The Nation : B-1B Bomber Crashes in South Dakota

A B-1B bomber early today crashed near Ellsworth Air Force Base in western South Dakota, a Defense Department spokesman reported. Navy Lt. Cmdr. James Kudla said: “As of now we have no information on fatalities . . . . Right now at least it looks like there were no fatalities.” No details on the nature of the crash were disclosed by the Air Force. Earlier this week, officials said that the Air Force had inspected and cleared more than two-thirds of the B-1B bombers grounded after a crash on Nov. 8 that destroyed one of the long-range planes near Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. In that crash, the crew of four safely bailed out. It had been the second accident to claim one of the new bombers in 14 months. In September, 1987, a B-1B was demolished in a collision with a migrating pelican in Colorado. Three crew members were killed.