Fairchild through the years

Historic photos of Fairchild Air Force Base

Section:Gallery

Sat., Feb. 25, 2017

DECEMBER 1943 - Traffic snarls aren't new in the Spokane area. This photo shows traffic backed up as workers leave the Spokane Air Depot after a work shift. The workers are on their way to Spokane from what is now Fairchild Air Force Base.
1943-Forward Hurch--Air WAC's at Spokane army Air Field drill smartly and challenge the other post squadrons marching prowess. A Large portable hangar may be seen in the background.

Cowles Publishing Cowles Publishing
1944US Air Force Base Fairchild Hanger
1945-US Air Force Base Fairchild Hanger
JULY 13, 1945 - Helen Davis, left, and Bessie Hall of the maintenance rubber repair section inspect a life raft for leaks at the Army Air Depot. A soapy solution is brushed over the inflated raft and leaks are spotted by the resulting bubbles. All life-saving equipment is checked and repaired by this section. Two of these five-man rafts are standard equipment for every Liberator and Flying Fortress. They are released by pressing a button and are automatically inflated.

Photo Archive Sr
JUNE 1943 - Sally SPADS Helps Keeps 'em Flying - At Felts Field aero repair shops young women of the Spokane Army Air Depot forces work right alongside with men war workers in the program which Keeps 'em Flying. Graduates of mechanic learner classes are put immediately on the job by the air depot. How many? That's a military secret.

Photo Archive Sr
JUNE 1945 - Inland Empire engine repair workers at the Spokane Air Depot who worked on the first engine to be repaired 19 months ago and also worked on the 10,000th engine, completed yesterday, represented their 600 fellow workers in offically turning the engine over to Brig. Gen. R. V. Ignico, commanding general of SPATSC. Left to right: Lee Allen of Cheney; the general; Mrs. Evelyn Smith; Mrs. Elizabeth Scott.

Photo Archive Sr
SEPTEMBER 18, 1948 - Spokane and Inland Empire folks proved they were air-minded yesterday when they swarmed into the Spokane Air Force Base to see a display of the country's air defenses. Here is part of the crowd, which waited between two hangars near the flight line just before the big show began. Plane at the right is a B-50. The picture was taken from the air base control tower.

Frank Parker Sr
1950-Gen. Muir S. Fairchild, for whom Fairchild Air Force Base is named.

Photo Archive Sr
Spokane's Armistice Day parade was short but interesting. One of the most colorful marching units was that of the air police from Fairchild air force base. The 161st infantry's two tanks gave the parade a military atmosphere as they rumbled through the streets Few spectators realized it, but the United Nations flag carried with the American flag by a color guard of service men, appeared for the first time in an Armistice day parade here.
Spokane is home to Fairchild Air Force Base, which hosts some of the most advanced aircraft in the United States Air Force. (Note: Photo taken during a Fairchild Air Force Base open house on May 23, 1950)

Photo Archives Sr
Thousands of people got a chance to inspect a B-52 bomber during the 1965 Armed Forces Open House at Fairchild Air Force Base. This weekend the base holds the annual open house for two days featuring airplanes on display and an air show. The open house began in 1953.

Photo Archive Sr
1951-Mrs Mary Taylor & her 2nd grade students at Fairchild Air Force Base
Miss Spokane, Glenda Bergen, was a big help to the 98th bomb group from Fairchild Air Force base pictured here in 1951. Although there are only forty bombs on the nose of the B-29, the plane had already flown fifty missions over Korea. The crew, based in Japan, had requested a photo of Miss Spokane from the Chamber of Commerce as a model for the painting on their plane.

Photo Archive Sr
The nuclear threat of the Strategic Air Command was intended to balance the Soviet Union's superiority in ground force numbers during the Cold War. Here, Maj. James E. McKay of the 326th bomb squadron signals all clear to ground crew members from a B-36 bomber before taking off from Fairchild Air Force Base in October 1954.

Photo Archive Sr
1954 - First plane off for Guam from Fairchild yesterday was in the air at 8:01 a.m. Aircraft commander of the 92nd Bomb Wing Peacemaker was Maj. L.J. Moffat. The planes took off at five-minute intervals.

Photo Archive Sr
Airplane accident, Fairchild Air Force Base. September 8, 1958.
B-52 accident. Fairchild Air Force Base. September 9, 1958.
1959-US Air Force Base Fairchild
1966-The first KC-135 tanker of the 43rd Air Refueling Squadron is shown, left, shortly after it arrived Friday from Larson Air Force Base, near Moses Lake, Wash. The squadron will be part of the 92nd Strategic Aerospace Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base. In the picture on the right, Lt. Col. JW Bryson, chief, Operations and Training.

Photo Archive Sr
1966-Arrives Here from Moses Lake An officer welcomes two of the crew from the 43rd, Capt. Donald Hogg, Center, and Capt. W.H. Carroll. The transfer to Fairchild was necessitated by the closure of the big base at Moses Lake.All B52s from Larson have gone to March Air Force Base in California.
1967-High above the towering clouds in the Vietnam war zone, thirsty F4C Phantom jets line up by a KC-135 jet tanker for additional fuel. The tanker is like the ones that have been going from Fairchild Air Force Base to the war zone for temporary duty. While one jet is refueled by the long, steerable fuel boom, three others stand by. The fourth Phantom is partially obscured in the upper right foreground.
Spokane area servicemen, mostly Fairchild Air Force Base airmen, gathered in a base hangar Nov. 25, 1963, to hear from their commanders the official announcement of the death of their commader in chief, a tradition dating from the asssassination of President Lincoln. This military formation, estimated between 3,000 to 4,000, stood in silence for 45 minutes. Then during the final 15 minutes of the hour when the final rites were being said in the nation's capital for their slain chief, speakers paid tribute to the late President John F. Kennedy and urged those assembled to "respond to their new commander in chief."

Photo Archive Sr
1959-US Army's Nike Missile at Fairchild Air Force Base
1971-Crewman turns helicopter rotor US Air Force base Fairchild
1977- The 92nd Bombardment Wing's mission is to organize, man, train and equip the 325th Bomb Squadron, here, for the long range bombing with available weapons. Part of that responsibility encompasses providing the same type of support for the 43rd and 92nd Air Refueling Squadrons for the purpose of extending the range of the Strategic Air Command's Bomber force.
1961- Col. L.F. Miller, center, commander of the 92nd Bombardment Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, shows two visiting colonels the trophies to be awarded in the Strategic Air Command's 10th annual combat competition which starts Saturday at Fairchild. The visitors are left, Col. G.J. Eade, commander of the 7th Bomb Wing at Carswell air Force Base, New Mexico; and Col. K.S. Steele, 11th Bomb Wing commander at Altus Air Force Base, Oklahoma. Colonel Steele, whose outfit has won three times, cheerfully predicted the 11th will make it four at Fairchild. First practice bombings are Sunday.
Just a few hours before this B-52 was launched, Franciscan nuns from Marycliff High School visited Fairchild Air Force Base officials. The sisters were attending the Strategic Air Command 1961 Combat Competition held in September. Pictured from left were Sister Mechtildis; Sister Rapealita; Sister Leola; Sister Matilda; Sister Phyllis Ann; and the maintenance men of the 93rd Bomb Wing, SSgt Willy Fleeman; MSgt Billy Shanks and MSgt Kenneth Sapp.

Photo Archive Sr
1961-Atlas E missile personnel wearing a chemical suit.
Lt. Col. Harrison G. White, launch control officer, sits before the control console at one of the nine Atlas Missile installations in the Spokane area ready at a moment's notice to send one of the lethal, 85-foot long weapons soaring out on a flight of several thousand miles to answer an enemy's attack. At left is Airman 1.c. J.D. Glover, missile system analysis technician, and at right is 2nd Lieutenant C.D. Sands, assistant launch officer. The missile complexes, nearing completion by General Dynamics-Astronautics, will be manned by Air Force crews. Colonel White is a former B-52 pilot.
Lowering the Boom at Fairchild AFB Atlas missile site near Davenport, Washington. Here an Atlas missile launch boom is lowered into a semi-hardened horizontal "coffin" type launch building, one of nine such arrangements clustered around Fairchild. The launch building will house the missile and act as an on-the-spot service station to keep the Atlas in a state of operational readiness. The missile will be kept on its side until the time for launch. Then it would be raised vertically and pumped full of powerful RP-1 fuel and liquid oxygen. The boom is 71 feet long, almost 18 feet wide, and weighs 19,790 pounds. It fits into a launcher device weighing 13,000 pounds. The boom and the launcher erect the missile into its vertical firing position.
The twisted metal containing the torn symbol of the Strategic Air Command, left, and the burned out section of the body of the KC-135 jet tanker tell the story of Thursday night's crash in the foothills of Mt. Spokane. It is believed the craft struck hard into the side of the hill, rammed forward through the short pine trees and burst into a mass of flames, killing all nine airmen on board.
Withdrawal of the 567th Strategic Missile Squadron from Fairchild Air Force Base at Spokane will mean closure of nine Atlas E missile sites such as this one. The move, included in defense economies announced Thursday, will result in Fairchild gaining the Air Force Survival School. Mayor Neal R. Fosseen commented: "This comes as no great surprise, since the Atlas missile has become obsolete. However, bringing the survival school here has good implications. We have found that servicemen like this area."
The twisted metal containing the torn symbol of the Strategic Air Command, left, and the burned out section of the body of the KC135 jet tanker tell the story of Thursday night's crash in the foothills of Mt. Spokane. It is believed the craft struck hard into the side of the hill, rammed forward through the short pine trees and burst into a mass of flames, killing all nine airmen on board. January 23, 1967.
MAY 1966 - Inspecting a B52 bomber during last year's Armed Forces Open House are many of the thousands of persons who toured Fairchild Air Force Base. Sunday the busy scene will be repeated as the doors of the SAC base will be thrown open to the public from 1 to 5 p.m. for the 1966 Armed Forces Day program.
1968 - Combat crew leave for Pacific, from left, M.Sgt. N.C. Whetesel, Capt. R Marshall, Lt. O.R. Greenbon and Maj. G.E. Spohn wait to board tanker at Fairchild Air Force Base.
Washington Air National Guard bids farewell to its long association with the Aerospace Defense Command in "End of an Era" ceremonies on the south side of Spokane International Airport Saturday morning. The 142nd Fighter Interceptor Wing will transfer to Fairchild Air Force Base under the Strategic Air Command in its new air refueling mission. Saturday's event included a final pass in review of the 1,000-member guard and a final formation fly over by F101 Voodoos.
U.S. Air Force - bases Fairchild - logos Fairchild AFB 92nd Bomb Wing (H)
Don Pease waits to take off in his experimental Boeing F-86 as the ash cloud from Mount Saint Helens approaches Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane around 2:30 p.m., May 18. 1980.

J. Bart Rayniak The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
1983 - Col. Donald E. Hillman, commander of the 92d Bomb Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, flew mission as instructor pilot. Earphone chatter from planes as distant at Puerto Rico was monitored.
Airplane accident, Fairchild Air Force Base. B-52 in background. Sgt. Paul Hamilton's car and debris from wreck. Hamilton was killed. October 6, 1987.
Airplane accident. Fairchild Air Force base. March 14, 1987.
DECEMBER 1977 - Santa landed at Fairchild Air Force Base last week aboard a Washington Air National Guard KC-135 tanker to visit with the families of guardsmen and attend a Christmas party. The tanker, complete with antlers, was piloted from the North Pole by Maj. Steve Bailey.
1982-Fairchild loading missile bay of 52 bomber

Jimi Lott Cowles Publishing
1993-Fairchild Air Force Base-Back from Somalia, Fairchild Airman David Bachler is greeted Saturday afternoon by his wife, Jill and daughter Sharayah.

Shawn Jacobson The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
June 21, 1994. Emergency workers prepare to transport Sam Spencer who was shot in a rampage inside the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital on June 20, 1994, outside Spokane. At least 5 are dead and 22 wounded in the shooting.

Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
June 21, 1994. SPOKANE. Residents flee a Fairchild Air Force Base housing compound as police evacuate the area after Monday afternoon's shootings.

Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Emergency medical crews move a shooting victim from an ambulance to a helicopter Monday, June 20, 1994, after an unidentified gunman killed four people and wounded 19 at the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital. The gunman was killed by military police.

Dennis House Associated Press
An Air Force security guard stands outside the Fairchild Air Force Base hospital annex Tuesday, June 21, 1994 where Dean A. Mellberg used a AK-47, killing four people and injuring 21 before he was killed by a military policeman. The attack took place Monday afternoon at the base outside Spokane, Wash.

Barry Sweet Associated Press
June 24, 1994. Caroline Brigham, 9, and Billy Brigham, daughter and brother of slain psychiatrist Maj. Thomas Brigham, share a quiet moment after a heavily attended memorial for the victims of gunman Dean Mellberg Thursday. Billy Brigham eulogized his brother at the service at the Fairchild Air Force Base chapel.

Photo Archive Sr
FILE - An Air Force B-52 jet seen an instant before it crashes in flames Friday, June 24, 1994, at Fairchild Air Force Base, killing all four people aboard. Air Force Secretary Sheila Widnall said in a confidential letter to Congress that the bomber violated normal operating procedures by doing aerobatics according to a CBS News report Thursday Sept. 1, 1994.

Cbs News Associated Press
June 25, 1994. SPOKANE, Wa. A portion of the tail section stands over the wreckage of a B-52 that crashed in flames Friday at Fairchild Air Force Base.
A portion of the tail section stands over the wreckage of a B-52 that crashed Friday, June 24, 1994 at Fairchild AFBase. The bomber crashed, killing 4 crewman aboard while practicing manuevers for an air show.
A Fairchild Air Force policeman stands guard over the wreckage of the B-52 on Friday night, June 24, 1994. The B-52 crashed Friday afternoon south of the main runway on Fairchild AFBase while practicing maneuvers for as air show.

Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review
The flight line at Fairchild AFB holds KC-135 tankers from the 92nd Air Refueling Wing and the Washington Air National Guard.

Christopher Anderson The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
USAF F-16 Thunderbirds take up the left observation postition next to a Fairchild KC-135 tanker after receiving fuel over New Mexico, June 15, 2006, The team flew from Las Vegas to Pennsylvania for an air show. They will perform in Spokane at Skyfest 2006 on July 29 and 30. DAN PELLE The Spokesman-Review

Dan Pelle The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Four Blue Angels fly in formation over the west plains, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. The Blue Angels precision flying team is headlining the weekend air show Skyfest at Fairchild Air Force Base Saturday and Sunday.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Over Afghanistan, boom operator Aaron McLaughlin keeps a watchful eye on a F/A-18 E Super Hornet fighter plane being refuled off the starboard wing of a KC135R Stratotanker. Two F/A-18E Super Hornets from the decorated U.S. Navy attack squadron VFA 105, commonly known as the âGunslingers,â were among the half dozen fighter jets refueled Saturday Oct. 16, 2010 above Afghanistan by a Fairchild-based KC-135 tanker and crew on deployment in Kyrgyzstan. COLIN MULVANY colinm@spokesman.com

Colin Mulvany The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
In a delicate dance between man and machine high above Afghanistan, an F-15E Strike Eagle tops off its tanks with jet fuel provided by a Fairchild Air Force Base 92nd Air Refuling Wing KC-135R Stratotanker on deployment at the Manas Transit Center in Kyrgyzstan. COLIN MULVANY colinm@spokesman.com
ORG XMIT: SR1007241831164609 ORG XMIT: SR1007241719334472 Four of the Thunderbirds rocket towards the ground during their routine at Skyfest 2010 at Fairchild Air Force Base Saturday, July 24, 2010. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
Major Clarence E. Grimes, USAF Retired is congratulated by Jack Cowan, Seattle's honorary consul to France, after an award ceremony where Cowan presented Grimes with the medal of Chevalier, the highest level of the French Legion of Honor on Thursday, October 24, 2013, at Fairchild Air Force Base. TYLER TJOMSLAND tylert@spokesman.com

Tyler Tjomsland The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
PT 17 WWII era biplanes flew past a multicolored umbrella during Skyfest 2014 at Fairchild Air Force Base near Spokane, Washington on Saturday, May 31, 2014.

Kathy Plonka The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The Fairchild Air Force Base color guard stands at ease on the flight line and waits for the change of command ceremony Tuesday, July 19, 2016. Col. Ryan Samuelson took over the command of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing from outgoing commander Col. Charles B. McDaniel. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
The incoming commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing, Col. Ryan R. Samuelson, stands at attention after the change of command ceremony as the airmen in the crowd offer him their first salute Tuesday, July 19, 2016. JESSE TINSLEY jesset@spokesman.com

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo
July 19, 2016: Most of the personnel at Fairchild Air Force Base attend the change of command ceremony on the flightline of the air field. Outgoing commander, Col. Charles B. McDaniel handed over the reins of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing to Col. Ryan Samuelson.

Jesse Tinsley The Spokesman-Review Buy this photo