Ellsworth named best bomb wing, garners Fairchild Trophy

Airmen from the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., pose for a photo with the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, the Air Force Global Strike Command commander, Gen. Thomas Bussiere and the AFGSC command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Melvina Smith after the 28th BW was awarded the Fairchild trophy at the Global Strike Challenge scoring ceremony on November 8, 2023 at Barksdale Air Force Base, La. The Fairchild trophy was awarded to the 28th BW for earning the highest combined score in operations, security forces and maintenance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Pugh)

Ellsworth named best bomb wing, garners Fairchild Trophy

Members of the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron weapons load crew insert an inert joint air-to-surface standoff missile into a B-1B Lancer during a weapons load competition at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, Aug. 22, 2023. The 28th Bomb Wing was awarded the Ellis Giant Sword Trophy for best bomber maintenance team. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jake Jacobsen)

Ellsworth named best bomb wing, garners Fairchild Trophy

Aircrew, assigned to the 37th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., receive a pre-mission brief prior to a CONUS-to-CONUS flight into the Indo-Pacific region, Sept. 10, 2022. The USAF remains fully committed to the defense against and deterrence of any actors that would look to undermine or threaten our shared interests. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Adam Olson)

Ellsworth named best bomb wing, garners Fairchild Trophy

Published Nov. 9, 2023
By Staff Sgt Jake Jacobsen
28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs

ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --

Air Force Global Strike Command announced the 28th Bomb Wing as the best bomb wing in the command and presented it with the Fairchild Trophy during the Global Strike Challenge 2023 capstone event Nov. 8.

Global Strike Challenge is the world’s premier bomber and intercontinental ballistic missile operations and maintenance, helicopter operations and security forces competition with units from AFGSC, Air Combat Command, Air Force Reserve Command and the Air National Guard participating.

“This is a phenomenal event to show the American people, the Department of Defense and the rest of the Department of the Air Force how professional, skilled and awesome the men and women of the nuclear enterprise are,” said Gen. Thomas Bussiere, AFGSC commander. “Tonight is a celebration of your excellence in this competition.”

In addition to claiming top honors as the best bomb wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota, also received the Ellis Giant Sword – recognizing them as the best bomber maintenance team – as well as being the best conventional munitions maintenance team, and the best conventional weapons load team.

The Tigers of the 37th Bomb Squadron also claimed the Mitchell Award for the best bomb category of the competition.

"Every raider at Ellsworth is directly responsible for the wing winning the Fairchild Trophy and tallying up top honors on several other categories of this fierce competition,” said Col. Derek Oakley, 28th Bomb Wing commander. “These are things we do every day, together. I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished and continue to do as a team and look forward to what we will achieve in the future. Well done, Raiders.”

Bussiere told those attending that they now have a responsibility to share what they learned during the competition with their fellow Airmen.

"The competitors and the winners have an obligation to grow those around you stronger next year," he said. "Steel sharpens steel. You make those around you stronger so that they're representing you and your leadership at the next Global Strike Challenge.