Nellis Air Force Base

Nellis Air Force Base {{Airport codes|LSV|KLSV}} is a United States Air Force base, located in Clark County, Nevada, on the northeast side of Las Vegas. It is also treated as a census-designated place by the United States Census for statistical purposes, and so specific demographic information about residents of the base is compiled. As of 2000, the base had a population of 8,896.

History

The history of the base began with a survey in October 1940 by Major David M. Schlatter of the Army Air Corps, who examined various sites in the Southwest looking for a location for an aerial gunnery school. Las Vegas was attractive for its clear weather and year-round flying, and the then-impoverished city was eager for a military base. On 2 January 1941, the city bought an airstrip run by Western Air Express and leased it to the Air Corps three days later, the plan being to use the strip for both military and civilian aircraft.

Related Topics:
1940 - David M. Schlatter - Army Air Corps - 2 January - 1941 - Western Air Express

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Construction of the "Las Vegas Army Air Field" began in March 1941; the first commander, Colonel Martinus Stenseth, arrived in May. Much of the early gunnery training, originally set to begin in September, but not underway until January 1942, used machine guns mounted in trucks and targets on railroad cars, used to accustom students to firing at a moving target. World War II made the base's mission especially urgent, and by the end of 1942, 9,117 gunners had graduated, with aircraft in use including Martin B-10s, AT-6s, A-33s, B-17 Flying Fortresses, B-24 Liberators, and B-26 Marauders.

Related Topics:
Martinus Stenseth - 1942 - World War II - Martin B-10 - AT-6 - A-33 - B-17 Flying Fortress - B-24 Liberator - B-26 Marauder

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At the height of training in 1943 and 1944, over 15,000 men and women were at the base. Actors Ronald Reagan and Burgess Meredith came to help produce the propaganda film Rear Gunner. Much of the training was for B-17 gunners, then at the beginning of 1945 emphasis shifted to the B-29 Superfortress. An innovation was the use of a specially-designed target aircraft, the RP-63, which was sufficiently armored to be shot at with frangible bullets. At war's end, the school had trained over 45,000 B-17 gunners, and over 3,000 for the B-29.

Related Topics:
1943 - 1944 - Ronald Reagan - Burgess Meredith - Rear Gunner - 1945 - B-29 Superfortress - RP-63 - Frangible

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The gunnery school closed in September 1945, and the base itself was officially inactivated in January 1947. It was reactivated by the newly-created United States Air Force in March 1948, who organized an advanced single-engine school. The first Air Force Gunnery Meet was held at the base on 2 May 1949, with competitors from 14 Air Force units, flying both prop and jet aircraft.

Related Topics:
1947 - United States Air Force - 1948 - Air Force Gunnery Meet - 2 May - 1949

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The base was renamed Nellis Air Force Base on 30 April 1950.

Related Topics:
30 April - 1950

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Shortly thereafter the base was again needed to prepare pilots for the Korean War, first with F-51 Mustang training, and then with F-80s and F-86 Sabres. The base also became a part of testing programs for new aircraft.

Related Topics:
Korean War - F-51 Mustang - F-80 - F-86 Sabre

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The Thunderbirds came to Nellis on June 1, 1956 (where they are still based as of 2005), along with F-100 Super Sabres. The F-105 Thunderchief arrived in 1960; in June 1962, two crashes in one day at Nellis forced the grounding of all 105s for evaluation and modifications.

Related Topics:
Thunderbirds - June 1 - 1956 - As of 2005 - F-100 Super Sabre - F-105 Thunderchief - 1960 - 1962

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In 1966 the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center was established to unify the research and training functions of the base, and in 1969 the last F-100s were retired.

Related Topics:
1966 - Tactical Fighter Weapons Center - 1969

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In 1969 the 57th Fighter Wing was activated to start the USAF Weapons school. It provides to this day graduate level training on all fighter weapons that a USAF officers would be expected to utilize. This includes air to air combat with both gun and missiles; and air to ground combat. The graduates are also given basic courses in fighter system maintenance in particular how to tell if a system is installed wrong during the preflight walk around.

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This school was created in response to lessons learned from air to air combat in Vietnam, and is similar to the US Navy's Fighter Weapons school.

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Housing shortages had been a perennial problem for the base, but in the early 1970s Las Vegas' growth resulted in a new problem, with residential areas beginning to encroach on the flight paths. Although the problem was handled by modifying operations, the issue continues to plague both Nellis and Las Vegas planners.

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Lessons from the Vietnam War led to the establishment of RED FLAG exercises at Nellis. Pilots from the 64th Aggressor Squadron now fly F-16s according to the doctrines of possible enemy forces, and engaging in mock dogfights with visiting squadrons from the United States and countries friendly to the United States. Very soon the 65th Aggressor Squadron will active and fly the F-15 in it's first adversary role.

Related Topics:
Vietnam War - RED FLAG exercise - 64th Aggressor Squadron - F-16 - 65th Aggressor Squadron - F-15

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Continuing with the trend of competitive training, in 1981 the ten-day Gunsmoke '81 was the first gunnery meet to be held since 1962, and featured teams from all over the world. The event would continue to be held every two years. The 1980s were a busy time for Nellis, with a dozen types of aircraft being supported, as well as visiting aircraft from the Army, Navy, and foreign nations. In 1988 the F-117 Nighthawk was unveiled here; it had been developed and tested at the Tonopah Test Range, a smaller facility in the northern part of the nearby Nellis Air Force Range in the desert northwest of Las Vegas.

Related Topics:
1981 - Gunsmoke '81 - 1980s - 1988 - F-117 Nighthawk - Tonopah Test Range - Nellis Air Force Range

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The Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airstrip was a part of Nellis. While little known, it is home to the 11th, 15th, 17th and 30th Reconnaissance Squadrons which operate the Predator RQ-1, MQ-1 and MQ-9 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV). In February 2001, a Predator successfully test fired its first Hellfire missile on the Nellis test range. On June 20, 2005 the field was renamed to Creech Air Force Base.

Related Topics:
Indian Springs Air Force Auxiliary Airstrip - RQ-1 - MQ-9 - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle - June 20 - 2005

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On January 14, 2003, the first production F/A-22 was delivered to the base. Nellis Air Force Base is selected as the F-22 Force Development Evaluation program and Weapons School. On December 21, 2004 one F/A-22 crashed marking the first accident at the base since March of 1996 and the first accident of a F/A-22 since 1992. Currently, March, 2005, there are 7 Raptors assigned to the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron for various development and evaluation missions.

Related Topics:
January 14 - 2003 - F/A-22 - December 21 - 2004 - 1996 - 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron

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The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Center for Excellence was established at Creech Air Force Base in 2005.

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