Trip Report - Spokane Spokes 2011 For many years I've wanted to visit the Spokane, Washington area. We took two days to drive there from Denver, three days to explore the local area, and two days to drive back home. This was the first highway trip for my new Subaru Outback. In order to manage the local attractions in three days, I mapped out routes in different directions from our hub motel, creating spokes around Spokane.

Saturday, 11 Jun 2011

We made an early start from Denver, heading north across Wyoming into Montana.

Pompey Pillars Comms Site GWEN 872 MT (TLUZ) Also referred to as Billings on some Ground Wave Emergency Network (GWEN) site lists, this facility had the standard 299' tower. It was in use from the mid 1980s until it was declared excess on 27 Aug 1999.
Tower
Tower
Tower base
Tower base
Equipment shelters
Equipment shelters

Logan Field MT (9667) During W.W.II the Billings airport was improved under the Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND) program, though the field was not military. In about 1964 Air Defense Command (ADC) set up shop on the northeast part of the airport, and the alert mission continued until about 1974. Located at 45-48-35, 108-32-30.
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangars
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangars
ADC maintenance hangar
ADC maintenance hangar
ADC maintenance hangar
ADC maintenance hangar, interior
ADC maintenance hangar, interior
ADC administration/readiness dormitory
ADC administration/readiness dormitory
ADC administration/readiness dormitory
Metal building
Metal building
General view of ADC munitions storage area
ADC munitions storage area entry control building
ADC munitions building
ADC munitions building
ADC munitions building
ADC munitions building
ADC munitions building
ADC munitions storage area entry control building
ADC munitions storage area entry control building
ADC munitions storage area entry control building
ADC munitions storage area entry control building
ADC munitions storage area entry control building
ADC bermed munitions storage magazines
ADC bermed munitions storage magazines
ADC bermed munitions storage magazines

We stopped for the night in Billings, Montana, after covering 604 miles in 12 hours.

Sunday, 12 Jun 2011

We rolled out at 0600 and headed west, meeting a historian pal in Bozeman for breakfast. Then we continued west through Idaho into Washington.

Fairchild AF Msl Site #2 (567-2) WA (6947) This was one of nine Atlas E sites controlled by Fairchild AFB. Assigned 22 Sep 1960, disposed of 29 May 1967.
General view)

Arriving at Airway Heights at dinnertime, we settled into our lodging for the next four nights. This was another 12-hour day, covering 571 miles.

Monday, 13 Jun 2011

Fairchild AF Msl Site #4 (567-4) WA (6990) Assigned 17 Dec 1959, declared excess 4 Jan 1965.
Former security gate and newer building
Missile Bay
Modified air intake and exhaust structures and newer building
Horizontal missile door
Topside features
Topside features
Topside features
Topside features
Topside features
Exhaust pit cover
Gate

Larson AFB WA (2138) Since I was in the neighborhood, I revisited this base for a few new photos (I was here a couple years ago on the OREWASH trip). Larson AFB was home to an ADC fighter-interceptor mission, a Strategic Air Command (SAC) aircraft alert mission, a SAC Titan I missile squadron, and an ADC Semi-Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) direction center. Located at 47-12-15, 119-18-50.
Elevated water storage tank
SAGE Direction Center DC-15
SAGE Direction Center DC-15
Double-cantilever hangar
Double-cantilever hangar
W.W.II building
W.W.II building
Engine test structure
Fire station
Water storage tank and water system building
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
ADC fighter-interceptor alert hangar
SAC "molehole" 70-man alert facility
SAC "molehole" 70-man alert facility
SAC maintenance dock
Building
Dormitory
Dormitory

AF Plant #53 WA (4609) This plant was operated in the 1950s and 1960s by Boeing, and engines for the BOMARC missile were tested here. Located adjacent to Larson AFB at 47-11-39, 119-18-04.
General view
General view

Fairchild AF Msl Site #5 (567-5) WA (6991) Assigned 10 Feb 1960, disposed of 30 Nov 1970.
Outer gate
Security gate
General view
General view
General view
Missile bay
Missile bay
Topside features
Topside features
Topside features
Topside features
Topside features
Topside features
Unknown hatch 1
Unknown hatch 1
Unknown hatch 2
Unknown hatch 2
Horizontal missile door
Exhaust pit cover

Fairchild AF Msl Site #6 (567-6) WA (6948) Assigned 18 May 1960, disposed of 30 Nov 1970.
General view

Fairchild RR Anx #2 WA (7102) Assigned 1960, declared excess 4 Jan 1965. Located at 47-34-09, 117-53-20.
Distant view
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
Antenna shaft
Antenna shaft
Antenna shaft
Sign

Tuesday, 14 Jun 2011

Nike F-87L WA The launcher site was operational from 1958 to 1966.
Gate
General view
General view
Water storage tank and water system building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Sign

Nike F-87C WA The control site was operational from 1958 to 1966.
General view
General view
Building
Building

Fairchild AF Msl Site #9 (567-9) WA (6992) Assigned 31 Jan 1960, declared excess 4 Jan 1965.
General view

Fairchild RR Anx #1 WA (7211) Assigned 30 Aug 1960, declared excess 4 Jan 1965. Located at 47-42-41, 117-51-33.
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
Entryway
Entryway
Air vents and entryway
Antenna shaft
Antenna shaft

Fairchild AF Msl Site #8 (567-8) WA (7260) Assigned 7 Oct 1960, disposed of 30 Nov 1970.
General view
General view
General view
General view
Tile field
Tile field
Tile field
Missile bay
Missile bay
Missile bay
Exhaust pit cover
Topside features
Quonset Warehouse
Quonset Warehouse
Quonset Warehouse
Spray pond

Fairchild RR Anx #8 WA (7214) Assigned 24 Aug 1960, declared excess 4 Jan 1965. I viewed this one from a distance and confirmed the entryway and antenna shaft. Located at 47-44-37, 118-31-46.
View from gate
General view
General view

Fairchild AF Msl Site #7 (567-7) WA (7103) Assigned 3 May 1960, disposed of 30 Nov 1970.
General view

Fairchild TVOR Anx WA (5811, GKAT) Activated 18 May 1958, used until some time after 1975. Located at 47-38-47, 117-32-54. In the photo it was about halfway to the trees, just right of center.
General view

Fairchild AF Msl Site #3 (567-3) ID (6989) Assigned 26 Jan 1960, declared excess 4 Jan 1965.
General view

Wednesday, 15 Jun 2011

Marshall Comms Site GWEN 845 WA (PHTX) Also called Spokane on GWEN site lists. This site, with the standard 299' tower, was leased in 1985, purchased in 1990, and disposed of 20 Dec 1999.
General view
General view
Top of tower
Tower base
Equipment shelters

Geiger Field WA (1518, VZBT) This was a W.W.II field under 2AF then 4AF. It was briefly assigned to SAC after the war, then to Air Training Command. It was assigned to ADC in 1952 and redesignated Spokane International Airport 5 May 1960. It transferred from ADC to SAC on 1 Jul 1963 and was assigned to SAC for several years although use was by the ANG; final ANG use was in 1976. Located at 47-37-15, 117-31-55.
ADC fighter-interceptor hangar
W.W.II hangar

Spokane Ammo Storage Annex #2 WA (3169) Assigned to Fairchild AFB 23 Feb 1956, transferred from SAC to ADC 1 feb 1958. This is a typical ADC-design munitions storage area. Located at 47-37-59, 117-30-25.
Gate
General view
General view
Building
Building
Multicubicle storage magazine
Multicubicle storage magazine
Multicubicle storage magazine
Multicubicle storage magazine
Multicubicle storage magazine

Nike F-45L WA The launcher site was operational 1957-1966.
Gate
General view
General view
Buildings
Buildings
Building and sign
Building and sign
Sign
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Building
Launcher area
Launcher area
Launcher area

Nike F-45C WA The control site was operational 1957-1966.
General view
General view
Radar tower
Building
Building

Fairchild AF Msl Site #1 (567-1) WA (6946) Assigned 15 Apr 1960, declared excess 4 Jan 1965.
View from gate

Camp Seven Mile / Seven Mile AF Range WA (3170, GKAL) Originally a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp, this was used as a gunnery range under Geiger Field and Spokane AAFld during W.W.II. It was known as Camp Seven Mile or Seven Mile Gunnery Range. One W.W.II directory listed it as an auxiliary field under Ephrata AAFld. In the 1990s it was redesignated Fairchild Helicopter Training Annex. Located at 47-44-00, 117-31-45.
View from gate
Sign listing CCC camp

George Wright AFB WA (2566, HVGA) Fort George Wright was used by various AAF commands during and after W.W.II. On 1 Jan 1949 it was redesignated George Wright AFB. Most of the fort was disposed of in 1961, and the part retained was redesignated Fairchild Cemetery Annex. Located at 47-40-35, 117-28-10.
Parade ground
House
House
Building
Building

Thursday and Friday, 16-17 June 2011

These were driving days (556 miles Thursday and 574 miles Friday) with no military history stops. This seven-day trip totaled 2,995 miles, and the Outback averaged 26.7mpg.