Fairchild Air Force Base, Air force base in Spokane County, United States.
Fairchild Air Force Base is a military air installation in Spokane County, Washington, positioned at an elevation of approximately 750 meters (2,460 feet). The facility includes several runways along with infrastructure for aerial refueling operations and flight crew training.
The base opened in 1942 during World War II as a training site for bomber pilots and flight crews. After the war, its role shifted toward strategic aerial refueling and support for military operations across the Pacific region.
The facility carries the name of Sherman Fairchild, an aviation pioneer whose inventions influenced both military and civilian aircraft production. His technical developments in aerial photography and engine design shaped the American aerospace industry for decades.
The installation sits roughly twenty kilometers (twelve miles) southwest of downtown Spokane and is accessible via US Route 2. Civilian access is restricted and generally requires prior clearance from military authorities.
In 1994, a B-52 bomber crashed here during an air show practice, resulting in the loss of the entire crew. The event led to major revisions in the United States Air Force safety protocols for demonstration flights and crew procedures.
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