37th Bomber Generation Squadrons, who have worked to ensure that the fleet remains combat-ready throughout the transition.
“The mighty B-1 has been around for over 40 years, and the foundational mission remains the same: win today, dominate tomorrow,” said Maj. Andrew Feigen, commander of the 37th Bomber Generation Squadron.
Before a B-1B lifts off, aircraft maintainers conduct rigorous inspections, repairs, and servicing to ensure the aircraft is safe and mission-ready. With the relocation, maintenance teams are now operating under harsh conditions at Grand Forks, known for its brutal winters, while others continue their work in the Indo-Pacific region at Andersen AFB.
“It’s a very high-paced mission from where I stand. You’re always going from one job to the next,” said Staff Sgt. Lane Benefield, a B-1 crew chief with the 37th Bomber Generation Squadron. “This gave our team the opportunity to step up into different roles, showing great flexibility from enduring the cold and being away from family and loved ones.”
The decision to relocate the entire B-1B fleet is a once-in-a-career moment, according to Lt. Col. Daniel Mount, commander of the 28th Maintenance Squadron.
“This is a once-in-a-career moment for the B-1 community to relocate our fleet completely,” said Mount. “There’s a pride that follows in knowing all of our teams are succeeding in their mission and continue to present a credible threat to our adversaries through power projection.”
The B-1B Lancer, known as “The Bone,” remains a critical asset in the U.S. Air Force’s bomber force, capable of carrying massive conventional payloads and executing long-range strike missions. The Bomber Task Force in Guam further signals America’s commitment to strategic deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, where tensions continue to rise over Chinese military activity.
Whether operating from North Dakota, South Dakota, or forward-deployed locations, B-1 maintainers and aircrew remain committed to ensuring that the U.S. retains its ability to strike anywhere, anytime.
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How the heck can I participate in this making $20k a month peas and carrots fille in
Julie is a cam hoe
The above post has ruined this website.
I’m sure George and Team will remove it Terence, It’s popped up on a number of threads lately.
Think they just trunkated the name though he should have said B1-2
hhm – not that many B1s left in service though circa 50? half the original force
Given the B1’s maintenance problems I am amazed they were able to do this.
The B1 has no maintenance problems whatsoever. You have nothing worthwhile to contribute to this discussion so why don’t you fcuk off
So rude.
But honest
Honest about what?
Very rude, but people who don’t understand or want to understand what real life experience in the aviation sector means so they just use profanity to make themselves feel better.
And he is actually correct the B1 fleet is worn to the bone..the whole fleet has been grounded 3 times in three years and it was reported a number times the the fleet was down to only 6 operational aircraft, there are very good reasons why the US are retiring the younger B1 fleet over the far older B52 fleet.
Hmmm, worrying how wrinkled the skin on B-52s is these days. Looks like laboratoire garnier chancellor palpatine !
From my own experience, not on the B-52, but on many other aircraft the “panting” of the skin is not unusual on older and larger aircraft, although the B-52 appears to have had the same panting throughout its life, looking at photographs from the prototype through to today shows it from just aft of the nose towards the wing root, sometimes it is a problem that needs rectification but I don’t think it is an issue for the B-52.
The 6 operational is bullshit. Until they transferred the bombers from Ellsworth we were watching 6 operational take off from here every day. Mis information is lies.
They’re just a pile of scrap metal. Maybe you should buy them David; they’re probably only worth a fiver by now 🤣
Seriously?
🤣🤣 lmfao
As a former aircraft maintenance technician I have to say that all aircraft fixed or rotary wing have maintenance problems at some point in their lifetime, and guarantee that the B-1 is no exception, the only difference between aircraft is the severity and safety issues that problems present.
LoL sure they don’t have problems 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣
Oh you really don’t know do you. . That’s ok you follow president Musk and put your head in the sand .
I shall miss the Lancers when they go, magnificent machine.
I remember seeing one do a low-level high-speed pass at RIAT about 20 years ago. Made all the car alarms go off. Absolutely stunning piece of machinery!
Ditto, went to the RAF Mildenhall Airshow with a group of Bikers, must have been either 1989/90,had been a good day, was just getting ready to leave and a B1 did a fast low pass pretty close to where we were parked, amazing.
Fly the B1s to the UK now we’ve gone to 2.5% the RAF can afford them 🤗
Pity they’re crap….
Is it Engine problems ?
There are 8 here in the UK now, doing exercises in the Baltic states. We hear them daily going over
I meant B52s, replied to the wrong comment
Oh I thought the US might be actually prepared for mobilising in support of a possible attack rather than, you know, just moving because the old place is having the builders in…
Squadron not fleet
Come join the party, it’s simulation Royal Marine search and destroy ai hive mind network. 53.771678,-3.035433 airstrip for your jets.
Article fails to mention why the move. Ellsworth AFB is repairing its runways!
The relocation is part of a major runway construction project at Ellsworth,
That info is in the original post.
Ask someone to read it slowly for you Vlad.
It’s not the entire B-1 fleet. They are also stationed at Dyes AFB Texas.
IM GLAD HAPPY TODAY 28 OF FEBRUARY 2025 when president TRMP KIK OUT ZELINSKY FROM THE WHITE HOUSE I HAVE BEEN TELLING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ABOUT THIS UKRANIAN PRESIDENT I FOUNG OUT ABOUT THIS INDIVIDUAL SINCE 2016 IN MY NATIVE COUNTRY PANAMA WHEN I HAD A DINNER WITH THE ALBANIAN DEPLOMATS AT COSTA AZUL IN COSTA DEL ESTE RESTAURANT WHAT AN INTERESTING DINNER !!!!!!! I KNEW ALL ALONE INFORMATIONS ABOUT THIS INDIVIDUAL A PONK PONK PONK A YOUG PONK NOBODY LIKE HIM HE IS YOUNG DREAMER PONK HE JUST WSNT UKRAINE BE ISRAEL HE HATE ISRAEK THIS ALBANIANS PERSONS TOLD ME THAT IN MY COUNTRY PANAMA HE IS STRONG NATIONALIST IN UKRANE THIS PERSON TOLD AT THIS DINNER , HE WAS YOUNG IN EARLYS 40s AND I ASKED THEM AND WHO IS THIS GUY AND ONE TOLD HE JUST WANT TO BE RECOGNIZED AS THE JEWS SALVATION !!!!!! WHAT !!! I SAID AND THEY LOOK AT ME AND SAY NOTHING ZIPPING THEIR DRINKS REMEMBER THAT DAY AFTER THE MINUTE PASS I WAS VERY ANSIOSA DE SABER PORQUE THEY DID NOT WANT TO CONTINIUM THE COVERSATION AND NEXT DAY I MEET WITH ANOTHE PERSON A SECRETARY AN SHE EXPLAINED TO ME “”” THE WHOLE WORLD WILL KNOW WHO ZEBLISKY WILL BE … AND NOW MY SUBCONSCIOUS COME ALIVE I KNEW I KNEW THIS MAN IS ACPONK A PONK A YOUNG PONK !!!!! I M HAPPY THE TRUTH IS COMING OUT AFTER SONCE 2O18 THIS PONK WANTS UKRAINIAN JEWS BE THE SALVATION OF THE JEW STATE HE DONT LIKE ISRAEL …………. HE IS ANOTHE BORN HITLER BELEAVE ME ,HE IS DIVIL MAN AND A YOUNG DREAMER PONK I HAVE TOLD MANY PEOPLE MY STORY ABOUT THIS PONK AMEN AMEN IN GOD I TRUST
Herr Trump and President Musk are generational Nazi’s; so why did they do Putin’s bidding and attempt to pull Zelensky/Ukraine into another Russian ambush?
Sorry world, our country is Ruled by a billionaire Nazi, a murderous Russian President and a convicted Rapist and Felon.
USA gears up warmongering
We are good at it Vlad, you Russians seem to have a loss of resources for weapons and the will to fight an unjust war. Slava Ukraine!
May be time for the world terrorist USA the source of all WAR and BIOWEAPONS like Aids & Corona to stop wasting tax payer’s money and young people live on WAR USA have not WON Since Korean WAR.
Even Rome lasted centuries after it fell. The Holy See still exists but reduced to an ineffective power.
What are you talking about?!!
Who won the Iraq and the golf States war ?!
Who messed up the Serbian dictator and brought the balkans to peace ..?!
The golf states war hasn’t happened yet. We’re going to kick him out of Scotland.
The Golf States! 🤣 I hear they have a bunker mentality…
If an invading country came to the US with the idea of stealing land would Americans be so accepting with giving up our land! So why should Ukranians have to submit to the invader’s? If Ukraine submits now then the one’s who fought and died to protect their homes would have died for nothing!
Indeed. Fortunately, now that USA is not our Ally, just a supplier, we don’t need to pay any attention to Article 5 when Columbian drug cartels decide to invade the Gulf of Mexico to improve their product transport. That’s just an American problem, though they won’t be able to find targets as their maps say Gulf of America..