South Dakota Warbird Survivors 2003: A Handbook on Where to Find Them

By Harold A. Skaarup

For those of you who are familiar with the airspace over South Dakota and its environs, the weather and colors of the landscape running from the bare prairie to the Badlands and the Black Hills can be incredibly beautiful, particularly early in the morning. The state is also home to a considerable number of retired warbirds and gate guardians. Ellsworth Air Force Base, for example, has been the home of military aviation in South Dakota since the Second World War.

It is my hope that this book will show you where to find and view some of South Dakota's veteran military aircraft, and to perhaps take an interest in some of the military aviation history that can be found in this warm and friendly state that is home to the Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse Memorials in the Black Hills, as well as the last resting place of Wild Bill Hickok in Deadwood. This book is specifically intended to provide a "where are they" guide for residents and visitors to South Dakota who are interested in its rich resources of historical military aircraft, as well as contact information for the museums and airfields that display them.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Dec 23, 2002
• ISBN: 9781462047529

Harold A. Skaarup

Major Hal Skaarup has served with the Canadian Forces for more than 40 years, starting with the 56th Field Squadron, RCE and completing his service as the G2 (Intelligence Officer) at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick in August 2011. He was a member of the Canadian Airborne Regiment, served three tours with the Skyhawks Parachute Demonstration Team, and worked in the Airborne Trials and Evaluation section. He served as an Intelligence Officer overseas in Germany and Colorado, and has been on operational deployments to Cyprus, Bosnia, and Afghanistan. He has been an instructor at the Tactics School at the Combat Training Centre in Gagetown and at the Intelligence Training Schools in Borden and Kingston. He earned a Master's degree in War Studies through the Royal Military College, and has authored a number of books on military history.

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All Rights Reserved © 2002 by Harold A. Skaarup

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, or by any information storage retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher.

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The aircraft described in South Dakota Warbird Survivors and the locations listed for them may change from time to time. Although every effort has been made to ensure accuracy up to the time of publication, there are always amendments to be made. Updates to any of the information found in this handbook would be greatly appreciated, and every effort will be made to include them in future editions.

ISBN: 0-595-26379-8

ISBN: 9781462047529 (ebk)

Printed in the United States of America

Contents

List of Illustrations

Foreword

Preface

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Aircraft Museums and Displays in South Dakota

Alphabetical List of South Dakota Warbird Survivors

APPENDIX A

Short List of South Dakota Warbird Survivors

APPENDIX B

South Dakota Aviation Hall of Fame

APPENDIX C

History of the 28th Bomb Wing

APPENDIX E

How Ellsworth Air Force Base Got its Name

APPENDIX F

General Joseph Foss—South Dakota Fighter Pilot

Bibliography

About the Author

END NOTES

This book is dedicated to the 23 aircrew that died in the crash of a South Dakota-based Convair RB-36H Peacemaker bomber (tail number 51-13721) on Random Island, near Burgoyne, Newfoundland, while returning from a routine exercise in the Azores 18 March 1953. Brigadier General Richard E. Ellsworth, commander of the 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing was one of those lost in this accident. Ellsworth AFB carries his name.

This book is also dedicated to the highly professional men and women of the United States Armed Services and the Canadian Forces of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM). Many of them have flown or serviced the military aircraft described in this handbook. Because of their service, you and I can sleep soundly at night. May it continue to be so.

To control the air, aircraft bring certain characteristics which are not shared by land or sea forces—the ability to carry weapons over long ranges at great speed, the ability to concentrate rapidly large forces over a distant point, the ability to switch targets and to surprise and deceive—in a word, flexibility.

List of Illustrations

Beechcraft Model 18/C-45H Expeditor

Beech U-8D Seminole

Bell Model 47/OH-13H Sioux Helicopter

Bell Model 204, UH-1F Iroquois

Boeing B-29A Superfortress

Boeing B-52D Stratofortress

Boeing Model 717 EC-135A Stratotanker

Cessna Model310 U-3 Administrator Blue Canoe

Convair F-102A Delta Dagger

Convair C-131D Samaritan

Douglas A-26K Invader

General Dynamics FB-111A Aardvark

Honda B-2 Spirit model

Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star

Martin EB-57E Canberra

McDonnell F-101B Voodoo

North American VB-25JMitchell

North American F-86H Sabre Jet

North American F-100A Super Sabre

Northrop T-38A Talon

Republic F-84F Thunderstreak

Republic F-105B Thunderchief.

Stinson L-5A Sentinel

Vought A-7D LTV Corsair II

Vultee BT-13 Valiant

Foreword

North America is replete in aviation history, both military and civilian. The sheer size of Canada and the United States dictated an early interest in air defense and profoundly influenced our dependence on air travel. It is no wonder that both nations developed as air-faring nations. A large part of the leadership that contributed to that development can be traced to our Air Forces. Indeed, our proud military heritage is embodied in the dedicated individuals who have served and continue to do so—and in the marvelous aircraft they have flown.

The preservation and public display of these aircraft is a labor of love for many, including the editor of this book. If you are an enthusiast of military aviation history, or one with a passing interest who simply wishes to learn more, you will find a wealth of information in these well-researched pages.

Kenneth DeCuir

Brigadier General, USAF

Commander, Cheyenne Mountain Operations Center

Preface

There are a number of us who have a continuing interest in retired military aircraft that are preserved in the state of South Dakota. At least 22 of these old Warbirds can be found on display at the South Dakota Air and Space Museum, 7 miles East of Rapid City next to Ellsworth Air Force Base. Others are on display as gate guards and war memorials in various places throughout the state. Many other military aircraft of historic significance to South Dakota are not on display, although their remains can be found in different crash sites scattered throughout the state’s hills and forests.

Many examples of aircraft that saw service with the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC), the United States Army Air Force (USAAF), the United States Navy (USN), and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have been or are currently being salvaged and preserved in this state, particularly where they are of significant historical interest. As an army officer serving with NORAD, and being an aviation enthusiast, historian, artist, and photographer, I am attempting to keep track of where a good number of these Warbird survivors are presently located, and specifically for this book, where those aircraft can be found on display in South Dakota.

The purpose of this handbook is to provide a simple checklist of where the surviving military aircraft in South Dakota are now, and to provide at least one photograph of each type of aircraft mentioned. Former military aircraft are continuing to be being recovered from their crash sites, or traded or brought back from owners who have been flying them in other countries. In spite of this, there are still an incredible number of Warbirds from America’s aviation heritage for which no single example exists anywhere in the world, and many for which none exist in the USA. This handbook lists the Warbird survivors that can be found in South Dakota alphabetically by manufacturer, number and aircraft type. This list is also appended with a brief summary of the aircraft presently on display within the state by location, and a bit of the Warbird’s history in the US military. Due to space limitations, a selection of only those Warbirds that can be found in South Dakota is provided. If you are interested in other aviation books like this one, they can be found at the www.iUniverse.com online bookstore in the Warbird Survivor series.

No list can ever be completely up to date, so if you as a reader have additional information to add, please forward an update to me at 2110 Cloverdale Drive, Colorado Springs, CO, 80920, or e-mail me at [e-mail].

It is my sincere hope that the list of South Dakota Warbird Survivors will continue to grow as more of them are recovered and restored. Grant that you find the handbook useful. Cheers, Harold A. Skaarup

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Ron Alley, Curator of the South Dakota Air and Space Museum; Walt Roetter (a Daedelian); and the volunteer members of the Museum staff for their assistance in providing information on the history of the base and the museum. I would also like to thank the archival staffs in the Library at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO; the historians and staff of the