Welcome to Fairchild AFB. Fairchild is located in the eastern part of Washington state and is 12 miles west of Spokane, WA and 279 miles east of Seattle, WA. People assigned here enjoy a good relationship with the Spokane and surrounding communities, as well as with our Canadian neighbors to the north.
Fairchild features many of the same recreational facilities as most other Air Force bases. This, coupled with unlimited outdoor and indoor recreational opportunities in the surrounding area, should make your stay at Fairchild a memorable one.
Location: Fairchild Air Force Base
Major Command: Air Mobility Command
Primary Weapon Systems: KC-135
Mission : We provide the best Air Mobility for America through reliable Air Refueling and Airlift - World-Wide!
Population assigned-served:
Active Duty Officer: 586
Active Duty Enlisted: 2,854
Family Members: 3,496
Retirees: 12,000
Civilian Employees: 998
Reserve Component: 0
History
Fairchild Air Force base has been a part of the Inland Empire since 1942. With the approach of World War II, the Spokane Chamber of Commerce initiated a program of luring military interests to the city. In September of 1941, Spokane citizens raised approximately $125,000 in less than a week to buy 2,400 acres of land for the base. The land was then given to the War Department and the base received its first name, the Spokane Army Depot. In 1947, the base was transferred to the Strategic Air Command and assigned to the 15th Air Force. Just a year later, the base received the second of its three official names: Spokane Air Force Base. The base took its current name in November 1950.