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Eielson Air Force Base
Fairbanks, United States
Eielson Air Force Base
Strategic Arctic Air Force Base near Fairbanks, Alaska.
- ›Home to the 354th Fighter Wing, the Air Force's only F-35A unit in the Pacific theater.
- ›Hosts Red Flag-Alaska, a large multinational air combat training exercise.
- ›Located approximately 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska.
- ›Sits adjacent to the vast Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, one of the largest military training areas in the world.
- ›Originally established during World War II as a key airfield for the Lend-Lease program supplying aircraft to the Soviet Union.
Eielson Air Force Base, located approximately 26 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, is a United States Air Force installation rather than a civilian commercial airport. Home to the 354th Fighter Wing and a critical node in Pacific Air Forces operations, Eielson has served as a strategic Arctic airfield since World War II. The base plays a vital role in air combat training, including the large-scale Red Flag-Alaska exercises conducted over the nearby Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.
- Military Air Terminal — Restricted military passenger terminal serving authorized Department of Defense personnel and Space-A travelers only.
- Personal vehicle or military shuttle on base
- Taxi or rideshare from Fairbanks (approximately 30–40 minutes)
- Car rental available in Fairbanks city center
- On-base lodging (Eielson Inn — military personnel only)
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Fairbanks
- Courtyard by Marriott Fairbanks
- Pike's Waterfront Lodge, Fairbanks
- Wedgewood Resort, Fairbanks
On-base dining is restricted to authorized military personnel and includes a dining facility (DFAC) and a small BX food court. Civilian visitors should plan meals in Fairbanks, where a range of restaurants and diners serving Alaskan cuisine are readily available along the Parks Highway corridor.
- Access to Eielson AFB requires valid military ID or a pre-arranged visitor pass — plan well in advance.
- Space-A (Space Available) flights are an option for eligible DoD travelers; check the 517th Airlift Squadron schedules.
- Winter temperatures near Eielson can drop below -40°F; carry extreme cold-weather gear if visiting between November and March.
- The base is close to the Aurora Zone — winter visits offer excellent chances to view the Northern Lights in the surrounding wilderness.
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Eielson Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located approximately 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska, and just southeast of Moose Creek, Alaska. It was established in 1943 as Mile 26 Satellite Field and redesignated Eielson Air Force Base on 13 January 1948. It has been a Superfund site since 1989. Eielson AFB was named in honor of polar pilot Carl Ben Eielson.
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