The unit formed as the 28th Bombardment Wing (Very Heavy) in July 1947 at Rapid City AFB, SD (later Ellsworth AFB) with a variety of strategic bombers, such as the B-29, B-36 and B-52, plus strategic reconnaissance aircraft including the RB-29 and RB-36. The unit changed to a Strategic Reconnaissance Wing in April 1950 but reverted to a Bombardment Wing in October 1955. The unit added the EC-135 in 1965 and converted from the B-52H to the B-1B during 1987. The wing won the 1989 Fairchild Trophy as the first B-1B competition winner at SAC's Proud Shield bombing and navigation meet. The unit changed briefly to 28th Wing in October 1991 although, following the retirement of the EC-135s and the transfer of the KC-135s to a tenant unit, the 28th is to revert to a Bomb Wing.