Ladd AAF

  1938 to present

  United States of America

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CITY: Fairbanks, AK

IATA/ICAO CODES: FBK / PAFB

COORDINATES: 64°50'N / 147°37'W

OTHER NAMES: Fairbanks Air Base (1938-1939), Ladd AAF (1939-1947), Ladd AFB (1947-1961), Fort Wainwright (1961-present)

 

Right: Ladd AAF in 1944
Photo credit: Pioneer Air Museum / www.pioneerairmuseum.org

At the beginning of World War II, Ladd AAF was used by the USAAF to test aircraft in cold weather. As the war wound up however, Ladd AAF became a major military transport hub where material transited from the continental USA onward to the Aleutian Islands in support of the 11^th Air Force, or to the ALSIB (Alaska-Siberia) route in support of the Soviet Union. Several Commandos operated by Air Transport Command's Alaskan Wing transited though or were based there.

1466^th AAF Base Unit (Ladd AAF)

Air Transport Command Alaskan Wing Stations 3 & 4

• Curtiss C-46A-55-CU Commando: 44-77444 (ATC TBC)