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Naval Air Station Lemoore | |||||||||
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Reeves Field | |||||||||
Near Lemoore, California in the United States | |||||||||
Coordinates | 36°19′59″N119°57′07″W / 36.33306°N 119.95194°W | ||||||||
Type | Naval Air Station (Master jet base) | ||||||||
Site information | |||||||||
Owner | Department of Defense | ||||||||
Operator | US Navy | ||||||||
Controlled by | Navy Region Southwest | ||||||||
Condition | Operational | ||||||||
Website | Official website | ||||||||
Site history | |||||||||
Built | 1961 | ||||||||
In use | 1961 – present | ||||||||
Garrison information | |||||||||
Current commander | Captain Douglas M. Peterson | ||||||||
Garrison | Strike Fighter Wing Pacific | ||||||||
Airfield information | |||||||||
Identifiers | IATA: NLC, ICAO: KNLC, FAA LID: NLC, WMO: 747020 | ||||||||
Elevation | 65.2 meters (214 ft) AMSL | ||||||||
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Source: Federal Aviation Administration [1] |
Naval Air Station Lemoore or NAS Lemoore( IATA : NLC, ICAO : KNLC, FAA LID : NLC) is a United States Navy base, located in Kings County and Fresno County, California, United States. Lemoore Station, a census-designated place, is located inside the base's borders. [2]
NAS Lemoore is the Navy's newest and largest master jet base. Strike Fighter Wing Pacific, along with its associated squadrons, is home ported there.
NAS Lemoore also hosts four carrier air wings: Carrier Air Wing Two (CVW-2), Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9), Carrier Air Wing Eleven (CVW-11), and Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17). [3]
Commissioned in 1961, NAS Lemoore, as seen from an aircraft flying above, looks significant and stands out from the farmlands of Central California, due to its large construction. It is the newest and largest master jet base of the U.S. Navy. It has two offset parallel runways 4,600 feet (1,400 m) apart. Aircraft parking and maintenance hangars are aligned between the 13,500-foot (4,100 m) runways. Separated from the hangars by underpasses beneath taxiways A and C, the remainder of the air operations area is located directly to the southeast.
In July 1998, NAS Lemoore was selected as the West Coast site for the Navy's newest strike-fighter aircraft, the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. This decision brought approximately 92 additional aircraft, 1,850 additional active duty personnel and 3,000 family members to NAS Lemoore, and several associated facility additions or improvements.
The Navy also brought four new fleet squadrons to NAS Lemoore from 2001 to 2004. Additional military staffing was required at the Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Department, Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific, and Center for Naval Aviation Technical Training Unit Lemoore (CNATTU Lemoore) to support this effort. Originally, the officer in charge of construction for building the base was Commander Dennis K. Culp CEC/USN, the first Naval officer in Lemoore. [4] [5]
On 31 March 2016, two civilians were killed when the Jeep Grand Cherokee they were driving in collided with a parked F/A-18 jet. [6] They were being pursued by the California Highway Patrol (CHP) and managed to enter the base without hindrance by base security. A CHP helicopter was monitoring the chase from above and captured the event in a FLIR video; the base tower staff can be heard asking if the vehicle was already in the base. A CHP dispatcher can be heard confirming so and that CHP were unable to contact base security for assistance. [7]
With the transfer of NAS Miramar to the United States Marine Corps, NAS Lemoore now hosts the Navy's entire west coast fighter/attack capability. NAS Lemoore was built "from the ground up" as a Master Jet Base, and has several operational advantages, and relatively few constraints, as a result.
Strike Fighter Wing Pacific with its supporting facilities is home ported here. The primary aircraft based at NAS Lemoore is the F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighter. In November, 1999, NAS Lemoore received its first F/A-18E/F Super Hornets, which replaced the F-14 Tomcat in fleet service as an air-superiority fighter and has assumed, in a different configuration, the role of older F/A-18 Hornet fighters. Currently, there are a total of 175 Hornets and Super Hornets home-based at NAS Lemoore operating from one Fleet Replacement Squadron and sixteen Fleet [operational] Squadrons. In 2017, the F-35C Lightning II was received onboard NAS Lemoore, establishing the first F-35 Pacific training squadron.
Lemoore is home to aircraft assigned to the following Carrier Air Wings.
Flying units based at NAS Lemoore. [8]
Insignia | Squadron | Code | Callsign/Nickname | Assigned Aircraft | Operational Assignment | Administrative Assignment |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Strike Fighter Squadron 2 | VFA-2 | Bounty Hunters | F/A-18F Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Two | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 14 | VFA-14 | Tophatters | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Nine | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 22 | VFA-22 | Fighting Redcocks | F/A-18F Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Seventeen | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 25 | VFA-25 | Fist of the Fleet | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Eleven | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 41 | VFA-41 | Black Aces | F/A-18F Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Nine | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 86 | VFA-86 | Sidewinders | F-35C Lightning II | Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING) | Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 94 | VFA-94 | Mighty Shrikes | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Seventeen | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 97 | VFA-97 | Warhawks | F-35C Lightning II | Carrier Air Wing Two | Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 113 | VFA-113 | Stingers | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Two | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 122 | VFA-122 | Flying Eagles | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 125 | VFA-125 | Rough Raiders | F-35C Lightning II | Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) | Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 136 | VFA-136 | Knighthawks | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing One | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 137 | VFA-137 | Kestrels | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Seventeen | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 146 | VFA-146 | Blue Diamonds | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Seventeen | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 147 | VFA-147 | Argonauts | F-35C Lightning II | Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING) | Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 151 | VFA-151 | Vigilantes | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Nine | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 154 | VFA-154 | Black Knights | F/A-18F Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Eleven | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Strike Fighter Squadron 192 | VFA-192 | World Famous Golden Dragons | F/A-18E Super Hornet | Carrier Air Wing Two | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | |
Naval Air Station Lemoore Search and Rescue | NASL SAR | MH-60S Seahawk "Knighthawk" | Naval Air Station Lemoore (NASL) | |||
Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific | SFWSPAC | F/A-18E/F Super Hornet | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC) | ||
Fleet Readiness Center West | FRCW | Naval Air Station Lemoore (NASL) | Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC) |
The Strike Fighter Squadron 14 (VFA-14) "Tophatters" are a United States Navy fighter attack squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet, and are the Navy's oldest active squadron, having formed in 1919. Their callsign is Camelot, and their tail code is NG.
Strike Fighter Squadron 213(VFA-213)Blacklions is an aviation unit of the United States Navy based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia. It was established in 1955 and is currently equipped with the F/A-18F Super Hornet. The squadron is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Eight and uses the radio callsign Lion.
Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana or NAS Oceana is a United States Navy Naval Air Station located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Strike Fighter Squadron 147 (VFA-147), also known as the "Argonauts," is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron that is currently being transferred to MCAS Iwaukuni, Japan. VFA-147 was established on 1 February 1967 and flies the F-35C Lightning II, becoming the first non-training F-35 squadron in the U.S. Navy and will become the first forward-deployed F-35 squadron.
Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Air Wing is currently assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). The Tail Code of aircraft assigned to CVW-9 is NG.
Strike Fighter Squadron 2 (VFA-2) also known as the "Bounty Hunters" is a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NE and their callsign is "Bullet". They are attached to Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2), a composite unit made up of a wide array of aircraft performing a variety of combat and support missions that deploy aboard the Carl Vinson.
Strike Fighter Squadron One Five One (VFA-151) nicknamed the Vigilantes are a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The squadron is a part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9). As part of CVW-9, the squadron's tail code is NG and its radio callsign is "Ugly".
Strike Fighter Squadron 146 (VFA-146) also known as the "Blue Diamonds" is a United States Navy operational fleet strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore California. They fly the F/A-18E Super Hornet and are attached to Carrier Air Wing 17, deployed aboard USS Nimitz. Their tailcode is NA and their radio callsign is Diamond.
Strike Fighter Squadron 154 (VFA-154), also known as the "Black Knights", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The Black Knights are an operational fleet squadron flying the F/A-18F Super Hornet. They are currently attached to Carrier Air Wing Eleven and deployed aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Their tailcode is NH and their callsign is "Knight".
Strike Fighter Squadron 97 (VFA-97) is a naval aviation squadron of the United States Navy. It is equipped with the F-35C Lightning II and is stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. The squadron is nicknamed "Warhawks" and it is currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing Two, tail code "NE". The squadron was originally established as Attack Squadron 97 (VA-97) on 1 June 1967 and redesignated VFA-97 on 24 January 1991.
Strike Fighter Squadron 115 (VFA-115) is known as the "Eagles", callsign "Talon", a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore. Their tail code while they were assigned to CVW-5 before July 2024 was NF. It was established as Torpedo Squadron VT-11 on 10 October 1942, redesignated VA-12A on 15 November 1946, VA-115 on 15 July 1948, then finally VFA-115.
Strike Fighter Squadron 131 (VFA-131), also known as the "Wildcats", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. Their radio call sign is "Wildcat" and their aircraft tail code is AC.
VFA-22, Strike Fighter Squadron 22, also known as the "Fighting Redcocks", are a United States Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. Their tail code is NA and their radio callsign alternates between "Beef" and "Beef Eater".
Strike Fighter Squadron 113 (VFA-113), also known as the "Stingers," is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. They are an operational fleet F/A-18E Super Hornet squadron attached to Carrier Air Wing 2 (CVW-2) and based at NAS Lemoore, California. Their tailcode is NE and their radio callsign is Sting.
Strike Fighter Squadron 34 (VFA-34), also known as the "Blue Blasters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and are attached to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Their tail code is NH and their radio call sign is "Joker".
Strike Fighter Squadron 192 (VFA-192), also known as the "World Famous Golden Dragons", are a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter squadron stationed at NAS Lemoore.
Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14), was a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen (CVW-17), is a United States Navy aircraft carrier air wing based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The air wing is attached to the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz.
Strike Fighter Squadron 136 (VFA-136) also known as the "Knighthawks" is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The "Knighthawks" are an operational fleet squadron flying the F/A-18E Super Hornet. They are homeported at NAS Lemoore and are currently assigned to Carrier Air Wing One, tail code AB. Their radio callsign is Gunstar.
Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field was a United States Navy air base, located in Duval County, Florida. Prior to October 1999, NAS Cecil Field was the largest military base in terms of acreage in the Jacksonville, Florida area.