B 1b Bomber Airplane

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.

The Air Force on Wednesday grounded the nation's fleet of B-1B long-range bombers for a precautionary safety inspection after a crash of one of the new planes in Texas. The Strategic Air Command, which is responsible for land-based nuclear bomber and missile forces, said the order to suspend flying was a "normal precaution" in the wake of a major accident.

A B-1B bomber crashed Tuesday on a training flight near Dyess Air Force Base in West Texas, the Air Force announced. The accident destroyed the $280-million plane but the four crewmen parachuted to safety. The bomber, which witnesses said trailed smoke and flames as it plummeted toward the ground, crashed at 3:23 p.m., about four miles north of Abilene, Tex. The four airmen were reported in good condition at a base hospital Tuesday night.