The Evolution of Sunset Field: How the United States Military Repurposed Spokane’s Airfield
When the United States was pulled into World War Two thousands of American businesses were repurposed to better support the war effort. It was this direct response to an overseas threat that influenced the War Department to purchase and rename Spokane’s famous “Sunset Field.”
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In 1938 a growing Spokane County decided to develop a local commercial airfield and acquired land on the West Plains where “Sunset Field” was born. Sunset Field ran commercially until 1941 when it was purchased by the War Department. By 1942 it became one of the most important airbases in the West.
The Army renamed the airfield to honor the late Major Harold Geiger, a pioneer of air travel. Geiger Field soon replaced Felts Field as the region’s primary airbase, as Geiger’s long landing strips and wide-open area allowed a wider variety of planes to operate. Felts, which had been serving as the Air Force’s main operating center in the area for years, was turned into an auxiliary base alongside Fairchild Air Force Base.
During the war, B-17’s and other aircraft from Boeing ran training operations during all hours of the day. Recruits spent hundreds of hours preparing for conflicts both in Europe as well as the Pacific. The little airfield just West of Spokane became a militarized hub full of trainees and teachers, with new technology and weapons arriving constantly. The field operated in this fashion into 1945 when the war ended.
After the end of the second World War Geiger was temporarily shut down. Most of the military planes were removed and Fairchild inherited many of its previous duties. In 1948 the base was sold back to Spokane County by the War Assets Administration but during the Cold War Geiger once again was used as a military facility while still operating as a commercial airport. Due to the proximity to Hanford and the Grand Coulee Dam Interceptors with the 116th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, part of the 141st Air Defense Group, as well as the 84th Fighter Group were kept in the hangers at Geiger to serve as the first line of defense. The 84th Fighter Group was deactivated in 1963. In 1976 the 141st joined Strategic Air Command and shifted focus from interception missions to refueling. The switch from interceptors like the F-94b and F-106 to KC-135 Stratotankers necessitated their move to Fairchild. Today the Spokane International Airport still operates using the location identifier GEG for Geiger Field.
Files
Geiger Field Postcard
This greetings card would probably be sent by a service member to someone back home. Training would be a long and difficult process, so these cards would be one of the best ways to stay in touch with your loved ones during the war. | Source: Courtesy of Tenney, Fred, and Kevin Hilbert. 2009. Large Letter Postcards: The Definitive Guide 1930s to 1950s. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. 176 p.
Fighters at Geiger
This image of the aircraft and crew was taken in 1963, right before the 84th Fighter group was inactivated. The aircraft are F-106’s, a fighter designed for interception missions in any weather conditions. | Source: Image courtesy of fortwiki.com
Constructing Geiger Field
Spokane County initially offered the military Felts Field to be used as the primary airbase in the region, but the military had already had its eyes on the new property that was being called Sunset Field. The city leased Sunset Field to the US government at the price of $1 per year. | Source: L87-1.21202-41 The Eastern Washington State Historical Society Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture | Date: 1941
The Runway at Sunset Field
New bomber pilots trained to fly B-17 Flying Fortress bombers at Geiger Field during the second world war. | Source: L87-1.21206A-41 The Eastern Washington State Historical Society Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture | Date: 1941