Nellis Air Force Base ("Nellis"
colloq.) is a
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
installation
Installation may refer to:
* Installation (computer programs)
* Installation, work of installation art
* Installation, military base
* Installation, into an office, especially a religious (Installation (Christianity) Installation is a Christian li ...
in
southern Nevada
Southern Nevada (SNV) is a region and the southern portion of the U.S. state of Nevada which includes the Las Vegas Valley. It also includes the areas in and around Pahrump and Pioche. Tonopah and Hawthorne are sometimes also referred to as part ...
. Nellis hosts
air combat
''Air Combat'' is a 1995 combat flight simulator developed and published for the PlayStation by Namco. Players control an aircraft and are tasked with completing a series of missions, with objectives ranging from destroying formations of enemie ...
exercises such as
Exercise Red Flag
Exercise Red Flag (also Red Flag – Nellis) is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the United States Air Force. It aims to offer realistic air-combat training for military pilots and other flight ...
and
close air support
In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and moveme ...
exercises such as
Green Flag-West
Exercise Red Flag (also Red Flag – Nellis) is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the United States Air Force. It aims to offer realistic air-combat training for military pilots and other flight ...
flown in "
Military Operations Area (MOA) airspace", associated with the nearby
Nevada Test and Training Range
The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) is one of two military training areas at the Nellis Air Force Base Complex in Nevada and used by the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base. The NTTR land area includes a "simu ...
(NTTR). The base also has the Combined
Air and Space Operations Center
An Air Operations Center (AOC) is a type of command center used by the United States Air Force (USAF). It is the senior agency of the Air Force component commander to provide command and control of air operations.[World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...]
, Nevada and other western inland states were surveyed by Capt. Lowell H. Smith and Sgt. William B. Whitefield for landing sites, and by "mid-1925 the Air Service possessed information on nearly thirty-five hundred landing places, including more than twenty-eight hundred emergency landing areas, in the United States." The 1929 airfield (dirt runway, water well, and small operations shack) north of
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
—operated by the 1925
Western Air Express
Western Airlines was a major airline based in California, operating in the Western United States including Alaska and Hawaii, and western Canada, as well as to New York City, Boston, Washington, D.C., and Miami and to Mexico City, London and N ...
for Contract
Air Mail
Airmail (or air mail) is a mail transport service branded and sold on the basis of at least one leg of its journey being by air. Airmail items typically arrive more quickly than surface mail, and usually cost more to send. Airmail may be the ...
(CAM) Route #4,
LA-to-
SLC—was used by the
Army Air Corps Army Air Corps may refer to the following army aviation corps:
* Army Air Corps (United Kingdom), the army aviation element of the British Army
* Philippine Army Air Corps (1935–1941)
* United States Army Air Corps (1926–1942), or its p ...
in the 1930s for training flights. After the
Invasion of Poland
The invasion of Poland (1 September – 6 October 1939) was a joint attack on the Republic of Poland by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union which marked the beginning of World War II. The German invasion began on 1 September 1939, one week aft ...
in 1939, the "western site board" had located a southern Nevada area "near
Tonopah, Nev" by April 1940 for a military range, and in October 1940, Air Corps Major David Schlatter surveyed the southwest United States for a military airfield. "The 60 × 90 mile area at Tonopah was transferred to the War Department on 29 October 1940" by Executive Order 8578.
McCarran Field
Renamed to McCarran Field in the mid-1930s, there were "difficulties in securing the use" of the airfield north of Las Vegas for a
Nevada World War II Army Airfield.
McCarran Field was bought on 2 January 1941 by the City of
Las Vegas
Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...
, was leased to the Army on 5 January, and was "signed over" to the
Quartermaster Corps
Following is a list of Quartermaster Corps, military units, active and defunct, with logistics duties:
* Egyptian Army Quartermaster Corps - see Structure of the Egyptian Army
* Hellenic Army Quartermaster Corps (''Σώμα Φροντιστών ...
on 25 January—Army construction began in March 1941. The
city's Federal Building became the May 1941 location of the 79th Air Base Group detachment (5 staff officers commanded by Lt. Col.
Martinus Stenseth
Brigadier General Martinus Stenseth began his career in the Minnesota National Guard in June 1916, before the United States entered World War I. He remained in the military as a professional soldier, rising to the rank of brigadier general.
World ...
), and a month later 5 administrative NCOs plus other support personnel arrived.
WPA
WPA may refer to:
Computing
*Wi-Fi Protected Access, a wireless encryption standard
*Windows Product Activation, in Microsoft software licensing
* Wireless Public Alerting (Alert Ready), emergency alerts over LTE in Canada
* Windows Performance An ...
barracks in Las Vegas were used for enlisted men, and the motor pool with 6 vintage trucks and a semi-trailer was next to the WPA barracks. Vehicle parts were from local service stations and gasoline and oil from the
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was a voluntary government work relief program that ran from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men ages 18–25 and eventually expanded to ages 17–28. The CCC was a major part of ...
(the
Block 16 brothel
A brothel, bordello, ranch, or whorehouse is a place where people engage in sexual activity with prostitutes. However, for legal or cultural reasons, establishments often describe themselves as massage parlors, bars, strip clubs, body rub par ...
s in Las Vegas were closed).
Permanent construction for barracks to house 3,000 people began in mid-1941, and by
7 December
Events Pre-1600
*43 BC – Marcus Tullius Cicero is assassinated in Formia on orders of Marcus Antonius.
* 574 – Byzantine Emperor Justin II, suffering recurring seizures of insanity, adopts his general Tiberius and proclaims him ...
, 10
AT-6 Texan
The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces ...
advanced flight trainers and 17
Martin B-10
The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to be regularly used by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934.Jackson 2003, p. 246. It was also the first mass-produced bomber whose performance was superior to ...
bombers were at the airfield.
Las Vegas Army Airfield
![Las Vegas Army Airfield - 1942 - USAAF](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6c/Las_Vegas_Army_Airfield_-_1942_-_USAAF.jpg)
Las Vegas Army Airfield was both activated and began flying training on 20 December 1941. Gunnery training began in January 1942, with guntruck platforms being used in January and February..
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.
The first
B-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is a four-engined heavy bomber developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). Relatively fast and high-flying for a bomber of its era, the B-17 was used primarily in the European Theater ...
es arrived in 1942 and allowed training of 600 gunnery students and 215 co-pilots from the field every five weeks at the height of the war. More than 45,000 B-17 gunners were trained; the USAAF training movie ''The Rear Gunner'' was filmed at the airfield in 1943. The 82d Flying Training Wing (Flexible Gunnery) was activated at the base as one of ten
Army Air Forces Flying Training Command
An army (from Old French ''armee'', itself derived from the Latin verb ''armāre'', meaning "to arm", and related to the Latin noun ''arma'', meaning "arms" or "weapons"), ground force or land force is a fighting force that fights primarily on ...
wings on 23 August 1943. By 1944, gunnery students utilized B-17,
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models des ...
and
B-40 Flying Fortress
The Boeing YB-40 Flying Fortress was a modification for operational testing purposes of the B-17 Flying Fortress bomber aircraft, converted to act as a heavily armed gunship to support other bombers during World War II. At the time of its de ...
gunship aircraft (for example by firing at aircraft-towed targets).
In March 1945, the base switched to
B-29
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 Fly ...
gunnery training which included the manipulation trainer on the ground with camera guns. The subsequent population peaked with nearly 11,000 officers and enlisted personnel including more than 4,700 students. Flexible gunnery training ended in September 1945, and the base became a demobilization center for soldiers' separation physicals and final pay. A course of navigator, bombardier, and radar operator training planned for LVAAF was instead begun at
Mather Army Airfield
Mather Air Force Base (Mather AFB) was a United States Air Force Base, which was closed in 1993 pursuant to a post- Cold War BRAC decision. It was located east of Sacramento, on the south side of U.S. Route 50 in Sacramento County, Califor ...
in June 1946.
AAF Training Command
The United States Army Air Forces during World War II had major subordinate Commands below the Air Staff level. These Commands were organized along functional missions. One such Command was the Flying Training Command (FTC). It began as Air Corp ...
closed LVAAF which went on caretaker status 28 August 1946 ("officially deactivated in January 1947"). During the planning for a separate air force, the Las Vegas AAF was reactivated "30 Aug 47 as a subinstallation of Mather", and it transferred to the USAF after the branch was created in September.
Las Vegas Air Force Base
Renamed Las Vegas Air Force Base on 13 January 1948 and assigned as a subinstallation of
Williams AFB
Williams Air Force Base is a former United States Air Force (USAF) base, located in Maricopa County, Arizona, east of Chandler, and about southeast of Phoenix. It is a designated Superfund site due to a number of soil and groundwater contamin ...
on 1 April, the 3595th Pilot Training Wing (Advanced Single-Engine) was established on 22 December 1948. Training began at Las Vegas AFB on 1 March 1949 with 5 squadrons using
P-51 Mustangs
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II and the Korean War, among other conflicts. The Mustang was designed in April 1940 by a team headed by James ...
for a 6-month course (3,000 USAF pilots needed trained by 1950). 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.
Nellis AFB
![USAF Fighter Weapons School F-80 44-85182](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/USAF_Fighter_Weapons_School_F-80_44-85182.jpg)
Nellis Air Force Base was named on 30 April 1950, and the 20 May 1950 dedication was attended by
Lieutenant Nellis' family. By 1 July the Air Force had directed ATC to accelerate
Korean War
, date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...
training for a new 95-wing Air Force. The first school opened at Nellis, and ATC redesignated the 3595th Pilot Training Wing (Advanced Single-Engine) as the
3595th Training Wing (Combat Crew). On 17 July 1950, Nellis began a replacement pilot training program to provide 115
FEAF F-51 Mustang pilots and 92 combat-ready
F-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) during World War II. Designed and built by Lockheed in 1943 and delivered just 143 days from the start of design, prod ...
pilots. Nellis' advanced single-engine pilot training
transferred to Alabama on 1 September 1950. Nellis assumed fighter-bomber training, and ATC established its
USAF Air Crew School (Fighter) on 14 November 1950, equipped with F-80s and early-model
F-84C Thunderjets. On 1 October, Nellis AFB base management functions transferred from Williams AFB. In early 1951, ATC assigned recently graduated airplane and engine mechanics to Nellis to learn jet aircraft maintenance. 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.
USAF Fighter Weapons School
The
USAF Fighter Weapons School
The USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, assigned to the 57th Wing and Space Delta 1. It is located at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
Mission
The mission of the USAF Weapons School is to teach gradu ...
was designated on 1 January 1954 from the squadron when the Air Crew School graduated its last Combat Crew Training Class (the primary Weapons School mission was gunnery instructor training). In the mid-1950s for
Operation Teapot
Operation Teapot was a series of 14 nuclear test explosions conducted at the Nevada Test Site in the first half of 1955. It was preceded by ''Operation Castle'', and followed by ''Operation Wigwam''. ''Wigwam'' was, administratively, a part of ...
nuclear testing, 1 of the 12 Zone Commanders was based at Nellis AFB for community liaison/public relations
[Operation Teapot report] (weapons for other atomic tests were stored at Nellis).
Air Training Command
Air Training Command (ATC) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command designation. It was headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, but was initially formed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It was re-designated as Ai ...
suspended training at the Nellis fighter weapons school in late 1956 because of the almost total failure of the F-86 Sabre aircraft used at Nellis, and during 1958 ATC discontinued its Flying Training and Technical Training.
Tactical Air Command
![USAF F-100 Super Sabre fighter taking off from Nellis AFB Nevada circa 1959](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/USAF_F-100_Super_Sabre_fighter_taking_off_from_Nellis_AFB_Nevada_circa_1959.jpg)
Nellis AFB transferred to Tactical Air Command on 1 February 1958, and the Nellis mission transitioned from initial aircraft qualification and gunnery training to advanced, graduate-level weapons training. Soon after the transfer to TAC, the F-100C, F-100D, and
tandem cockpit
Tandem, or in tandem, is an arrangement in which a team of machines, animals or people are lined up one behind another, all facing in the same direction.
The original use of the term in English was in ''tandem harness'', which is used for two ...
F-100F entered the school inventory. On 21 April 1958 an F-100F on a training flight out of Nellis was involved in a mid-air collision with
United Airlines Flight 736
United Air Lines Flight 736 was a scheduled transcontinental passenger service flown daily by United Airlines between Los Angeles and New York City. On April21, 1958, the airliner assigned to the flight, a Douglas DC-7 with 47 on board, was fly ...
. All 47 aboard the airliner and both Air Force pilots in the fighter jet were killed.
The 3595th wing assets were redesignated as the 4520th Combat Crew Training Group by TAC on 1 July 1958.
=4520th Combat Crew Training Wing
=
![4536th Fighter Weapons Squadron - North American F-100D-30-NA Super Sabre 55-3703](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/11/4536th_Fighter_Weapons_Squadron_-_North_American_F-100D-30-NA_Super_Sabre_55-3703.jpg)
The 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing was designated from the 4520th CCTG on 1 May 1961, and the Combat Crew training squadrons were renumbered. The 4537th Fighter Weapons Squadron had been assigned
F-105D Thunderchief
The Republic F-105 Thunderchief is an American supersonic fighter-bomber that served with the United States Air Force from 1958 to 1984. Capable of Mach 2, it conducted the majority of strike bombing missions during the early years of the Viet ...
s in March 1961, and the wing taught veteran pilots in all phases of fighter weapon employment: air-to-air gunnery, rocketry, conventional and nuclear bombing, aerial refueling, and combat navigation. The
F-4 Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bow ...
Instructor Course began in mid-1965 and during the
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War (also known by #Names, other names) was a conflict in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. It was the second of the Indochina Wars and was officially fought between North Vie ...
, experienced combat pilots were used as Fighter Weapons instructors at Nellis. On 1 January 1966 the
USAF Fighter Weapons School
The USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, assigned to the 57th Wing and Space Delta 1. It is located at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
Mission
The mission of the USAF Weapons School is to teach gradu ...
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.
=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.
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
Wild Weasel is a code name given by the United States Air Force (USAF) to an aircraft of any type equipped with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD): destroying the radar and surface-to-air mis ...
training, and other combat and tactical schools.
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
Bomber and Tanker, Employment School since 1992 and the
Air Rescue Center
The atmosphere of Earth is the layer of gases, known collectively as air, retained by Earth's gravity that surrounds the planet and forms its planetary atmosphere. The atmosphere of Earth protects life on Earth by creating pressure allowing for ...
since 1993.
The
USAF Air Demonstration Squadron
The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron ("Thunderbirds") is the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 57th Wing, and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Created in 1953, the USAF Th ...
with the
United States Air Force Thunderbirds
The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron ("Thunderbirds") is the air demonstration squadron of the United States Air Force The Thunderbirds are assigned to the 57th Wing, and are based at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Created in 1953, the USAF Th ...
moved
from Arizona to Nellis AFB in June 1956.
=474th Tactical Fighter Wing
=
The
474th Tactical Fighter Wing
The 474th Tactical Fighter Wing is an inactive United States Air Force unit. Its last assignment was at Nellis Air Force Base (IATA code LSV), Nevada, where it trained combat-ready aircrews and maintained a rapid-reaction capability to execute ...
was reassigned
from New Mexico to Nellis AFB on 20 January 1968 and was the first USAF operational wing equipped with the
General Dynamics F-111
The General Dynamics F-111 Aardvark is a retired supersonic, medium-range, multirole combat aircraft. Production variants of the F-111 had roles that included ground attack (e.g. interdiction), strategic bombing (including nuclear weapons c ...
[Thornborough, Tony (1993), Osprey Aerospace, 1993. F-111 Aardvark—USAF's Ultimate Strike Aircraft ]—6 of the F-111As departed Nellis
for Vietnam on 15 March 1968 (
Combat Lancer
Combat ( French for ''fight'') is a purposeful violent conflict meant to physically harm or kill the opposition. Combat may be armed (using weapons) or unarmed ( not using weapons). Combat is sometimes resorted to as a method of self-defense, or ...
). Nellis provided replacements for 2 lost F-111s, and the F-111s returned to the USA in November 1968.
The wing's 428th Tactical Fighter Squadron reached
IOC
The International Olympic Committee (IOC; french: link=no, Comité international olympique, ''CIO'') is a non-governmental sports organisation based in Lausanne, Switzerland. It is constituted in the form of an association under the Swiss ...
in spring 1968 with F-111s, and the TFW was fully operational in July 1971.
The
Lake Mead Base
Nellis Air Force Base ("Nellis" colloq.) is a United States Air Force installation in southern Nevada. Nellis hosts air combat exercises such as Exercise Red Flag and close air support exercises such as Green Flag-West flown in " Military Ope ...
, a 1953–6
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
's weapons storage area of , became Area II of the Nellis AFB complex in September 1969.
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
Mountain Home AFB
Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation in the western United States. Located in southwestern Idaho in Elmore County, the base is southwest of Mountain Home, which is southeast of Boise via Interstate ...
on 30 July 1973. Post-war the 474th's mission was to train combat-ready force of aircrews and maintained a rapid-reaction capability to execute fighter attacks against enemy forces and facilities in time of crisis.
In 1975, the 428th and 429th Tactical Fighter Squadrons were reassigned to the wing with F-111As (transferred to
Mountain Home AFB
Mountain Home Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) installation in the western United States. Located in southwestern Idaho in Elmore County, the base is southwest of Mountain Home, which is southeast of Boise via Interstate ...
, Idaho, in August 1977)
and the 474th Wing absorbed the
F-4D Phantom II
The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II is an American tandem two-seat, twin-engine, all-weather, long-range supersonic jet interceptor and fighter-bomber originally developed by McDonnell Aircraft for the United States Navy.Swanborough and Bo ...
aircraft, crews, and resources of the inactivating provisional 474th Tactical Fighter Wing at Nellis in April 1977. The wing was inactivated in September 1989, and its F-16As transferred to
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
and
Air Force Reserve
The Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) is a MAJCOM, major command (MAJCOM) of the United States Air Force, with its headquarters at Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. It is the federal Air Reserve Component (ARC) of the U.S. Air Force, consisting of ...
squadrons.
=57th Fighter Weapons Wing
=
![US Air Force Thunderbirds](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/US_Air_Force_Thunderbirds.jpg)
The
57th Fighter Weapons Wing was activated at Nellis on 15 October 1969 to replace the 4525th FWW (its
Fighter Weapons Squadrons transferred to the 57th). The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron (the "
Thunderbirds") was assigned to the 57th in February 1974, and the wing incorporated
intelligence
Intelligence has been defined in many ways: the capacity for abstraction, logic, understanding, self-awareness, learning, emotional knowledge, reasoning, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving. More generally, it can b ...
training after March 1980. Redesignated the 57th Tactical Training Wing in 1977, the wing trained
tactical
Tactic(s) or Tactical may refer to:
* Tactic (method), a conceptual action implemented as one or more specific tasks
** Military tactics, the disposition and maneuver of units on a particular sea or battlefield
** Chess tactics
** Political tacti ...
fighter aircrews, conducted operational tests and evaluations, demonstrated tactical fighter weapon systems, and developed fighter tactics. The 57th's
4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group (Red Flag) assumed operational control of Red Flag exercises in October 1979; and the 57th developing realistic combat training operations featuring adversary tactics, dissimilar air combat training, and
electronic warfare
Electronic warfare (EW) is any action involving the use of the electromagnetic spectrum (EM spectrum) or directed energy to control the spectrum, attack an enemy, or impede enemy assaults. The purpose of electronic warfare is to deny the opponen ...
.
Nellis'
4477th Tactical Evaluation Flight
The 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron (4477 TES) was a squadron in the United States Air Force under the claimancy of the Tactical Air Command (TAC). It is currently inactive. The product of Project Constant Peg, the unit was created to exp ...
("Red Eagles") operated
MiG-17
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17 (russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-17; NATO reporting name: Fresco) is a high-subsonic fighter aircraft produced in the Soviet Union from 1952 and was operated by air forces internationally. The MiG-17 w ...
s,
MiG-21
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 (russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-21; NATO reporting name: Fishbed) is a supersonic jet fighter and interceptor aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich Design Bureau in the Soviet Union. Its nickna ...
s and
MiG-23
The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-23 (russian: Микоян и Гуревич МиГ-23; NATO reporting name: Flogger) is a variable-geometry fighter aircraft, designed by the Mikoyan-Gurevich design bureau in the Soviet Union. It is a third-generatio ...
s at the
Tonopah Test Range Airport
Tonopah Test Range Airport , at the Tonopah Test Range (Senior Trend project site PS-66) is southeast of Tonopah, Nevada and northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada. It is a major airfield with a runway, instrument approach facilities, and nighttime i ...
(late 1960s-) to simulate combat against U.S. combat aircraft. Named
Constant Peg
The 4477th Test and Evaluation Squadron (4477 TES) was a squadron in the United States Air Force under the claimancy of the Tactical Air Command (TAC). It is currently inactive. The product of Project Constant Peg, the unit was created to expo ...
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. During the 1970s,
a site northwest of Nellis evaluated a Soviet "Barlock" search radar to develop techniques for countering Soviet air defense systems.
![66th Fighter Weapons Squadron - McDonnell Douglas F-4E-38-MC Phantom 68-0400](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/10/66th_Fighter_Weapons_Squadron_-_McDonnell_Douglas_F-4E-38-MC_Phantom_68-0400.jpg)
The
USAF Fighter Weapons School
The USAF Weapons School is a unit of the United States Air Force and United States Space Force, assigned to the 57th Wing and Space Delta 1. It is located at Nellis AFB, Nevada.
Mission
The mission of the USAF Weapons School is to teach gradu ...
reactivated 30 December 1981 in the 57th wing and the 66th, 414th and 433d Fighter Weapons Squadrons became its "A-10", "F-4E" and "F-15A" divisions (the 414th was the "Red Flag Training Squadron" in 1996). The 422d FWS aircraft and personnel became the "F-16 Division" and the squadron heraldry transferred to the
422d Test and Evaluation Squadron. The FWS mission expanded on 15 June 1993 to include all
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
weapons (
B-52
The Boeing B-52 Stratofortress is an American long-range, subsonic, jet-powered strategic bomber. The B-52 was designed and built by Boeing, which has continued to provide support and upgrades. It has been operated by the United States Air ...
&
B-1 Divisions) and in 1995, rescue helicopters (
HH-60
The Sikorsky MH-60G/HH-60G Pave Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift utility military helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It is a derivative of the UH-60 Black Hawk and incorporates the US Air Force PAVE electronic systems ...
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).
In 1981, the
Gunsmoke
''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central character ...
gunnery meet was first held 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. In November 1991, the 57th implemented the USAF Objective Wing organization which was the most comprehensive USAF reorganization plan since 1947,
[Rogers, Brian (2005). ''United States Air Force Unit Designations Since 1978''. Hinkley, England: Midland Publications. .] activating the
57th Operations Group for Nellis airfield operations and establishing the
57th Test Group.
Air Combat Command
![140128-F-TT327-499 (12286137733)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/140128-F-TT327-499_%2812286137733%29.jpg)
Nellis transferred to Air Combat Command on 1 June 1992, at the end of the
Cold War
The Cold War is a term commonly used to refer to a period of geopolitical tension between the United States and the Soviet Union and their respective allies, the Western Bloc and the Eastern Bloc. The term '' cold war'' is used because the ...
when
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 J ...
was inactivated. The
57th Wing
The 57th Wing (57 WG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force (USAF) Warfare Center, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The 57 WG's mission is to provide well trained and well equipped combat forces ready to deploy ...
was designated on 15 June 1993 from the 57th Operations Group in conjunction with the introduction of the
RQ-1 Predator
The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator (often referred to as the predator drone) is an American remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) built by General Atomics that was used primarily by the United States Air Force (USAF) and Central Intelligence Agency ( ...
and MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV). The USAF Combat Rescue School was also established in 1993 for HH-60 Pave Hawk instructional flying.
"In 1996, AETC moved the PJ Advanced Weapons Course from Nellis AFB to Kirtland AFB". The 98th Range Wing was activated at Nellis on 29 October 2001 for Nellis Air Force Range control (previous range control was by the FWC). After Detachment 13, 372d Training Squadron opened its F/A-22 maintenance training facility on 29 November 2001, on 14 January 2003 Nellis received the first production 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).
Dissimilar Air Combat Training, "Aggressor" training was reactivated under the 57th Operations Group in 2003
and in 2006 Nellis had the Air Ground Operations School. On 1 May 2007, the Unmanned aerial vehicle, UAV reconnaissance elements assigned to the 57th Operations Group transferred to the 432nd Wing.
Detachment 1 of the Space Warfare Center was established at Nellis in 1996 after the "Nellis Combined Air Operations Center", the Warfare Center transferred Nellis Air Force Range control to the 98th Range Wing in 2001,
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.
The 57th Adversary Tactics Group merged into the
57th Operations Group on 31 March 2020. 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.
Major commands to which assigned
* West Coast Air Corps Training Center, April 1941
* Air Corps Flying Training Command, 23 January 1942 and various subsequent designations through
Air Training Command
Air Training Command (ATC) is a former United States Air Force (USAF) Major Command designation. It was headquartered at Randolph Air Force Base, Texas, but was initially formed at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. It was re-designated as Ai ...
, 1 July – 31 December 1946, 30 August 1947
*
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command (TAC) is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 and headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. It was inactivated on 1 J ...
, 1 July 1958
*
Air Combat Command
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
, 1 June 1992 – present
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 – 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 January1 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 (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 United States Air Force Warfare Center, USAF Warfare Center, which coordinates training for composite strike forces involving aircraft types from across the List of active United States Air Force aircraft, USAF inventory, accompanied by air and ground units of the United States Army, US Army, United States Navy, US Navy, United States Marine Corps, 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
The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) is one of two military training areas at the Nellis Air Force Base Complex in Nevada and used by the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base. The NTTR land area includes a "simu ...
(NTTR), the primary examples being
Exercise Red Flag
Exercise Red Flag (also Red Flag – Nellis) is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the United States Air Force. It aims to offer realistic air-combat training for military pilots and other flight ...
and Exercise Green Flag (West).
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.
The base also supports operations at nearby Creech Air Force Base, Tonopah Test Range, and the Nevada National Security Site. Nellis ground systems for range operations (e.g., by 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).
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, "and most of the command and support structures", e.g., Suter Hall for Red Flag. Nellis Area II northeast of the main base "at the foot of Sunrise Mountain (Nevada), Sunrise Mountain" (formerly the U.S. Navy's Lake Mead Base) has Nellis Gun Club and the 820th Red Horse Squadron. Nellis Area III is west of the main base with family housing, administration and industrial areas, and the Mike O'Callaghan Federal Hospital. Area III also includes a munitions response area (MRA XU741) which had World War II storage for small arms ammunition, pyrotechnics, and chemical bombs and that now includes 2 remaining World War II buildings (numbers 1039 & 1047), 5 modern igloos, and Recreational vehicle, RV storage.
Based units
Flying and notable non-flying units based at Nellis Air Force Base.
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
Air Combat Command (ACC) is one of nine Major Commands (MAJCOMs) in the United States Air Force, reporting to Headquarters, United States Air Force (HAF) at the Pentagon. It is the primary provider of air combat forces for the Air Force, and i ...
* United States Air Force Warfare Center, US Air Force Warfare Center
** 99th Air Base Wing (Host wing)
*** 99th Comptroller Squadron
*** 99th Mission Support Group
**** 99th Civil Engineer Squadron
**** 99th Communications Squadron
**** 99th Contracting Squadron
**** 99th Logistics Readiness Squadron
**** 99th Force Support Squadron
**** 99th Security Forces Squadron
*** 99th Medical Group
**** 99th Aerospace Medical Squadron
**** 99th Dental Squadron
**** 99th Medical Operations Squadron
**** 99th Medical Support Squadron
** 53rd Wing
*** 53rd Test and Evaluation Group (GSU)
**** 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, 88th Test and Evaluation Squadron – Lockheed HC-130, HC-130J Combat King II and Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk, HH-60G Pave Hawk
**** 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron – Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II, A-10C Thunderbolt II, McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle, F-15C/D Eagle, McDonnell Douglas F-15E Strike Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants, F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor, F-22A Raptor, Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, F-35A Lightning II
**** Combat Search and Rescue Combined Test Force
**** Detachment 3
*** 53rd Test Management Group (GSU)
**** 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron
**
57th Wing
The 57th Wing (57 WG) is an operational unit of the United States Air Force (USAF) Warfare Center, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.
The 57 WG's mission is to provide well trained and well equipped combat forces ready to deploy ...
*** 561st Joint Tactics Squadron
*** USAF Weapons School, US Air Force Weapons School
**** 6th Weapons Squadron – F-35A Lightning II
**** 8th Weapons Squadron
**** 16th Weapons Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
**** 17th Weapons Squadron – F-15E Strike Eagle
**** 19th Weapons Squadron
**** 26th Weapons Squadron – MQ-9A Reaper
**** 32nd Weapons Squadron
**** 34th Weapons Squadron – HC-130J Combat King II and HH-60G Pave Hawk
**** 57th Weapons Support Squadron
**** 66th Weapons Squadron – A-10C Thunderbolt II / Joint Terminal Attack Control
**** 315th Weapons Squadron – LGM-30 Minuteman, LGM-30 Minuteman III
**** 328th Weapons Squadron
**** 433rd Weapons Squadron – F-15C/D Eagle and F-22A Raptor
***
57th Operations Group
**** 6th Combat Training Squadron
**** 57th Adversary Tactics Support Squadron
**** 57th Information Aggressor Squadron
**** 57th Operations Support Squadron
**** 64th Aggressor Squadron – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
**** 65th Aggressor Squadron – F-35A Lightning II
**** 414th Combat Training Squadron
**** 507th Air Defense Aggressor Squadron
**** 547th Intelligence Squadron
**** 549th Combat Training Squadron
*** 57th Maintenance Group
**** 57th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
**** 57th Munitions Squadron
**** 757th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
*** United States Air Force Thunderbirds, US Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron (Thunderbirds) – F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
*** US Air Force Advanced Maintenance and Munitions Operations School
** 505th Command and Control Wing
*** 505th Test and Evaluation Group (GSU)
**** 505th Test Squadron
**** Air and Space Operations Center, Combined Air Operations Center – Nellis
** Nevada Test and Training Range (military unit), Nevada Test and Training Range
*** 31st Combat Training Squadron
*** Virtual Test and Training Center
* Fifteenth Air Force
** 355th Fighter Wing, 355th Wing
*** Detachment 1 (GSU)
*** 563rd Rescue Group (Operating Location-Alpha (OL-A)) (GSU)
**** 58th Rescue Squadron
**** 66th Rescue Squadron – HH-60G Pave Hawk
**** 855th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
** Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 800th RED HORSE Group
*** Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 820th RED HORSE Squadron
* Sixteenth Air Force
** 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Wing, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing
*** 365th Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (GSU)
**** 526th Intelligence Squadron
**** 547th Intelligence Squadron
Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC)
* Air Force Test Center
** 96th Test Wing
*** 96th Operations Group
**** 413th Flight Test Squadron
***** Detachment 1 (GSU) – HH-60G Pave Hawk
Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC)
* Tenth Air Force
** 926th Wing
*** 926th Operation Group
**** 706th Fighter Squadron – A-10C Thunderbolt II, F-15C/D Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16C/D Fighting Falcon, F-22A Raptor, F-35A Lightning II
**** 926th Aerospace Medicine Squadron
**** 926th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron
**** 926th Force Support Squadron
**** 926th Security Forces Squadron
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
(ANG)
* Nevada Air National Guard
** 152nd Airlift Wing
*** 232nd Combat Training Squadron (GSU)
Department of Defense
United States Strategic Command
* Global Operations (J3) Directorate
** Joint Electromagnetic Preparedness for Advanced Combat
Geography
Nellis AFB covers about in the northeast corner of the Las Vegas Valley, an alluvial basin in the Basin and Range Province.
Since World War II, Nellis has had areas added, such as Area II in 1969, but still has about of undeveloped space. One World War II runway has been removed. The base has 3 areas (I, II, III). The United States Geological Survey names five different locations for the base: "Nellis Air Force Base", the airfield, the post office, a Community College of Southern Nevada campus, and the census-designated place (CDP).
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)
/ref>
Census-designated place
The Nellis Air Force Base CDP is an region defined by the United States Census Bureau as of 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
The Nellis Air Force Base Complex is a group of southern Nevada military areas that are predominantly USAF and Bureau of Land Management areas outside of the base (e.g., controlled by military units at Nellis). The complex's land areas include Nellis AFB, the USAF Nevada Test and Training Range
The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) is one of two military training areas at the Nellis Air Force Base Complex in Nevada and used by the United States Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base. The NTTR land area includes a "simu ...
, the active portion of the Small Arms Range Annex north of the base, the annex's Formerly Used Defense Site of (cleared in March 1972, returned to the United States Department of the Interior, DoI), 13 BLM areas of each leased for Patriot Radar/Communications Exercises, and other BLM sites "under Military Operations Area (MOA) airspace". Nellis AFB also leases space at the former Las Vegas AFS, and environmental sites of the Tonopah Bombing Range (FUDS) are monitored by the EPA. Additional Formerly Used Defense Sites associated with the area's military operations are the Nye County Areas A, G, H, & I; the "Delamar Dry Lake Test Annex" and the "Sunrise Mountain Machine Gun Range".[Table C-3 Status of Installations With Response Completed]
In popular culture
* A scaled-down version of Nellis Air Force Base appears in the 2010 video game ''Fallout: New Vegas''.
* The base is briefly shown in the 2007 film ''Transformers (2007), Transformers'', where Captain William Lennox and Seargeant Robert Epps are contacted by Sector 7.
* The base is briefly mentioned at the end of ''Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines'' (2003). The base is said to be under attack from the machines.
See also
* List of United States Air Force installations
* Nevada World War II Army Airfields
Notes
References
* Manning, Thomas A. (2005), ''History of Air Education and Training Command, 1942–2002''. Office of History and Research, Headquarters, AETC, Randolph AFB, Texas
* Ravenstein, Charles A. (1984). ''Air Force Combat Wings Lineage and Honors Histories 1947–1977''. Maxwell AFB, Alabama: Office of Air Force History. .
* Shaw, Frederick J. (2004), ''Locating Air Force Base Sites, History’s Legacy'', Air Force History and Museums Program, United States Air Force, Washington DC.
External links
*
*
Desert Lightning News (southern Nevada edition)
' – base newspaper
*
Installations of the United States Air Force in Nevada
Census-designated places in Clark County, Nevada
Military facilities in the Mojave Desert
Transportation in the Las Vegas Valley
Unincorporated communities in Nevada
Military airbases established in 1941
Airports in Nevada