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Thousands brave triple-digit heat at Dakota Thunder
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FarkELLSWORTH AFB -- A crowd of more than 14,000 braved temperatures that soared to near 100 degrees Saturday to experience the Dakota Thunder 2007 open house at Ellsworth Air Force Base.
The high temperature reached 99 degrees at the base Saturday afternoon, but temperatures on the tarmac were reported as high as 105. There was some respite as the relative humidity hovered below 10 percent.
The show included flyovers and demonstrations by B-1 bombers, an A-10 fighter jet, a B-2 stealth bomber, a B-52 bomber and a B-25 Mitchell bomber.
More than 100 civilian pilots also brought their aircraft for display at the base.
Although no official numbers were available, officials said as of 3 p.m. that they had surpassed their goal of 14,000 visitors for the open house.
The event started off in the morning with low-altitude airfield attack and close air support demonstrations by the B-1B Lancer bomber.
In the afternoon, the Air Force brought in a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber and a B-52 Stratofortress bomber to fly in formation with one of Ellsworth’s own B-1s for a first-ever composite flyover at an open house.
Rapid City native, Major Brian Willits, flew his A-10 Thunderbolt fighter jet in a demonstration with low-altitude flyovers, attack demonstrations and rolls, climbs and descents.
After the demonstration, he was joined in the air by a P-51 Mustang World War-II era fighter. The heritage flight showcased the two planes flying side-by-side in low altitude flybys and maneuvers.
The last demonstration was a flyover by a B-25 Mitchell bomber. The B-25 was the plane used in the Doolittle Raids over Tokyo in April 1942.
Retired Major Woody Adams of Deadwood was stationed at Ellsworth AFB as a pilot from 1963 to 1971 flying the KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling plane. He said he came to the open house to see the B-25 Mitchell, which was the plane he trained in when he joined the Air Force. He said the event gives visitors an inside look at the Air Force.
“It helps the people understand a little better what it is the Air Force does,” he said.
Clarice Quaschnick, also of Deadwood, said she was at the open house because it was her way of thanking service members.
“It shows them how much we respect and approve of what they’re doing,” she said.
Other planes that were on display at the open house included the T-1 Jayhawk, the T-37 Tweet, the T-38 Talon and the T-6A Texan.
Besides the planes, the open house featured displays of different military equipment and gear. The Air Force also brought in simulators, games for kids and let groups take tours of the cockpit of the B-1s.
With highs on the Tarmac reaching well over 105 degrees shade was a much sought after comodity and the B-1B Lancer bomber mass provided more than its far share Saturday afternoon at Ellsworth's Open House. (Photo by Seth A. McConnell, Journal staff)
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