Predator Mission Coming To Ellsworth
Local News
by
Mark Walter
last edited on
Monday, June 21, 2010
Senator John Thune today announced that the Air Force has selected Ellsworth Air Force Base as one of two new squadron bed-down locations for personnel operating Remotely Piloted Aircraft.
“Ellsworth Air Force Base and the Rapid City community is the perfect location for this new mission,” said Thune.
According to a Thune press release Ellsworth will be responsible for flying five unmanned air patrols per day, providing vital intelligence information to commanders and troops on the ground. The squadron should be in place by January 2012 and will perform what’s known as remote split operations, meaning the aircraft will be controlled from Ellsworth but no actual planes will be stationed there.
It takes hundreds of people to operate and support this new mission. This decision will bring approximately 280 new active duty airmen, Air Force civilians, contractor personnel, plus their families, to Ellsworth and the Rapid City area.