ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Munitions and B-1B Lancers are lined up on the flightline preparing for missions, April 8. Carrying the largest payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the Air Force inventory, the multimission B-1 is the backbone of America's long-range bomber force. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Anthony Sanchelli)

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ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- Airman 1st Class Jeremiah Hand, 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron crew chief, speaks with pilots using a communication cord headset before they take off. The B-1B Lancer can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and nonprecision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Anthony Sanchelli)

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ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- B-1B Lancers undergo maintenance and checks on the flightline before takeoff, April 8. The B-1 is a highly versatile, multimission weapon system. The B-1B's synthetic aperture radar is capable of tracking, targeting and engaging moving vehicles as well as self-targeting and terrain-following modes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Anthony Sanchelli)

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ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. -- A B-1B Lancer takesoff, April 8. The B-1B holds almost 50 world records for speed, payload, range and time of climb in its class. The National Aeronautic Association recognized the B-1B for completing one of the 10 most memorable record flights for 1994. The most recent records were made official in 2004. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Anthony Sanchelli)

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Photos: The backbone of the long-range bomber force

Published April 13, 2010