Air Force📍 Rapid City, South DakotaActive: 1942–present
Asbestos Exposure at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth AFB is a strategic bomber base in the northern Great Plains that has operated B-1 Lancer bombers since the 1980s and before them, B-52s and B-36s. The base's Cold War-era construction, ICBM launch control facilities, and bomber maintenance infrastructure contained asbestos in buildings and equipment throughout the facility.
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Medical and legal information reviewed and updated: • Sources: VA records, EPA Superfund data, NIOSH studies, litigation history
Asbestos History at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Ellsworth AFB is a strategic bomber base in the northern Great Plains that has operated B-1 Lancer bombers since the 1980s and before them, B-52s and B-36s. The base's Cold War-era construction, ICBM launch control facilities, and bomber maintenance infrastructure contained asbestos in buildings and equipment throughout the facility.
Key Facts
Ellsworth AFB was established in 1942 as a B-17 training base and has served continuously as a strategic bomber installation.
During the Cold War, Ellsworth hosted Minuteman I and Minuteman II ICBMs; missile facilities were often insulated with asbestos-containing materials.
The base is home to the 28th Bomb Wing, which operates the B-1B Lancer strategic bomber.
Many of Ellsworth's Cold War-era buildings, including those associated with nuclear weapons storage and alert facilities, contained asbestos in walls, floors, and mechanical systems.
Ellsworth was one of the bases targeted for closure in the 2005 BRAC round but survived after a major congressional and community campaign to keep it open.
Where Asbestos Was Found at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Asbestos was integrated into the infrastructure of virtually every military installation built before 1980. At Ellsworth Air Force Base, documented asbestos-containing materials were found in:
Bomber maintenance hangars and engine shops
ICBM launch control facilities and Minuteman silos
Boiler plants and steam distribution systems
Cold War-era barracks and base buildings
Pipe insulation throughout base infrastructure
Alert and nuclear weapons storage facilities
Administration and technical buildings
Workers and service members in these areas faced chronic low-level exposure over the course of months or years. Because mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years, many veterans who served decades ago are only receiving diagnoses today.
Affected Occupations at Ellsworth Air Force Base
Certain occupational roles at Ellsworth Air Force Base carried significantly higher asbestos exposure risk due to direct contact with insulation, gaskets, pipe systems, and other asbestos-containing materials:
👷B-1 and B-52 maintenance technicians
👷ICBM missile maintenance crews
👷Facilities maintenance workers
👷Pipefitters
👷Electricians
👷Construction workers
👷Security forces working in older structures
Even workers who did not directly handle asbestos — such as supervisors, inspectors, or administrative personnel who spent time in affected areas — may have experienced bystander exposure sufficient to cause mesothelioma decades later.
Asbestos Trust Funds for Ellsworth Air Force Base Veterans
The companies that manufactured and supplied asbestos-containing materials used at Ellsworth Air Force Base have established bankruptcy trust funds totaling over $30 billion to compensate victims. Veterans and workers exposed at this installation may be eligible to file claims against multiple trusts:
Johns-Manville
Owens Corning
W.R. Grace
Armstrong World Industries
Trust fund claims are separate from VA benefits — you can pursue both simultaneously. Most trust fund claims are resolved within 12 to 18 months. Our attorneys handle the entire process with no upfront cost.
VA Benefits for Ellsworth Air Force Base Veterans
Air Force veterans at this base encountered asbestos in aircraft maintenance hangars, missile facilities, base housing insulation, and technical operations buildings.
VA Disability & Healthcare Benefits
100% VA Disability Rating — Mesothelioma automatically qualifies for the maximum VA disability rating, providing monthly compensation of $3,737+ for a single veteran (2026 rates).
VA Healthcare — Full access to VA oncology centers, including specialized mesothelioma care at VA cancer centers.
Aid & Attendance — Additional monthly compensation for veterans who need help with daily activities due to illness.
Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) — Monthly payments to surviving spouses and dependent children of veterans who died from service-connected asbestos diseases.
Vocational Rehabilitation — Job training and career services for veterans whose condition affects their ability to work.
Your Legal Rights as a Ellsworth Air Force Base Veteran
Veterans with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer have the right to file civil lawsuits against the manufacturers of asbestos products used at their base — separate from and in addition to VA claims. These lawsuits are filed against the asbestos companies, not the military, and do not affect your VA benefits.
Statute of Limitations — Act Before Your Deadline
Every state imposes a filing deadline — called the statute of limitations — for mesothelioma claims. In most states, you have 2 to 3 years from the date of diagnosis to file. Missing this deadline permanently bars your right to compensation.
Our attorneys have worked with veterans from Ellsworth Air Force Base and dozens of other military installations. We understand the unique exposure history, documentation requirements, and combination of VA + civil litigation strategies that maximize compensation for veterans and their families. No fees unless we win.
Free Case Review for Ellsworth Air Force Base Veterans
If you or a family member served at Ellsworth Air Force Base and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, contact us today. Our attorneys are available 24/7 and will review your case at no cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there asbestos at Ellsworth Air Force Base?
Yes. Ellsworth Air Force Base (Rapid City, South Dakota) has documented asbestos exposure from 1942–present. Asbestos was used in Bomber maintenance hangars and engine shops, ICBM launch control facilities and Minuteman silos, Boiler plants and steam distribution systems, and other areas throughout the installation. Asbestos-related diseases linked to this base include mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Can Air Force veterans from Ellsworth Air Force Base get compensation?
Yes. Veterans who served at Ellsworth Air Force Base and were later diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer may qualify for compensation from asbestos trust funds including Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, W.R. Grace. Personal injury lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers are also available. Our firm works on contingency — no fees unless we win.
What VA benefits are available for Ellsworth Air Force Base veterans?
Veterans who served at Ellsworth Air Force Base and developed asbestos-related diseases may qualify for VA disability compensation at up to 100% disability rating, VA healthcare including specialized oncology treatment, Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) for severe disability, and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving family members.
Can family members of Ellsworth Air Force Base workers file claims?
Yes. Family members who were exposed to asbestos brought home on work clothing (called secondary or take-home exposure) and later developed mesothelioma may file their own compensation claims. Spouses who washed work uniforms and children who were regularly near an exposed worker face documented secondary exposure risk. Courts in all 50 states recognize these claims.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and Danziger & De Llano, LLP. Every case is unique; outcomes depend on individual facts and circumstances. Statute of limitations deadlines vary by state. Contact an attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation.
