Gray Army Airfield (IATA: GRF, ICAO: KGRF, FAA LID: GRF), also known as Gray AAF, is a military airfield located within Joint Base Lewis–McChord (formerly Fort Lewis) near Tacoma, in Pierce County, Washington, United States.

[1] Used to support Fort Lewis, Army helicopters assisted with medical evacuations at Mount Rainier National Park on numerous occasions in the 1970s.

Army helicopters were also used to insert search-and-rescue [SAR] teams into inaccessible areas on the east, north, and west sides of the mountain, lowering rangers to the ground by a cable device known as a "jungle penetrator."

The Washington Army National Guard 66th Theater Aviation Command trains at Grey AAF and provides transportation support for fighting wildfires.

He reached higher heights, including 42,000 feet on the fatal November flight on which he died of oxygen deprivation.

In October 1921 Curtiss JN-4 "Jenny" biplanes flew from the Naval Station at Sand Point (Seattle) to a grass airfield at what was then called "Camp Lewis", located at a site just west of today's Gray AAF.

The Camp Lewis field found itself in competition with Navy aviation at Sand Point, as both sought to be the region's primary military airfield.

Shenandoah made a second visit on October 18, 1924, tying up during the evening, following delays waiting for the fog to lift.

Congress provided monies for a five-year plan to bring the army air services to 2,200 fighters and to increase the number of aircrews.

Also, on September 13 that year the famous aviator Charles Lindbergh made a low level pass over the maneuver and training field (today Watkins Parade Ground) simulating an attack.

The major expansion came in April 1938 with a Public Works Administration project to construct new runways and buildings.

With World War II, Gray Army Airfield received 1.7 million dollars for new hangars and improved facilities.

A number of the GAAF shop and support buildings were demolished to make room for temporary wood-frame barracks on what had been the field's southwest corner.

Following the war Gray Army Airfield housed the 2d Infantry Division aviation assets, observation planes, and support aircraft.

Pilots trained in L-19s for Forward Air Controller (FAC) roles—directing artillery fire and infantry movement.

The 9th Cavalry Brigade (Air Assault) in the 1980s developed air-assault strategies with their AH-1 Cobra helicopters based upon experiences learned in Vietnam.

GAAF units have served in Iraq with Company A, 5th Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment, returning from a 15-month deployment on April 17, 2004.

Chief Warrant Officer Scott Oswell of the 4th was killed in a crash of his OH-58 Kiowa observation helicopter in Iraq on July 4, 2007.

During regular training sessions before and during the climbing season, the unit's CH-47 Chinook helicopters fly to Kautz Creek near the base of the mountain to pick up the SAR teams.

Hampered by foul weather and heavy cloud cover, the mission extended into several days as Chinook pilots and crew-members transported SAR teams and flew search patterns, working routes, crevasses and tree lines where the snow-boarder might be.

Another mission involved two climbers who lost vital equipment during a climb on the Liberty Ridge ice face, at 13,000 feet.

They requested help by cell phone, but the first Chinook sortie was turned away by an intense squall line, requiring additional flights to drop off and later pick up rescue teams.

[citation needed] Gray Army Airfield resides at elevation of 300 feet (91 m) above mean sea level.

[1] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency