Editing Fairchild Air Force Base (section)

===Air refueling===
As military operations in Vietnam escalated in the mid-1960s, the demand for air refueling increased. Fairchild tanker crews became actively involved in Operation YOUNG TIGER, refueling combat aircraft in Southeast Asia. The wing's B-52s were not far behind, deploying to [[Anderson Air Force Base|Andersen AFB]] on [[Guam]] for [[Operation Arc Light]] and the bombing campaign against enemy strongholds in Vietnam.

On 10 September 1962, an inbound KC-135A<!--60-0352--> from [[Ellsworth Air Force Base|Ellsworth AFB]] in [[South Dakota]] with 44 aboard crashed<!-- northeast of Spokane--> into fog-shrouded [[Mount Kit Carson]], just west of [[Mount Spokane]]. The incident occurred late in the morning and there were no survivors;<ref name=aftnkr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=cK1YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5928%2C1742553 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |title=Air Force tanker carrying 44 overdue at Fairchild |date=10 September 1962 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=ffdfcr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZHApAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6107%2C3241630 |work=Spokesman-Review |title=44 die in fiery crash of Air Force tanker on side of Mt. Kit Carson |date=11 September 1962 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=lmtcnstff>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mb5eAAAAIBAJ&sjid=MDEMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3976%2C1480984 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|agency=Associated Press |title=Crash near Spokane takes 44 lives |date=11 September 1962 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=tcpgn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ca1YAAAAIBAJ&sjid=RvcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5398%2C2016533 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |title=Tanker-crash probe begun |date=11 September 1962 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=apjtckff>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=X_1VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=8uIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6143%2C1897379|work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|agency=Associated Press |title=Jet tanker crash kills 44 |date=11 September 1962 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=acfafpv>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UTpYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5313%2C1009357 |work=The Bulletin |location=(Bend, Oregon) |agency=United Press International |title=Area combed for Air Force plane victims |date=11 September 1962 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=srphtup>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZXApAAAAIBAJ&sjid=IOkDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5175%2C3569614 |work=Spokesman-Review |agency=(photo) |title=Downed plane cut sharp path up hill |date=12 September 1962 |page=6}}</ref> it was attributed to a navigational error by the&nbsp;crew.<ref name=ofpc>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jC4gAAAAIBAJ&sjid=F_EDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2861%2C1880978|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|title=Other Fairchild plane crashes|date=25 June 1994|page=A6}}</ref><!--https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19620910-2 --> Less than five years later, another crash occurred in the same general area. Returning from [[Hickam Air Force Base|Hickam AFB]] in [[Hawaii]] on 19 January 1967, a Fairchild-based KC-135A<!--56-3613--> crashed southeast of Mount Spokane shortly after sunset; all nine on board were killed.<ref name=ofpc/><ref name=fchcnin>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aaxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7155%2C985315 |work=Spokesman-Review |title=Jet tanker down in Mt. Spokane area; search seeks Fairchild crew of nine |date=20 January 1967 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=bjwrfn>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=LVdYAAAAIBAJ&sjid=tfcDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4622%2C1451256 |work=Spokane Daily Chronicle |title=Big jet's wreckage found |date=20 January 1967 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=bupifwrk>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=eP5XAAAAIBAJ&sjid=A_cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=2618%2C5045252 |work=The Bulletin |location=(Bend, Oregon) |agency=United Press International |title=Searchers find plane wreckage |date=20 January 1967 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=nbtfjw>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=aqxWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vOgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6734%2C1351118 |work=Spokesman-Review |title=Nine bodies taken from jet wreck |date=21 January 1967 |page=1}}</ref><ref name=jttkr>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=w7BfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ADMMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5835%2C3681922 |work=Lewiston Morning Tribune |location=(Idaho)|agency=Associated Press |title=Nine died as jet tanker hit ridge in Spokane area |date=21 January 1967 |page=1}}</ref><ref name= jtwrck>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=va8RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=q-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7530%2C345990 |work=Spokesman-Review |last=Gasman |first=Bill |title=Jet tanker wreck to be removed |date=17 June 1967|page=6}}</ref><!-- https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19670119-1 -->

In late 1974, the Air Force announced plans to convert the 141st Fighter Interceptor Group of the [[Washington Air National Guard]], an [[McDonnell F-101 Voodoo|F-101 Voodoo]] unit at [[Geiger Field]], to an air refueling mission with KC-135 aircraft. The unit would then be renamed the [[141st Air Refueling Wing]] (141 ARW) and move to Fairchild. Work began soon thereafter and by 1976 eight KC-135E aircraft transferred to the new 141 ARW. Today, the 141 ARW continues its air mobility mission, flying the KC-135R model.
[[File:Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker (717-146), USA - Air Force AN1124205.jpg|thumb|A Fairchild-based [[Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker|KC-135A Stratotanker]] seen during 1986]]
On 23 January 1987, following the inactivation of the 47th Air Division at Fairchild, the 92nd Bombardment Wing was reassigned to the [[57th Air Division]] at [[Minot Air Force Base|Minot&nbsp;AFB]] in [[North Dakota]]. Less than two months later on 13&nbsp;March<!-- 1987-->, a KC-135A crashed into a field adjacent to the 92nd Bomb Wing headquarters and the taxiway during a practice flight for a low-level in-flight refueling demonstration planned for later that month. Seven were killed in the crash, all USAF personnel, six aboard the aircraft, and a motorist on the ground.<ref name=ofpc/><ref name=kccafch>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dagpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e-8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=4330%2C7330612|newspaper=Spokesman-Review|last1=Carrollo |first1=Russell |last2=Camden |first2=Jim |title=KC-135 crashes at Fairchild|date=14 March 1987 |page=A1}}</ref><ref name=alstsxd>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=mO5VAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dOEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3793%2C3026780 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=(Oregon)|agency=Associated Press |title=At least six die in tanker plane crash |date=14 March 1987 |page=1A}}</ref><ref name=ldtfracm>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dqgpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=e-8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6000%2C7674707 |work=Spokesman-Review |last=Camden |first=Jim |title=Low death toll from air crash called miracle |date=15 March 1987|page=A1}}</ref><ref name=scafmvc>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=VBATAAAAIBAJ&sjid=DvsDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5211%2C3566 |work=Spokane Chronicle |last=Murphey |first=Mike |title=Air Force will mourn its victims |date=16 March 1987 |page=A1}}</ref><ref name=acroprohb>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=gqgpAAAAIBAJ&sjid=ee8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=5672%2C6220583 |work=Spokesman-Review |last=Carrollo |first=Russell |title=Acrobatics by KC-135 prohibited |date=12 April 1987|page=A1}}</ref>

Following [[Ba'athist Iraq|Iraq's]] [[invasion of Kuwait]] in August 1990, a total of 560 base personnel deployed to Desert Shield and [[Operation Desert Storm#Military means|Desert Storm]] from August 1990 to March 1991. The 43d and [[92d Air Refueling Squadron]]s flew a combined total of 4,004 hours, 721 sorties, and off-loaded a total of 22.5 million pounds of fuel to coalition aircraft.

On 1 September 1991, under Air Force reorganization, the 92d Bombardment Wing (Heavy) was re-designated the 92d Wing, emphasizing a dual bombing and refueling role.

With the inactivation of the [[Strategic Air Command]] (SAC) in June 1992, the B-52 portion of the wing became part of the newly established [[Air Combat Command]] (ACC) and was re-designated the 92d Bomb Wing. As SAC finished 46 years of service to the nation, Fairchild bomber and tanker crews took top honors at Proud Shield '92, SAC's final bombing/navigation competition. The wing won the Fairchild Trophy for best bomber/tanker team as well as the Saunders Trophy for the tanker unit attaining the most points on all competition missions.

7 December 1993 marked the beginning of a significant change in the mission of Fairchild when the B-52s were transferred to another ACC base while the KC-135s, now assigned to the newly established [[Air Mobility Command]] (AMC) would remain. This was the first step in Fairchild's transition to an air refueling wing. The departure of B-52s continued throughout the spring of 1994, with most of the bombers gone by 25 May 1994.