Editing Fairchild Air Force Base (section)

===Operational history===
Since 1942, Fairchild Air Force Base/Station has been a key part of the United States' defense strategy—from World War II repair depot, to Strategic Air Command bomber wing during the Cold War, to Air Mobility Command air refueling wing during Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. Today, Fairchild's aircraft and personnel make up the backbone of the Air Force's tanker fleet on the west coast.

Fairchild's location, {{convert|12|mi|-1|spell=in}} west of Spokane, resulted from a competition with the cities of [[Seattle]] and [[Everett, Washington|Everett]] in western Washington. The War Department chose Spokane for several reasons: better weather conditions for flying, the location {{convert|300|mi|-1}} from the [[Pacific Ocean|coast]], and the [[Cascade Range]] providing a natural barrier against possible Japanese attack.

As an added incentive to the War Department, many Spokane businesses and public-minded citizens donated money to purchase land for the base. At a cost of more than $125,000, these people bought {{convert|1400|acre|km2|1}} and presented the title to the War Department in January 1942. That year, the government designated $14 million to purchase more land and begin construction of a new Spokane Army Air Depot.<ref name=fcbdcfs>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=PNlYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=NfgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7317,3299454 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |last=Dullenty |first=Jim |title=Fairchild's "birthday" confusing |date=14 January 1969 |page=24}}</ref>

Spokane Air Depot was served by a rail connection to the [[Great Northern Railway (U.S.)|Great Northern Railway]].<ref>Staff, "Align Rail Route To Air Depot", ''The Spokesman-Review'', Spokane, Washington, Wednesday 13 May 1942, Volume 59. Number 364, page 6.</ref>

From 1942 until 1946, the base served as a repair depot for damaged aircraft returning from the Pacific Theater. The depot command at the base went through several name changes, at one point being designated the [[Spokane Air Technical Service Command]]. Effective at 2359L on 31 August 1947, the base was transferred to the [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC) and assigned to the [[Fifteenth Air Force|15th Air Force]] (15 AF). Beginning in the summer of 1947, the [[92d Operations Group|92nd]] and [[98th Operations Group|98th]] Bomb Groups arrived. Both of the units flew the most advanced bomber of the day, the B-29 Superfortress. In January 1948, the base received the second of its three official names: Spokane Air Force Base.

With the outbreak of the [[Korean War]] in 1950, both groups deployed to [[Japan]] and [[Guam]]. The 92d departed on 4 July 1950 and the 98th followed in August. After only a few months, General MacArthur released the 92nd to return to the states while the 98th remained in the Far East. The 98th was then reassigned to Nebraska. Upon its return to Fairchild, the 92nd was re-designated the 92d Bombardment Wing (Heavy). In November 1950, the base took its current name in memory of Air Force [[Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force|Vice Chief of Staff]], General [[Muir S. Fairchild]], a native of [[Bellingham, Washington|Bellingham]]. The general entered service as a sergeant with the [[Washington National Guard]] in June 1916 and was an aviator in [[World War I]]. He died at his quarters at [[Fort Myer]] while on duty in [[the Pentagon]] in March 1950. The formal dedication ceremony was held 20 July 1951, to coincide with the arrival of the wing's first [[Convair B-36|B-36 Peacemaker]].<ref name=taohfd >{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eeRXAAAAIBAJ&sjid=PfYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5190%2C4411669|newspaper=Spokane Daily Chronicle |location=(Washington)|title=Top air officers here for Fairchild's dedication |date=20 July 1951 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=rafdbc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LaApAAAAIBAJ&sjid=BOYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6172%2C6675970|newspaper=Spokesman-Review |title=Rite at Fairchild draws big crowd|date=21 July 1950 |page=1}}</ref>