Nellis Air Force Base

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
"Las Vegas Army Airfield" redirects here. For the 1941–49 Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range, see Nellis Air Force Bombing and Gunnery Range. For the 1956–70 radar site, see Las Vegas Air Force Station.

Nellis Air Force Base
United States of America
An aerial view of Nellis AFB taken in 2014
An aerial view of Nellis AFB taken in 2014
Nellis AFB is located in the United States
Nellis AFB
Nellis AFB
Location in the United States
Coordinates36°14′57″N 114°59′46″W / 36.24917°N 114.99611°W / 36.24917; -114.99611 (Nellis AFB (military installation))[1]
TypeUS Air Force base
Area4,600 ha (11,300 acres)
Site information
OwnerDepartment of Defense
OperatorUnited States Air Force
Controlled byAir Combat Command (ACC)
Open to
the public		Yes, with restrictions (Thunderbirds Museum and tours)
ConditionOperational
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata
Site history
Built1941 (1941) (as Las Vegas Army Airfield)
In use1941 – present
Garrison information
Current
commander		Colonel Todd Dyer
Garrison99th Air Base Wing (Host)
Occupants
Airfield information
Identifiers
AMSL
Runways
Direction Length and surface
03L/21R 3,084.5 metres (10,120 ft) concrete
03R/21L 3,063.5 metres (10,051 ft) concrete
Source: Federal Aviation Administration[2]

Nellis Air Force Base ("Nellis"

Air and Space Operations Center
-Nellis.

History

For this base's
European Theater of Operations, see 1st Lt William Nellis
.

After

Air Mail (CAM) Route #4, LA-to-SLC—was used by the Army Air Corps in the 1930s for training flights. After the Invasion of Poland in 1939, the "western site board" had located a southern Nevada area "near Tonopah, Nev" by April 1940 for a military range,[5] and in October 1940, Air Corps Major David Schlatter surveyed the southwest United States for a military airfield.[6] "The 60 × 90 mile area at Tonopah was transferred to the War Department on 29 October 1940"[5] by Executive Order 8578.[7]

McCarran Field

Not to be confused with
the 1942 "Alamo Airport" south of Las Vegas and named for Senator McCarran in 1948
.

Renamed to McCarran Field in the mid-1930s,

AT-6 Texan advanced flight trainers and 17 Martin B-10 bombers were at the airfield.[citation needed
]

Las Vegas Army Airfield

Tonopah Army Airfield opened in August (the Tonopah Bombing Range had been divided in 1941 into the Tonopah and Las Vegas General Ranges
).

Las Vegas Army Airfield was both activated and began flying training on 20 December 1941.[11] Gunnery training began in January 1942, with guntruck platforms being used in January and February.[9].: 2–3 [6] Many pieces of the destroyed aerial drone targets litter the hillside north of the gunnery range, and can be seen in town when the sun reflects off them.[citation needed]

The first

B-40 Flying Fortress gunship aircraft (for example by firing at aircraft-towed targets).[citation needed
]

In March 1945, the base switched to

AAF Training Command closed LVAAF which went on caretaker status 28 August 1946 ("officially deactivated in January 1947").[9]: 2–3  During the planning for a separate air force, the Las Vegas AAF was reactivated "30 Aug 47 as a subinstallation of Mather",[14]: 350  and it transferred to the USAF after the branch was created in September.[citation needed
]

3595th PTW F-51D c. 1950 at a Nellis hangar

Las Vegas Air Force Base

Renamed Las Vegas Air Force Base on 13 January 1948

P-51 Mustangs for a 6-month course (3,000 USAF pilots needed trained by 1950).[13] The 3525th Aircraft Gunnery Squadron activated on 11 February 1949, the base hosted the 1st USAF Gunnery Meet on 2 May, and ATC (air traffic control) opened its LVAFB Aircraft Gunnery School on 15 May 1949.[9]
: 2–3 

Nellis AFB

For the nearby Nellis Air Force Gunnery and Bombing Range named by 18 December 1950, see Nevada Test and Training Range.
Fighter Weapons School F-80As c. 1950 in front of Frenchman Mountain, which is east of the valley[9]: 3–6 

Nellis Air Force Base was named on 30 April 1950, and the 20 May 1950 dedication was attended by

F-84C Thunderjets. On 1 October, Nellis AFB base management functions transferred[specify] from Williams AFB.[13] In early 1951, ATC assigned recently graduated airplane and engine mechanics to Nellis to learn jet aircraft maintenance.[13] The airfield was expanded 1951–1954 with longer jet-capable runways, reconfigured taxiways and a larger aircraft parking ramp; and World War II wooden structures were replaced with concrete and steel structures (e.g., barracks and base housing for married personnel). The first Wherry houses were completed in 1954, with updated Capehart houses being completed in February 1960.[15]

USAF Fighter Weapons School

The USAF Fighter Weapons School was designated on 1 January 1954 from the squadron[verification needed] when the Air Crew School graduated its last Combat Crew Training Class (the primary Weapons School mission was gunnery instructor training).[13] In the mid-1950s for Operation Teapot nuclear testing, 1 of the 12 Zone Commanders was based at Nellis AFB for community liaison/public relations[17] (weapons for other atomic tests were stored at Nellis).[citation needed] Air Training Command suspended training at the Nellis fighter weapons school in late 1956 because of the almost total failure[clarification needed] of the F-86 Sabre aircraft used at Nellis,[13] and during 1958 ATC discontinued its Flying Training and Technical Training.

Tactical Air Command

F-100D Super Sabre
fighter jet (s/n 56-2910) taking off from Nellis, circa 1959

Nellis AFB transferred to Tactical Air Command on 1 February 1958,

United Airlines Flight 736. All 47 aboard the airliner and both Air Force pilots in the fighter jet were killed.[18]
The 3595th wing assets were redesignated as the 4520th Combat Crew Training Group by TAC on 1 July 1958.

4520th Combat Crew Training Wing
F-4C
), & "WF" (4539th F-111).

The 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing was designated from the 4520th CCTG on 1 May 1961, and the Combat Crew training squadrons were renumbered.

USAF Fighter Weapons School was activated at Nellis with F-100, F-4, and F-105 divisions and on 1 September 1966, Fighter Weapons School elements and the 4520th CCTW merged to activate the 4525th Fighter Weapons Wing.[15]

USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center

The

USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center activated at Nellis AFB on 1 January 1966 (USAF Warfare Center after 15 November 2005) is the USAF authority for employment of tactical fighter weapons.[21] The center has developed, refined, coordinated, validated and tested fighter concepts, doctrine, tactics, and procedures. The FWC also performed operational test and evaluation and prepared or monitored Air Force publications on employment tactics, aircrew training, and aircrew weapons delivery. It has supervised courses of the US Air Force Fighter Weapons School, adversary tactics training, and Wild Weasel training, and other combat and tactical schools.[21]

The FWC supervised Red Flag operational training and other continuing air exercises, such as Green Flag and Silver Flag Alpha. The center also directed operations of the US Air Force

USAF Air Demonstration Squadron with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds moved from Arizona to Nellis AFB in June 1956.[21]

474th Tactical Fighter Wing

The

Lake Mead Base, a 1953–6 United States Navy's weapons storage area of 2,832 ha (6,999 acres), became Area II of the Nellis AFB complex in September 1969.[9]

The 430th TFS returned to the 474th TFW Nellis on 22 March 1973 assuming a replacement training unit mission, while the 428th and 429th were transferred to

Air Force Reserve squadrons.[15]

57th Fighter Weapons Wing
The United States Air Force Thunderbirds

The

electronic warfare.[15]

Nellis'

Constant Peg in 1980, the operation assessed the Soviet technology and developed adversary tactics for dissimilar air combat training. After completion of training, the Aggressor pilots were assigned to the DACT squadrons, one of which was assigned to Nellis.[24] During the 1970s, a site northwest of Nellis evaluated a Soviet "Barlock" search radar to develop techniques for countering Soviet air defense systems.[25][failed verification
]

The Las Vegas Range of mountains is visible beyond a 66th FWS F-4E on the Nellis tarmac.

The

HH-60 Division). RC-135 Rivet Joint and EC-130 Compass Call courses were also added to the CCO Division in 1995, as well as a Space Division in 1996 (UAVs in 2008).[26]

In 1981, the Gunsmoke gunnery meet was first held[6] and the 57th Fighter Weapons Wing was reorganized as part of the establishment of the Fighter Weapons School, e.g., the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron for aircraft modifications was established on 30 December 1981 from the 422d Fighter Weapons Squadron. In 1990, the 64th and 65th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor Squadrons and the 4440th TFTG were inactivated in 1990 at the end of the Cold War.[19] In November 1991, the 57th implemented the USAF Objective Wing organization which was the most comprehensive USAF reorganization plan since 1947,[27] activating the 57th Operations Group for Nellis airfield operations and establishing the 57th Test Group.[21]

Air Combat Command

64th Aggressor Squadron F-16 takes off from Nellis AFB during Red Flag 14-1

Nellis transferred to Air Combat Command on 1 June 1992,

F-22A Raptor for the F-22 Force Development Evaluation program and Weapons School (12 Raptors had been assigned to the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron by July 2008).[21]

98th Range Wing in 2001,[21] and the annual Aviation Nation airshow began at Nellis in 2002. The Nellis Solar Power Plant constructed 23 April–December 2007 on Nellis' west side was visited by president Barack Obama on 27 May 2009. In 2010, the 505th Operations Squadron operated the Combined Air and Space Operations Center-Nellis.[29]

The 57th Adversary Tactics Group merged into the 57th Operations Group on 31 March 2020.[30] On 1 June 2020 the 800th Rapid Engineer Deployable, Heavy Operational Repair Squadron, Engineer (RED HORSE) Group activated at Nellis, with the 820th Red Horse Squadron as a subordinate unit.[31]

Major commands to which assigned

Major units assigned

  • 79th Air Base Group, 7 July 1941
70th Base HQ and Air Base Squadron, c. 14 August 1942
82d Flying Training Wing (Flexible Gunnery) 8 January 1943 – 16 June 1946
  • 3595th Pilot Training Wing, 1 April 1948[11]: 54  – 1 July 1958
  • 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing, 1 July 1958 – 1 September 1966
  • 4525th Fighter Weapons Wing, 1 September 1966 – 15 October 1969
  • 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, 20 January 1968 – 15 October 1989
  • 57th Wing (Various Designations), 22 August 1969 – present
  • 554th Operations Support Wing, 1 March 1980 – 1 November 1995
  • USAF Fighter Weapons School, 1 January – 1 September 1966; 30 December 1981 (USAF Weapons School on 15 June 1993)
  • 4477th Tactical Evaluation Flight ("Red Eagles"), 1 April 1975 – 1990
  • USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, 1 September 1966[32] (USAF Warfare Center on 15 November 2005)

Role and operations

Nellis Air Force Base is known by the USAF as the "Home of the Fighter Pilot" and is the Air Force's focus for advanced combat training. The main unit at Nellis is the USAF Warfare Center, which coordinates training for composite strike forces involving aircraft types from across the USAF inventory, accompanied by air and ground units of the US Army, US Navy, US Marines, and aircraft from other NATO and allied nations. Training is delivered through a series of exercises which typically take place at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), the primary examples being Exercise Red Flag and Exercise Green Flag (West).[33]

As of October 2019, Nellis employed 9,500 military and civilian personnel. The total military population is more than 40,000, including family members and retired military personnel in the area.[33]

The base also supports operations at nearby

callsign "Nellis Control") include the Computer and Computed Subsystem used to receive microwave signals from the NTTR Ground-Based per Station the Tracking and Communications Subsystem (TCS) for presentation on Nellis' Display and Debrief SubSystem (DDS).[34]

Nellis Area I has the airfield (2 runways and ramp space for up to 300 aircraft), recreation and shopping facilities, dormitories/temporary lodging, some family housing,

igloos, and RV storage.[9]
: 5–38 

Based units

Flying and notable non-flying units based at Nellis Air Force Base.[36][37][38][39][40]

Units marked GSU are Geographically Separate Units, which although based at Nellis, are subordinate to a parent unit based at another location.

United States Air Force

Air Combat Command

Geography

Nellis AFB covers about 4,600 ha (11,300 acres) in the northeast corner of the

Community College of Southern Nevada campus, and the census-designated place (CDP).[1]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19706,449—
19806,205−3.8%
19908,37735.0%
20008,8966.2%
20103,187−64.2%
[41]

Census-designated place

The Nellis Air Force Base CDP is an 8.0 km2 (3.1 sq mi) region defined by the

2010 United States Census
. The CDP area includes military family housing (e.g., in Nellis Areas I & III), dormitories, and lodging as for aircrew temporary quarters during Red Flag exercises.

Nellis AFB complex

Main article: Nellis Air Force Base Complex
For the associated "Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex" and "Tonopah Test Range Complex Glut" identified by the 99th Air Base Wing[3], see Desert National Wildlife Refuge and Tonopah Test Range.

The

Nye County Areas A, G, H, & I; the "Delamar Dry Lake Test Annex"[42] and the "Sunrise Mountain Machine Gun Range".[43]

In popular culture

See also

Notes

  1. ^ a b "Geographic Names Information System" (search page). USGS. Retrieved 6 June 2013.: Nellis AFB "Airport" (2443876, 361408N 1150224W),
    Nellis AFB CDP (2408911, 361448N 1150326W),
    Nellis Air Force Base (2511960, 361457N 1145946W),
    Nellis AFB Post Office (865017, 361432N 1150244W, 01-MAY-1992),
    Community College of Southern Nevada Nellis Air Force Base Center (2087468)
  2. ^ "Airport Diagram – Nellis AFB (KLSV)" (PDF). Federal Aviation Administration. 15 August 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 August 2019. Retrieved 1 September 2019.
  3. ^ a b c Huntley, Chris, Proj. Mgr. (August 2008). …Patriot Communications Exercises in Lincoln County, Nevada (PDF) (Report). Vol. AFD-081006-078. Aspen Environmental Group. pp. 3–28. Archived from the original (Final Environmental Assessment) on 4 March 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2013.{{cite report}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ISBN 0-912799-38-2
    .
  5. ^ a b c Futrell, Robert F. (July 1947). Development of AAF Base Facilities in the United States: 1939–1945 (Report). Vol. ARS-69: US Air Force Historical Study No 69 (Copy No. 2). Air Historical Office. Difficulties in securing the use of the gunnery ranges at Las Vegas, Nevada, and Tyndall Field, Florida, delayed the beginning of flexible gunnery training at those stations until December 1941
  6. ^
    ISBN 978-0760325308
    . Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  7. ^ Final Inventory Project Report, Tonopah Bombing Range (Report). Project Number – J09NV1114. USACE Sacramento District. September 1999. Executive order 8578 was executed on October 29, 1940 for the withdrawal of 3,560,000 million acres (1.44×1010 km2) of land from the public domain for use by the War Department as an aerial bombing and gmnery range (CE0769).
  8. ^ a b c d "Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada". The Military Standard – Air Force Bases. TechBastard.com. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Comprehensive Site Evaluation Phase II (PDF) (Report). June 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 8 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Las Vegas' Past". NetPhilosophy.Com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2008.
  11. ^
    tbd
    . Retrieved 9 June 2013. Installations  Las Vegas Field, Nevada Air Training Command inactivated the base on 31 December 1946. From its activation on 20 December 1941, Las Vegas AAF had conducted flying training.
  12. ^ "The Rear Gunner". Internet Movie Database. 10 April 1943.
  13. ^
    OCLC 71006954, 29991467
  14. ^
    OCLC 71006954, 29991467
  15. ^
    ISBN 0-912799-53-6
    . Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  16. ^ "Lieutenant William Harrell Nellis". Nellis AFB Public Affairs. Archived from the original (fact sheet) on 29 December 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2013. Posted 7/12/2012
  17. ^ Operation Teapot report
  18. Aviation Safety Network
  19. ^
    ISBN 0-88740-513-4
    .
  20. ^ Wilman, J. Catherene (1997). A Pictorial History of Nellis Air Force Base 1941–1996. Nellis AFB Office of History.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Nellis AFB Factsheet". 57th Wing/PA. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011.
  22. ^
    ISBN 1-85532-259-5
  23. ^ Davies, Steve (2008). Red Eagles. America's Secret MiGs. Osprey Publishing.
  24. ^ "Constant Peg". Air Force Magazine. 90 (4). April 2007.
  25. LCCN 97020912. Archived from the original
    on 1 December 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2013.
  26. ^ a b Robertson, Patsy. "USAF Weapons School (ACC)". Archived from the original (AFHRA fact sheet) on 20 February 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013. Posted 8/19/2009
  27. ^
    ISBN 1-85780-197-0
    .
  28. ISBN 978-0-8330-3412-0
    .
  29. ^ "Combined Air and Space Operations Center-Nellis". Public Affairs, 505th Command and Control Wing. Archived from the original (fact sheet) on 18 February 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013. Posted 3/3/2010
  30. ^ West, Master Sgt. Heidi (3 April 2020). "57th OG, ATG merge functions, streamlines mission readiness". US Air Force. Retrieved 1 May 2020.
  31. ^ "800th RED HORSE Group". 15th Air Force. US Air Force. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  32. ^ Kane, Robert B. (20 July 2010). "USAF Warfare Center (ACC)". AFHRA. Archived from the original (U.S. Air Force Fact Sheet) on 18 March 2013.
  33. ^ a b "Fact Sheet – Nellis Air Force Base". Nellis Air Force Base. US Air Force. October 2019. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  34. ^ "Nellis Based Exercises". DreamLandResort.com.
  35. ^ "Nellis Air Force Base - Sports and Fitness". Archived from the original on 27 May 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2013.
  36. ^ "Nellis Air Force Base Fact Sheet". Nellis Air Force Base. US Air Force. October 2019. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  37. ^ "Nevada Test and Training Range". Nellis Air Force Base. US Air Force. November 2021. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  38. ^ "Aircraft and Squadrons of the US Air Force". United States Air Force Air Power Review 2020. Key Publishing: 74–92. 2020.
  39. ^ Gamboa, Staff Sgt. Sergio A. (15 June 2020). "Detachment 1, 355th Wing activated at Nellis". Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. US Air Force. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  40. ^ "Units". 152nd Airlift Wing. US Air Force. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  41. U.S. Census Bureau
    . Retrieved 25 July 2010.
  42. ^ "List of [FUDS] Sites…". CorpsFUDS.org. Archived from the original (sorted database query list) on 15 June 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  43. ^ Table C-3 Status of Installations With Response Completed

References

External links

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