Wild West Trip Day 3

Growing up around Wright Patterson Air Force Base,

we learned to love airplanes and all who serve our nation.

We went to Ellsworth Air Force Base today and the

South Dakota Air and Space Museum.  Wright Patt

also had a SAC wing so we grew up around the B-52

and of course particularly interested in the Missile Defense Systems.

It's all here at Ellsworth and on display at the museum.

The Stealth Bomber was constructed and

painted to reduce radar and thermal production.

The B-52 saw active duty in the Vietnam War, Persian

Gulf War in 1991 and over Afghanistan in 2001.

 Modern engineering analyses showed the B-52’s expected

lifespan extending beyond 2040.

There are only 74 still active and 20 in reserve.

Under the belly of the beast.

We descended the stairs into an actual missile silo.

 

Minuteman II Intercontinental Ballistic Missile

 

Looking down into the silo.  This missile system

was halted in 1994 when our government

signed a nuclear treaty with the Russians. 

 

This is what computers looked like in the "old" days.

 

 

Next stop Big Bear Country.  There were also

lots of other animals here.  Much more than a zoo.

The animals are actually roaming around your cars.

Rocky Mountain Elk

This big Grizzly actually crossed

in front of us

 

As did this Black Bear

 

Some well deserved R & R