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Nellis AFB is an
integral part of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC).
It is known as the "Home of the Fighter Pilot." It is the Mecca of
advanced air combat aviation training. The base's all-encompassing mission
is accomplished through an array of aircraft: A-10, F- 15C, F- 15E, F16,
RQ-1A Predator UAV, and HH-60 helicopters. Nellis' work force of
approximately 10,000 military and civilian personnel make it one of the
largest single employers in southern Nevada. The base is located
approximately 8 miles northeast from downtown Las Vegas in North Las Vegas
covering more than 11,000 acres, while the total land area occupied by
Nellis and its restricted ranges is more than 5,000 square miles. An
additional 7,700 square miles of airspace north and east of the restricted
ranges are also available for military flight operations.
On Jan. 25, 1941, Las Vegas Mayor John L. Russell
signed over the property to the U.S. Army Quartermaster Corps for the
development of a flexible gunnery school for the Army Air Corps. The
mission of the new school, the Las Vegas Army Air Corps Gunnery School
(later re-named the Las Vegas Army Air Field (LVAAF)), was defined as
"training of aerial gunners to the degree of proficiency that will qualify
them for combat duty."
The 57th Wing at Nellis AFB is responsible for a
variety of flying activities at Nellis, such as Red Flag, which provides
realistic training in a combined air, ground and electronic threat
environment for U.S. and allied forces. The USAF Weapons School provides
Air Force graduate-level training for A-10, B-1, B-52, EC-130, F-15, F-15E,
F-16, HH-60, RC-135, command and control operations,
intelligence, weapons, academic, and flying courses. The 57th Wing also plans and executes close air
support missions, such as Air Warrior, in support of U.S. Army exercises and
interoperability training with the Army.
The 57th Wing includes the Air Force's air
demonstration team the Thunderbirds. The U.S. Air
Force Air Demonstration Squadron, the Thunderbirds, perform precision aerial
maneuvers demonstrating the capabilities of Air Force high performance
aircraft to people throughout the world. The squadron exhibits the
professional qualities the Air Force develops in the people who fly,
maintain and support these aircraft. The Wing also oversees the operation
and deployment of the
Predator, an unmanned reconnaissance
aircraft. The RQ-1 Predator is a medium-altitude, long-endurance unmanned
aerial vehicle system. The Wing flies
the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters in support of combat rescue as well as
rescue in the Nellis Air Force Range Complex and nearby civilian
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The Air Warfare Center (AWFC), headquartered at
Nellis, manages advanced pilot training and integrates many of the Air
Force's test and evaluation requirements.
The 99th Air Base Wing (ABW) had its beginnings
as the 99th Bombardment Group in 1942 at Gowen Field, Ohio. In 1943, air
operations moved to Algeria where the unit distinguished itself flying
bombing missions against targets in Italy, Sardinia and Sicily. In 1943, the
99th aircrews moved to Italy and flew missions throughout Europe.
After a brief inactivation, the 99th was redesignated the 99th Bombardment
Group from 1947 to its inactivation in 1949. The 99th was reactivated in
1953 as the 99th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, based at Fairchild AFB,
Wash. Although the years brought several changes in name, equipment and
mission along with a move to Westover AFB, Mass. In 1966, the organization
operated until a second inactivation closed the doors again in 1974.
In 1989, the 99th was reactivated, this time at
Ellsworth AFB, S.D., as the 99th Strategic Weapons Wing. The 99th Wing
became the 99th Tactics and Training Wing in 1993. In October 1995, the
"99th Wing" deactivated and was reactivated at Nellis, as the 99th ABW and
today it serves as the host wing for the base. It oversees the day-to-day
operations of the base such as personnel, finance, civil engineering and
supply. Three groups are assigned to the Wing: 99th Logistics Group, 99th
Medical Group, and 99th Support Group. The Center was formally established
in 1966 as the USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center, which concentrated on
the development of forces and weapons systems that were specifically geared
to tactical air operations in conventional (non-nuclear) war and
contingencies.
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