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Aircraft highlights Fairchild history at Air Force Ball

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Connie L. Bias
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  A history of aircraft will be presented at Fairchild's Air Force Ball Sept. 8, with two of the wing's long-standing planes taking center stage.

"When you think of the history of this base, for the most part you're talking about the B-52 Stratofortress and the KC-135 Stratotanker," said Dan Simmons, 92nd Air Refueling Wing historian. "When it comes to the 60th anniversary of this wing, about 50 of those years were with the KC-135, and 38 were with the B-52."

The B-52 came to the 92nd Bombardment Wing here in 1956, following the B-29 Superfortress and B-36 Peacemaker. Not long after, in 1958, the KC-135 landed here, and has never left. Since the aircrafts' arrival, Fairchild has been involved in the end of the Cold War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, operations in Southeast Asia, and the end of the Vietnam Conflict, Operations in which the wing has played an important role include Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Northern Watch and Southern Watch, Allied Force, and now the Global War on Terrorism.

"This month is also the 17th anniversary of the wing getting the KC-135R model; before that, we had the A model since 1958," said Mr. Simmons. "February 2008 will be 50 total years that we've had the KC-135 on this base."

At the Air Force Ball, the outside static B-52 display will be from Minot Air Force Base, N.D., and the indoor KC-135 will be a local aircraft. Other displays will include a UH-1 Huey and some local off-base aircraft, including a Stearman and a T-6. Finally, a vintage World War II C-53 Skytrooper that was flown in D-Day will be displayed.

The ball will be held in Hangars 2 and 4; cocktails begin at 6:30 p.m., with a 7:30 p.m. official start. The event will host guest speaker Gen. (ret.) "Tony" Robertson and the Band of the Golden West. For tickets, see your first sergeant by Aug. 30.

(This story is the second in a four-part series on the Air Force Ball.)