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FBK · medium airport

Ladd Army Airfield

Fairbanks, United States

Airports
FBKmedium airport

Ladd Army Airfield

Fairbanks, United States
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Destinations
PAFB
ICAO
454 ft
Elevation
TravelerPulse profile

Historic U.S. Army airfield serving Fort Wainwright, Alaska.

Opened
1939
Location
Fairbanks, United States
Ladd Army Airfield, designated IATA code FBK and ICAO code PAFB, is a military airfield located at Fort Wainwright adjacent to Fairbanks, Alaska. It serves as the primary aviation facility for the U.S. Army garrison at Fort Wainwright and supports a range of military aviation operations in the Interior Alaska region. The airfield has deep historical roots dating to World War II, when it served as a critical hub for the Lend-Lease program that transferred thousands of aircraft to the Soviet Union via the ALSIB (Alaska–Siberia) route. Today it continues to support Army aviation units, rotary-wing operations, and cold-weather testing and training missions. Although it shares airspace with nearby Fairbanks International Airport, Ladd Army Airfield is a restricted military installation and does not serve commercial passenger traffic. Its location in Interior Alaska makes it strategically important for Arctic and cold-weather military operations.
Getting to & from
The airfield is located on Fort Wainwright, approximately 3 miles east of downtown Fairbanks, accessible by road via the base's controlled entry points.
Notable facts
  • ›Served as a key transfer point for Lend-Lease aircraft delivered to the Soviet Union during World War II via the ALSIB route.
  • ›Named after Major General Homer Lanza Ladd, a prominent U.S. Army Air Corps officer.
  • ›Shares airspace with Fairbanks International Airport but operates as a separate, restricted military installation.
  • ›Hosts cold-weather aviation testing and Arctic warfare training due to its extreme subarctic climate.
  • ›Home to Army aviation units assigned to Fort Wainwright, including helicopter operations.
Wikipedia
This profile is provided for general information only. Details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airport's official website before acting on them.
Alaska's historic military gateway where Arctic skies meet frontier spirit

Ladd Army Airfield, located at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska, is a U.S. Army installation with roots dating back to 1939, playing a critical role in World War II as a key transfer point for Lend-Lease aircraft delivered to the Soviet Union. Today it serves as a military airfield supporting Army aviation operations in Interior Alaska. Its position near the Arctic Circle makes it one of the most strategically significant military air installations in North America.

Terminals
  • Military Operations Facility — Restricted military terminal supporting Army aviation and authorized personnel movements at Fort Wainwright.
Ground Transport
  • Private vehicle or military shuttle on base
  • Taxi services from Fairbanks city center
  • Rental car agencies available in Fairbanks proper
Nearby Hotels
  • Courtyard by Marriott Fairbanks
  • Wedgewood Resort Fairbanks
  • Pike's Waterfront Lodge
  • SpringHill Suites Fairbanks
Dining

On-base dining is limited to military dining facilities (DFACs) for authorized personnel. The city of Fairbanks, just a short drive away, offers a wide range of dining options including local Alaskan cuisine featuring wild salmon, reindeer sausage, and hearty comfort food suited to the cold climate.

Traveller Tips
  • Access to Ladd Army Airfield requires military authorization; civilians cannot enter without prior approval.
  • Fairbanks experiences extreme cold in winter — temperatures can drop below -40°F, so dress in proper layered Arctic gear.
  • For civilian air travel, Fairbanks International Airport (FAI) is the appropriate nearby airport.
  • Northern lights (aurora borealis) are frequently visible in the Fairbanks area from late August through April.
Official website

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Ladd Army Airfield
Encyclopaedia

Ladd Army Airfield is the military airfield located at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks, Alaska. It was originally called Fairbanks Air Base, but was renamed Ladd Field on 1 December 1939, in honor of Major Arthur K. Ladd, a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps who died in a plane crash near Dale, South Carolina on 13 December 1935.

Read full article on Wikipedia