28th Bomb Wing

28th Bomb Wing
B-1B Lancers of the 28th Bomb Wing on the flight line at Ellsworth AFB
Active	1947-1948, 1948-Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	bombardment
Part of	Global Strike Command 8th Air Force
Garrison/HQ	Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota
Motto(s)	Guardian Of The North
Aircraft	B-1B Lancer
Decorations	see "Lineage and Honors" section below
Commanders
Current commander	Colonel Gentry Boswell
Notable commanders	Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth Brigadier General Clinton H. Winne Jr. Brigadier General Joseph C. Wilson Jr. Lieutenant General Robert C. Hinson
Insignia
28th Bomb Wing emblem (approved )

The 28th Bomb Wing (28 BW) is a United States Air Force unit assigned to the Eighth Air Force (8 AF) of the Global Strike Command (GSC) and is stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota. The wing is also the "host unit" at Ellsworth AFB.

The wing is one of only two B-1B Lancer strategic bomber wings in the United States Air Force, the other being the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas.

Active for over 60 years, the 28 BW was a component wing of Strategic Air Command's deterrent force throughout the Cold War.

The 28th Bomb Wing is commanded by Colonel Gentry Boswell since 2015; its Command Chief Master Sergeant is CMSgt Adam Vizi.

The motto "Guardian of the North" hails from the 28th Operations Group's World War II service in Alaska, the Aleutian Islands, and the Kuril Islands. The 28th Bomb Wing carries on the traditions of the 28th Operations Group.

Myth: The motto "Guardian of the North" is not related in any way to the wing's Cold War service with B-52 Stratofortress bombers. Although this motto seems to dovetail nicely with the idea of guarding the north (whether spearheading an attack over the North Pole, or defending against one) from the Soviets, this is definitely not the case.

The 28th Bomb Wing, under various designations, has been assigned to Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota for over 60 years. It is the longest assigned active-duty unit at a single base in the United States Air Force.

Established as the 28th Bombardment Wing, Very Heavy on 28 July 1947. Maintained proficiency in heavy bombardment, 1947–1948. Maintained proficiency in global bombardment, deploying tactical components or segments thereof as needed, 1948–1950.

In March 1953 an RB-36 and its entire crew of 23 crashed in Newfoundland while returning from a routine exercise in Europe. On 13 June 1953, President Dwight D. Eisenhower made a personal visit to dedicate the base in memory of Brig Gen Richard E. Ellsworth, commander of the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, who lost his life in that accident.