Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

LGM-30F Minuteman II

The 44th Missile Wing

LGM-30F <i>Minuteman II</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

1. LGM-30F Minuteman II Marker

Inscription.

During the Cold War, Ellsworth supported two legs of the nation's nuclear deterrence triad: bombers and land-based missiles (submarine-launched missiles are the third leg). For 32 years, the 44th Missile Wing trained to launch and maintained Minuteman missiles. Airmen spent 24-hour shifts in each of 15 underground Launch Control Centers, ready to launch if ordered by the President. Technicians responded to the slightest possible glitch and Security Police kept watch for intruders.

"Some of this stuff became routine. Up and down I-90. Back and forth. Every day. And it just got dull. That's a good thing for the business we're in. If your job was boring, that's good. That means you're doing what you're supposed to be doing."
-Ken Bush, Security Policeman and flight security controller, 44th Missile Wing

READY AT A MINUTE'S NOTICE
Minuteman missiles took their name from the civilian militia in the Revolutionary War. In 1774, the town of Concord, Massachusetts voted "that there be one or more Companys Raised in this Town... and that Said Company or Companies stand at a minutes warning in Case of an alarm."

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captions]
LEFT: The 44th Missile Wing's emblem showed a nuclear warhead falling to Earth.
RIGHT: Minuteman equipment, like this Transporter-Erector, often displayed an image of colonial militia.

Missileers from Ellsworth monitored and controlled 150 missile silos across western South Dakota.

Missile field security was a top priority, no matter the weather.

DATA CARD
Top Speed mph · 17,000
Crew: 2
Range: Intercontinental
Payload: 1.2 megaton nuclear warhead

Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold. A significant historical year for this entry is 1774.

Location. 44° 7.992′ N, 103° 4.392′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and missile are on static display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2890 Davis Drive, Ellsworth AFB SD 57706, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West River,

in the Badlands,

and in Greater Rapid City.

It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor,

LGM-30F <i>Minuteman II</i> ICBM and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026

2. LGM-30F Minuteman II ICBM and Marker

Left marker

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: MIM-3 Nike Ajax (a few steps from this marker); C-45H Expeditor (a few steps from this marker); Duke Corning (within shouting distance of this marker); F-100A Super Sabre (within shouting distance of this marker); Interceptor Alert Hangar (within shouting distance of this marker); B-25 Mitchell (within shouting distance of this marker); B1-B Lancer (within shouting distance of this marker); VB-25J Mitchell (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Rockwell B-1B "Lancer" (was within shouting distance of this marker).

Regarding LGM-30F Minuteman II. Although an official field museum of the US Air Force Heritage Program and is adjacent to Ellsworth AFB main gate, the museum does not require

Missile Transporter-Erector image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 29, 2026

3. Missile Transporter-Erector

On static display at the entrance to F.E. Warren AFB, Cheyenne WY

access onto the base.

Also see . . . The Minuteman II Missile (National Park Service). (Submitted on October 6, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)

D-01 Launch Control Center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2026

4. D-01 Launch Control Center

Looking toward the Crew Commander's seat in distance. Site maintained by Minuteman Missile National Historic Site National Park Service

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2026

5. D-01 Launch Control Center

View from Crew Commander's position toward Deputy position and rear of capsule

Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 19, 2026

6. D-01 Launch Control Center

The contributor, a former Minuteman II Missile Launch Officer at another base during the Cold War, shows the small space for 24-hour missile alert duty.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 6, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 2 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 6, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.