Ellsworth bombers conduct Aegean Sea mission

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. — As part of U.S. European Command’s continuing efforts to demonstrate the far-reaching capabilities of America’s strategic bomber aircraft, two U.S. B-1 Lancer bombers stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota conducted overflight missions in the Aegean Sea Wednesday.

This military operation was a part of USEUCOM’s recurring and high-visibility Bomber Task Force (BTF) missions.

“U.S. security commitments to the NATO Alliance remain ironclad,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Lance Landrum, USEUCOM’s director of operations. “Today’s bomber task force mission is another in a long list of examples of how America’s military forces sustain readiness, improve interoperability and demonstrate our nation’s ability to deliver on commitments from across the Atlantic.”

The single-day mission of the supersonic heavy bombers took the aircraft and crews nearly 12,000 nautical miles during the roundtrip operation.

Launching from America’s Midwest, the B-1 bombers were escorted by two Aviano, Italy-based U.S. F-16 fighter jets once the bombers arrived into Europe before flying over the Aegean Sea.

Bomber Task Force missions have occurred in the European theater since 2018, with more than 200 sorties coordinated with Allies and partners. These missions are an integral part of long-planned operations to increase readiness and interoperability with Allies and partners.