Several bases of the United States Air Force (USAF) have developed a deep association with the aircraft that have been stationed there, acting as homes to platforms that have endured for generations. These facilities have supported aircraft through years of technological evolution, evolving missions, and changing geopolitical landscapes, forging a distinctive bond between America’s airpower and the bases from which it operates.
Even though many of these aircraft were introduced during vastly different periods, they still deliver vital capabilities to the USAF today. Their enduring presence is a reflection not only of the aircraft themselves but also of the bases, personnel, and infrastructure that have facilitated their operations, modernization, training, and deployments over the years.
Fairchild Air Force Base (AFB)
The KC-135 Stratotanker: A key element of US global reach
Located in the eastern region of Washington State, Fairchild AFB is situated 279 miles east of Seattle. The base was established in response to the impending threat of war that preceded World War II (WWII). To attract military interest to the area, citizens of Spokane raised around $125,000 (£92,600) in under a week to acquire 1,400 acres (567 hectares) for the airfield. This land was quickly handed over to the War Department; the base was officially founded in 1942 and initially named the Spokane Army Depot.
Fairchild was later assigned to Air Mobility Command (AMC), and its wing was renamed the 92nd Air Refueling Wing (ARW). The 92nd primarily consists of the 141st ARW and the 336th Training Group; the former supports the base’s Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers, with the wing maintaining and operating 68 KC-135 R/Ts, valued at a total of $3.2 billion (£2.372 billion).
Having received its first production aircraft at Castle AFB, California, in June 1957, the KC-135 has been a fundamental enabler of US global reach for nearly seventy years. It is designed to refuel aircraft that transport personnel and supplies to operational areas, as well as those providing close air support, destroying infrastructure, or conducting ISR missions. Presently, the USAF’s Stratotanker fleet, which includes 396 airframes, is being phased out in favor of the new Boeing KC-46 Pegasus.
Laughlin Air Force Base
The T-38 Talon, an aircraft that has been training USAF pilots for nearly 70 years
Similar to Fairchild, Laughlin AFB in Texas was established during WWII and was originally named Laughlin Army Air Field on March 3, 1943, in honor of First Lieutenant Jack T. Laughlin, who died two weeks after the Pearl Harbor attack. At the time of his death, he was on a mission in his Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress over Java and was the first casualty of the war from Del Rio; thus, the base was named in his memory.
After closing post-war, the base reopened in 1952 and was dedicated to training pilots on the Republic Aviation Corporation F-84 Thunderjet. It also served as a launch point for reconnaissance aircraft under Strategic Air Command. Currently, Laughlin hosts the 47th Flying Training Wing, which has trained over 15,000 pilots for both the USAF and allied nations since September 1, 1972.
The primary aircraft for training future pilots is the Northrop T-38 Talon, which took its first flight in 1959. Between 1961 and 1972, when production ceased, more than 1,100 Talons were delivered to the air service. According to the USAF, pilots trained in the T-38 typically advance to operate front-line fighter and bomber aircraft such as the F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15C Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, B-1B Lancer, A-10 Thunderbolt, and F-22 Raptor. This underscores the Talon’s significance to the USAF.
While the Talon has performed admirably, the USAF intends to replace it with the Boeing/Saab T-7A Redhawk. Following Milestone C approval in April 2026, the US Air Force will…
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