Ladd Army Airfield

Fairbanks, United States

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PAFB

ICAO

454 ft

Elevation

AirlinesAirports 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.

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City & Place Guide

Alaska's Golden Heart City Under the Northern Lights

Fairbanks sits in the heart of interior Alaska, roughly 190 miles south of the Arctic Circle, making it one of the world's premier destinations for witnessing the aurora borealis. Founded during the 1902 gold rush, the city retains a rugged frontier character blended with a lively university town atmosphere thanks to the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Visitors come for extreme seasonal contrasts: long summer days with nearly 24 hours of sunlight and frigid winters where temperatures can plunge below minus 40°F. Both seasons offer unique adventures, from midnight sun hiking and river paddling to dog mushing, ice sculpting, and world-class aurora viewing in winter.

•Aurora Borealis viewing — among the best spots on Earth for northern lights September through March
•Chena Hot Springs Resort — natural geothermal soaking pools and an ice museum open year-round
•University of Alaska Museum of the North — stunning Alaska Native art, natural history, and science exhibits
•El Dorado Gold Mine — hands-on gold panning with a tour through authentic Fairbanks gold rush history
•Creamer's Field Migratory Waterfowl Refuge — free trails and sandhill crane gatherings in summer
•Pioneer Park — open-air historic village with sternwheeler Nenana and local heritage museums

Getting around: Fairbanks has no urban rail system; a personal vehicle or rental car is the most practical way to explore the spread-out city and surrounding wilderness. MACS (Metropolitan Area Commuter System) operates limited local bus routes on weekdays. Taxis are available, and Uber operates in the city, though coverage can be inconsistent, especially outside downtown.

Best time: Winter (late September through March) is ideal for aurora borealis viewing, while summer (June–July) offers the midnight sun and accessible hiking and wildlife tours.

Local food: Try fresh Alaska salmon, reindeer sausage hot dogs from street carts, and hearty sourdough pancakes — a Fairbanks tradition dating back to gold rush prospectors.

This guide is provided for general information only. Verify details locally before making travel decisions.

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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.

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