Ellsworth Air Force Base in Pennington County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
B-52D Stratofortress
Navigating in the Dark
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
1. B-52D Stratofortress Marker
A B-52's crew includes two navigators. They take stations on the darkened lower deck, constantly sharing information with the Aircraft Commander, Co-pilot, and Electronic Warfare Officer on the upper deck. The Navigator calculates the route and precise timing of the mission. The Radar Navigator handles the actual weapon targeting.
MAJ JOHN MIZE
Mize received the Air Force Cross for saving his B-52 crew. While bombing North Vietnam in 1972, his bomber lost four of its eight engines to an enemy missile. Mize kept it flying to safe territory, then delayed his own ejection to give the crew time to bail out. He served with the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth for 14 years.
TOP: John Mize risked his own life to ensure the safety of his crew.
RIGHT: A Weapons Loader mounts a bomb into a B-52 for Operation Linebacker II, late in the Vietnam War.
The navigators' station is often called "The Black Hole." It's cramped and uncomfortable, but essential to mission success.
Updating electronic systems—like the radar in the nose—has kept the B-52 effective for many decades.
DATA CARD
Top Speed mph · 650
Crew · 5 (6 before
this page online
Range · Intercontinental
Payload · 60,000+ lbs. of conventional or nuclear weapons; four .50-cal. machine guns
Erected by South Dakota Air and Space Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, 1st Iraq & Desert Storm • War, Cold • War, Vietnam. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1972.
Location. 44° 7.994′ N, 103° 4.431′ W. Marker is in Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, in Pennington County. Marker and aircraft 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, 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
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
2. B-52D Stratofortress and Marker
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Ellsworth Air Force Base (here, next to this marker); Duke Corning (within shouting distance of this marker); EC-135 Airborne Launch Control System (ALCS) (within shouting distance of this marker); LGM-30F Minuteman II (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named LGM-30F Minuteman II (within shouting distance of this marker); MIM-3 Nike Ajax (within shouting distance of this marker); C-45H Expeditor (within shouting distance of this marker); 4th Airborne Command Control Squadron (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.
Regarding B-52D Stratofortress. 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 access onto the base.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
3. B-52D Stratofortress and Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., September 20, 2026
4. B-52D Stratofortress
Showing the huge vertical stabilizer and tail-mounted machine guns
Credits. This page was last revised on October 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
