 The first aircraft to land at Ladd was Douglas O-38F, "33-324", c/n 1177, in October 1940, which is now preserved in the National Museum of the United States Air Force.Major construction of facilities began in 1941 and 1942, after the U.S. entered World War II.The initial construction occurred several miles from Fairbanks along a bend of the Chena River, consisting of an airfield, hangars, housing and support buildings.