South Dakota Air and Space Museum explained

South Dakota Air and Space Museum
Map Type:South Dakota
Map Dot Label:Ellsworth AFB
Coordinates:44.1336°N -103.0731°W
Established:1983
Location:Adjacent to Ellsworth Air Force Base, Box Elder, South Dakota, United States
Type:Aviation museum
Collection:25+ aircraft
Founder:Gerald E. Teachout

The South Dakota Air and Space Museum is an aviation museum located in Box Elder, South Dakota, just outside the main gate of Ellsworth AFB. It is dedicated to the history of the United States Air Force, the base and aerospace in South Dakota.

History

The Ellsworth Heritage Foundation was founded as a result of a United States Air Force program began in 1982 to establish museums at various bases around the country. The museum was co-founded by Gerald E. Teachout in 1983.[1] Fundraising for a new building began in 1985, but the museum was given four former F-89 hangars and a two-story building that had been planned for demolition.[2] The hangars and building were moved to the museum's current location near the base's main gate in 1992.[3] [4]

The museum received a mockup of a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit from the American Honda Motor Company in 1989.[5] The following year, it restored a Boeing B-29 Superfortress and received a Boeing B-47 Stratojet from Pease Air Force Base.[6]

A Convair B-36 on display in Texas was originally planned to be added to the museum in 1992, but it was eventually transferred to another museum.[7] [8] In 1994, a Minuteman II missile silo trainer located on Ellsworth Air Force Base was added to the museum inventory.[9]

The museum received a grant in 1998 to renovate its displays.[10] In 2001, a new entrance with a Rockwell B-1 Lancer was dedicated.[11] Following a restoration, an AGM-28 Hound Dog missile was unveiled in 2011.[12] A two-year landscaping project was completed in 2016.[13] In 2017 the museum dedicated a Titan I missile on display in the outdoor airpark.[14] In 2019, the museum partnered with the Commemorative Air Force to fly a B-25 across the state to recognize the two South Dakotans who participated in the Doolittle Raid.[15] A model of an AGM-158 missile was placed on display in 2022.[16]

Exhibits

The museum has four interior galleries named for Frank Hunter, Duke Corning, Clyde Ice, and Joe Foss.[17] Displays cover the history of aerospace technology, the World Wars, the Cold War, aviation pioneers, and Ellsworth Air Force Base. A number of training aids, such as F-106 and B-1B cockpits, an F-16 simulator, and a Minuteman Crew Mission Procedures Trainer are on display. Other exhibits include Stratobowl Balloon Launches in the 1930s,[18] 44th Bombardment Group/44th Strategic Missile Wing, and the South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame.Since Covid the interior exhibits are closed. The official website is down as well

Collection

Aircraft on display

Missiles on display

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gerald E. Teachout . Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home . 3 September 2019.
  2. News: Hanson . Gordon . $500,000 Fund Drive Begun for Air Museum . 31 January 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 15 October 1985 . 3.
  3. News: Hanson . Gordon . New Air and Space Museum Will Be Built at Ellsworth . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 17 April 1988 . B1.
  4. News: Hanson . Gordon . Museum Gets Off the Ground as Hangars Moved to New Site . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 30 September 1988 . B1.
  5. News: Hanson . Gordon . Honda Advertisement Gets Jump on Air Force Unveiling . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 24 April 1989 . B1.
  6. News: Harlan . Bill . B-29 Superfortress Nearly Restored at Ellsworth Museum . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 28 September 1990 . B1.
  7. News: Harlan . Bill . EAFB to Get Rare B-36 . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 14 May 1992 . A1–A2.
  8. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Convair B-36J-10-CF Peacemaker, s/n 52-2827 USAF, c/n 383 . Aerial Visuals . 1 February 2022.
  9. News: Harlan . Bill . Air Museum Adds Silo . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 17 July 1994 . 2.
  10. News: Foundation Receives $80,000 Grant . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 9 May 1998 . A8.
  11. News: Cook . Andrea J. . Museum Dedicates B-1 Lancer Bomber . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 20 May 2007 . A11.
  12. News: Penzenstadler . Nick . Cold War Relic Gets New Home . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 9 May 2011 . A3.
  13. Web site: Erwin . Nicolas Z. . Base museum receives beautification award . Ellsworth Air Force Base . 30 May 2022 . 6 June 2017.
  14. Web site: Jenson . Randahl J. . A titan laid to rest . Ellsworth Air Force Base . 30 May 2022 . 24 August 2017.
  15. News: Raid Across South Dakota . 30 May 2022 . General Aviation News . 15 April 2019.
  16. Web site: Malone . Hannah . Significant firepower . Ellsworth Air Force Base . 30 May 2022 . 18 April 2022.
  17. News: Hanson . Gordon . Hangars Named After Three Well-Known State Aviators . 1 February 2022 . Rapid City Journal . 6 May 1989 . B1.
  18. News: Jeffery-Tomjack . Shell . 2 September 2010 . History of Flight . C1–C2 . Rapid City Journal . 1 February 2022.
  19. Web site: Exhibits . South Dakota Air and Space Museum . 31 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210919030717/https://www.sdairandspacemuseum.com/exhibits . 19 September 2021.
  20. Web site: Airframe Dossier - North American VB-25J Mitchell, s/n 43-4030 USAF, c/n 108-24356, c/r N3339G . Aerial Visuals . 31 January 2022.