Trip Report: Spokane Spokes
First published in 2011. Reformatted 2025. 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. Just a reminder PIN means Permanent Installation Number and ILC means Installation Location Code; I include these for Air Force properties when I know them.Saturday, 11 June 2011
We made an early start from Denver, heading north across Wyoming into Montana. Pompey Pillars Communications Site GWEN 872 MT, ILC TLUZ. Also referred to as Billings on some Ground Wave Emergency Network (GWEN) site lists, this facility had the standard 299-foot tower. It was in use from the mid 1980s until it was declared excess on 27 August 1999.Tower
Tower
Tower base
Tower base
Equipment shelters
Equipment shelters Logan Field MT, PIN 9667, 45-48-35, 108-32-30. During WWII the Billings airport was improved under the Development of Landing Areas for National Defense (DLAND) program, even 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.
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 June 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 Missile Site No. 2 (567-2) WA, PIN 6947. This was one of nine Atlas E sites controlled by Fairchild Air Force Base. Assigned 22 September 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 June 2011
Fairchild AF Missile Site No. 4 (567-4) WA, PIN 6990. Assigned 17 December 1959, declared excess 4 January 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 Air Force Base WA, PIN 2138, 47-12-15, 119-18-50. Since I was in the neighborhood, I revisited this base for a few new photos. 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.
Elevated water storage tank
SAGE Direction Center DC-15
SAGE Direction Center DC-15
Double-cantilever hangar
Double-cantilever hangar
WWII building
WWII 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 Air Force Plant No. 53 WA, PIN 4609, 47-11-39, 119-18-04. 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.
General view
General view Fairchild AF Missile Site No. 5 (567-5) WA, PIN 6991. Assigned 10 February 1960, disposed of 30 November 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 Missile Site No. 6 (567-6) WA, PIN 6948. Assigned 18 May 1960, disposed of 30 November 1970.
General view Fairchild Radio Relay Annex No. 2 WA, PIN 7102, 47-34-09, 117-53-20. Assigned 1960, declared excess 4 January 1965.
Distant view
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
Antenna shaft
Antenna shaft
Antenna shaft
Sign
Tuesday, 14 June 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 Missile Site No. 9 (567-9) WA, PIN 6992. Assigned 31 January 1960, declared excess 4 January 1965.
General view Fairchild Radio Relay Annex No. 1 WA, PIN 7211, 47-42-41, 117-51-33. Assigned 30 August 1960, declared excess 4 January 1965.
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
General view
Entryway
Entryway
Air vents and entryway
Antenna shaft
Antenna shaft Fairchild AF Missile Site No. 8 (567-8) WA, PIN 7260. Assigned 7 October 1960, disposed of 30 November 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 Radio Relay Annex No. 8 WA, PIN 7214, 47-44-37, 118-31-46. Assigned 24 August 1960, declared excess 4 January 1965. I viewed this one from a distance and confirmed the entryway and antenna shaft.
View from gate
General view
General view Fairchild AF Missile Site No. 7 (567-7) WA, PIN 7103. Assigned 3 May 1960, disposed of 30 November 1970.
General view Fairchild TVOR Annex WA, PIN 5811, ILC GKAT, 47-38-47, 117-32-54. Activated 18 May 1958, this terminal very high frequency omnidirectional range was operational until some time after 1975. In the photo it was about halfway to the trees, just right of center.
General view Fairchild AF Missile Site No. 3 (567-3) ID, PIN 6989. Assigned 26 January 1960, declared excess 4 January 1965.
General view
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Marshall Communications Site GWEN 845 WA, ILC PHTX. Also known as Spokane on some GWEN lists. This site, with the standard 299-foot tower, was leased in 1985, purchased in 1990, and disposed of 20 December 1999.General view
General view
Top of tower
Tower base
Equipment shelters Geiger Field WA, PIN 1518, ILC VZBT. This was a WWII 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 July 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
WWII hangar Spokane Ammo Storage Annex No. 2 WA, PIN 3169. Assigned to Fairchild AFB 23 February 1956, transferred from SAC to ADC 1 February 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 Missile Site No. 1 (567-1) WA, PIN 6946. Assigned 15 April 1960, declared excess 4 January 1965.
View from gate Camp Seven Mile / Seven Mile AF Range WA, PIN 3170, ILC GKAL, 47-44-00, 117-31-45. Originally a 1930s Civilian Conservation Corps camp, this was used as a gunnery range under Geiger Field and Spokane AAFld during WWII. It was known as Camp Seven Mile or Seven Mile Gunnery Range. One WWII directory listed it as an auxiliary field under Ephrata AAFld. In the 1990s it was redesignated Fairchild Helicopter Training Annex.
View from gate
Sign listing CCC camp George Wright Air Force Base WA, PIN 2566, ILC HVGA, 47-40-35, 117-28-10. Fort George Wright was used by various Army Air Forces commands during and after WWII. On 1 January 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.
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. Updated April 20, 2025If you like what you find here, please consider making a monetary contribution. Domain name registration, web hosting, and travel cost plenty. You won't find any ads here to annoy you.