Photos: President Obama departs Alaska

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President Barack Obama waves from the top of the stairs before boarding a large 747 variant that is typically associated with Air Force One on Wednesday Sept. 2, 2015. Obama departed from JBER to return to D.C. after a three-day trip to Alaska.

President Barack Obama departs Anchorage after visits to Dillingham and Kotzebue on Wednesday. Air Force One lifted off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson at 10:31 p.m., just minutes after the president's smaller C-32 version of Air Force One returned from Kotzebue and his historic visit above the Arctic Circle.

President Obama took a few minutes to visit with Col. Brian Bruckbauer, commander of JBER, and Lt. Gen. Russell Handy, commander of Alaskan Command, before boarding Air Force One and delivering a final wave goodbye.

Read more: Day 3 live blog: Obama in Alaska