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

U-3A Blue Canoe and U-8D Seminole

Common, Convenient, and Discrete

U-3A <i>Blue Canoe</i> and U-8D <i>Seminole</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

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

1. U-3A Blue Canoe and U-8D Seminole Marker

Inscription.

At one time, small transport planes like these two were a common sight on Air Force and Army airfields. They quickly transported all kinds of passengers and light cargo. Pilots flew them as an inexpensive way to keep up their skills.

BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
In the 1960s, our little Seminole served the U.S. Army force guarding West Berlin, a walled island in the middle of communist East Germany. The garrison—called the Berlin Brigade—included a small Aviation Section that patrolled the Berlin Wall by air. This plane carried the U.S. commanders in West Berlin to meetings in West Germany, across at least 110 miles of East Germany.

Here is our U-8 parked at Templehof Air Base in West Berlin in 1966.

It's hard to improve on a classic design. The larger C-12 Huron fills much the same role for the US Army today.

Photos of the Blue Canoe are rare. Got a photo of one in action? Museum staff would love to know!

DATA CARD
U-3A
Top Speed mph · 240
Crew · 1
Range · Regional
Payload · 6 passengers

U-8D
Top Speed mph · 240
Crew · 1-2
Range · Regional
Payload · 5 passengers

Erected by South Dakota Air

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and Space Museum.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, Cold. In addition, it is included in the South Dakota Air and Space Museum series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1966.

Location. 44° 7.972′ N, 103° 4.289′ 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 Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A-7D Corsair II (within shouting distance of this marker); YT-38 Talon

U-8D <i>Seminole</i> and Marker image. Click for full size.

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

2. U-8D Seminole and Marker

The U-3A is to left, not in the photo

(within shouting distance of this marker); F-105B Thunderchief (within shouting distance of this marker); F-84F Thunderstreak (within shouting distance of this marker); FB-111A Aardvark (within shouting distance of this marker); O-2A Skymaster (within shouting distance of this marker); HGM-25A Titan I (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named HGM-25A Titan I (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Ellsworth Air Force Base.

Regarding U-3A Blue Canoe and U-8D Seminole. 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.

U-8D <i>Seminole</i> image. Click for full size.

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

3. U-8D Seminole

U-3A <i>Blue Canoe</i> image. Click for full size.

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

4. U-3A Blue Canoe

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 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on October 7, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.