82-483: The United States Air Force Warfare Center ( USAFWC ) at Nellis Air Force Base , Nevada , reports directly to Air Combat Command . The center was founded on 1 September 1966, as the U.S. Air Force Tactical Fighter Weapons Center. It was renamed the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center in 2005. The USAF Warfare Center manages advanced pilot training and integrates many of the Air Force's test and evaluation requirements. It
164-603: A 1934 press release by the company, it called itself the Western Air Division of General Air Lines. Its route map ran San Diego to Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. In 1937 Western merged National Parks Airways , which extended its route north from Salt Lake to Great Falls , and, in 1941, across the border to Lethbridge, Alberta . In 1941 Western Air Express changed its name to Western Air Lines and later to Western Airlines. (In 1967–69 Western called itself Western Airlines International.) In 1944 Western acquired
246-455: A 9.5-hectare (23.4-acre) 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 RV storage. 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
328-598: A Mexican prison. The Mexican government tried to extradite Dodge back to face charges. Red became wealthy leasing government storage units with unlimited government business but never again flew to Mexico. The airline was promoted in the Carpenters promotional video for the track " I Need to Be in Love ", released in 1976. The video shows exterior footage of a DC-10 in takeoff and landing shots, as well as seating promotions for Western's FiftyFair seating product, with shots of
410-823: A cabin setting depicting what looks like business class of the DC-10. During the 1980s, destination flights aboard Western Airlines were featured as prizes on televised game shows, including The Price Is Right and The $ 25,000 Pyramid . In 1986 Western Airlines' fleet was 78 jets: In 1970 Western Airlines operated 75 aircraft: Western used a variety of piston-powered airliners including Boeing 247Ds , Convair 240s , Douglas DC-3s , DC-4s , DC-6 Bs and L-749 Constellations . The Constellations had been operated by Pacific Northern Airlines and served smaller Western Airlines destinations in Alaska such as Cordova, Homer, Kenai, King Salmon, Kodiak and Yakutat from Anchorage or Seattle in
492-704: A controlling interest in Inland Air Lines , which became a subsidiary with Inland's schedules in Western timetables until Inland was merged into Western in 1952. Western started flying Los Angeles to San Francisco in 1943, so the Western/Inland route map was a W: San Francisco south to San Diego , north from San Diego to Lethbridge, Alberta in Canada , south to Denver , and northeast to Huron . (It extended to Minneapolis in 1947.) In 1946, Western
574-570: A famous phone call by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to "buy American made aircraft", Drinkwater reportedly responded: "Mr. President, you run your country and let me run my airline!" For years after this exchange, the federal Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) would not award Western new routes while its competitors, including United and American, grew enormous even though all Western airliners were of U.S. manufacture while its competitors' fleets included aircraft produced in Europe. In August 1953, Western
656-646: A major hub at Salt Lake City International Airport and a small hub at Los Angeles International Airport . In 1986, Western entered into a code sharing agreement with SkyWest Airlines , a commuter airline. SkyWest (Western Express) Embraer EMB-120 Brasilias and Fairchild Swearingen Metroliners connected to Western mainline flights at Salt Lake City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego, and other Western mainline destinations. In spring 1987 SkyWest/Western Express served 36 cities in Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Western entered
738-443: A number of cities that previously did not have direct flights to the 50th state. In 1973, Western flew nonstop between Honolulu and Anchorage, Los Angeles, Oakland, California, San Diego, San Francisco and San Jose, California and one-stop between Honolulu and Las Vegas, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Phoenix, Sacramento and Salt Lake City. In 1981, the airline also flew nonstop DC-10s between Vancouver, British Columbia and Honolulu . One of
820-515: A one-stop flight MSP-SLC-LAX; in 1956 it resumed flights west out of Denver, to San Francisco via Salt Lake. In 1957 it began Los Angeles to Mexico City nonstop DC-6Bs, and in December 1957 it began Denver-Phoenix-San Diego. The airline's president was Terrell "Terry" Drinkwater. Drinkwater got into a dispute with the administration in Washington D.C. that hampered WAL's growth. Pressured in
902-788: A parent unit based at another location. Air Combat Command Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) Air National Guard (ANG) United States Strategic Command Nellis AFB covers about 4,600 ha (11,300 acres) 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 2,800 ha (7,000 acres) 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
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#1732787364959984-530: 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). 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
1066-430: A similar code-sharing agreement with Alaska-based South Central Air, a small commuter airline that operated as Western Express as well, connecting to Western flights at Anchorage. Several cities in southern Alaska including Homer, Kenai, Soldotna were served by South Central Air operating as Western Express. After the acquisition of Western by Delta Air Lines , SkyWest became a Delta Connection code sharing airline. In
1148-528: A subinstallation of Williams AFB 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 for a 6-month course, with 3,000 USAF pilots 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 Air Force Base
1230-427: A subsidiary of Aero Corp. of Ca., founded in 1926 by Paul E. Richter , Jack Frye and Walter Hamilton. WAE with Fokker aircraft merged with Transcontinental Air Transport to form Transcontinental & Western Air (TWA, later known as Trans World Airlines). In 1934 Western Air Express was severed from TWA and changed its name to General Air Lines, returning to the name Western Air Express after several months. In
1312-681: A wholly owned subsidiary of Delta. The Western brand was discontinued and the employee workforces were fully merged on April 1, 1987. All of Western's aircraft were repainted in Delta's livery, including twelve McDonnell Douglas DC-10s . Delta eventually decided to eliminate the DC-10s from its fleet as it already operated Lockheed L-1011 TriStars , a similar type. Delta retained Western's hubs in Los Angeles and Salt Lake City; both remain major gateways and hubs for Delta. This mainline destination list
1394-643: A year starting in April 1981 it flew LGW to Denver, continuing to Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Another international route was Los Angeles to Miami to Nassau , in the Bahamas for a year in 1980–81. Western extended its network to New York City, Washington, D.C. and Boston, as well as to Chicago and St. Louis in the midwest, Albuquerque and El Paso in the west, and Houston , New Orleans , Miami and Fort Lauderdale . In 1987 Western had four Boeing 737-300 round trips between Boston and New York LaGuardia Airport , and
1476-617: 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 Operations Area (MOA) airspace ", associated with the nearby Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). The base also has the Combined Air and Space Operations Center -Nellis. After World War I , 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
1558-637: 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 active portion of the Small Arms Range Annex north of the base, the annex's Formerly Used Defense Site of 2,337 hectares (5,775 acres) (cleared in March 1972, returned to
1640-429: Is taken from Western's March 1, 1987, timetable shortly before the merger with Delta Air Lines. The airline's main hub was Salt Lake City International Airport with a smaller hub at Los Angeles International Airport . Western had a flight between IAD in Washington, D.C., and DCA at one point in 1985. In 1987 the airline had four round trip flights a day between Boston and New York LaGuardia. Western timetables from
1722-841: 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 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
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#17327873649591804-400: The 1963 film It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World .) Western Airlines was famous for its "Flying W" corporate identity and aircraft livery . Introduced in 1970, the scheme featured a large red "W" that fused into a red cheatline running the length of an all-white fuselage. This new corporate identity was the subject of litigation by Winnebago Industries , which contended the new "Flying W"
1886-602: The 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron by July 2008). "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 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
1968-589: 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, activating the 57th Operations Group for Nellis airfield operations and establishing the 57th Test Group . Nellis transferred to Air Combat Command on 1 June 1992, at
2050-466: 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. Nellis Air Force Base is known by the USAF as the "Home of
2132-589: The DoI ), 13 BLM areas of 2.3 ha (5.7 acres) 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
2214-861: The General Dynamics F-111 —6 of the F-111As departed Nellis for Vietnam on 15 March 1968 ( Combat Lancer ). 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 in spring 1968 with F-111s, and the TFW was fully operational in July 1971. 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
2296-798: 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
2378-881: The Nye County Areas A, G, H, & I; the " Delamar Dry Lake Test Annex" and the "Sunrise Mountain Machine Gun Range". Western Air Express Western Airlines was a major airline in the United States 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 Nassau . Western had hubs at Los Angeles International Airport , Salt Lake City International Airport , and
2460-610: The Vietnam War , experienced combat pilots were used as Fighter Weapons instructors at Nellis. On 1 January 1966 the 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. The USAF Tactical Fighter Weapons Center activated at Nellis AFB on 1 January 1966 (USAF Warfare Center after 15 November 2005)
2542-543: The east coast as well as Chicago and St. Louis , and cities in Texas ( Austin , Dallas/Ft. Worth , El Paso , Houston and San Antonio ), and New Orleans in the south. Western had many intrastate flights in California , competing with Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA), Air California / AirCal , Air West/ Hughes Airwest and United Airlines . In addition, Western operated "Islander" service with Boeing 707-320s , Boeing 720Bs and McDonnell Douglas DC-10s to Hawaii from
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2624-467: 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
2706-632: 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, 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. Renamed to McCarran Field in
2788-460: The 1940s to the 1980s list service to the following at different times: Western contributed to popular culture with its 1960s era advertising slogan, "It's the oooooonly way to fly!" Spoken by Wally Bird, an animated bird hitching a ride atop the fuselage of a Western airliner, and voiced by veteran actor Shepard Menken , the phrase soon found its way into animated cartoons by Warner Bros. and Hanna-Barbera . Another famous advertising campaign by
2870-709: The 428th and 429th Tactical Fighter Squadrons were reassigned to the wing with F-111As (transferred to Mountain Home AFB , Idaho, in August 1977) and the 474th Wing absorbed the F-4D Phantom II 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 and Air Force Reserve squadrons. The 57th Fighter Weapons Wing
2952-498: The 57th developing realistic combat training operations featuring adversary tactics, dissimilar air combat training, and electronic warfare . Nellis' 4477th Tactical Evaluation Flight ("Red Eagles") operated MiG-17s , MiG-21s and MiG-23s at the Tonopah Test Range Airport (late 1960s- c. 1990 ) to simulate combat against U.S. combat aircraft. Named Constant Peg in 1980, the operation assessed
3034-561: 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 weapons ( B-52 & B-1 Divisions) and in 1995, rescue helicopters ( HH-60 Division). RC-135 Rivet Joint and EC-130 Compass Call courses were also added to
3116-949: The 79th Air Base Group detachment (5 staff officers commanded by Lt. Col. Martinus Stenseth ), and a month later 5 administrative NCOs plus other support personnel arrived. WPA 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 Block 16 brothels in Las Vegas were closed). Permanent construction for barracks to house 3,000 people began in mid-1941, and by 7 December , 10 AT-6 Texan advanced flight trainers and 17 Martin B-10 bombers were at
3198-586: 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 —operated by the 1925 Western Air Express for Contract Air Mail (CAM) Route #4, LA -to- SLC —was used by the Army Air Corps in
3280-592: The CCO Division in 1995, as well as a Space Division in 1996 (UAVs in 2008). In 1981, the Gunsmoke 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,
3362-642: 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
United States Air Force Warfare Center - Misplaced Pages Continue
3444-802: The Fighter Pilot" since the Korean War period of the early 1950s, and had a long history of conducting postgraduate fighter training and operational testing and evaluation of fighter weapons systems. Additionally, the Nellis Range, largest in the free world, readily complemented the new center's mission. Operational units assigned to the USAFWC have been: Wing Groups Squadrons source [REDACTED] This article incorporates public domain material from the Air Force Historical Research Agency Nellis Air Force Base Nellis Air Force Base (" Nellis " colloq. )
3526-504: 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 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,
3608-536: 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. 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
3690-602: 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. The USAF Fighter Weapons School reactivated 30 December 1981 in
3772-681: The US Air Force Bomber and Tanker, Employment School since 1992 and the Air Rescue Center since 1993. The USAF Air Demonstration Squadron with the United States Air Force Thunderbirds moved from Arizona to Nellis AFB in June 1956. The 474th Tactical Fighter Wing was reassigned from New Mexico to Nellis AFB on 20 January 1968 and was the first USAF operational wing equipped with
3854-614: The USAF Weapons and Tactics Center in 1992. The USAF Warfare Center uses the lands and airspace of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) – which occupies about three million acres (12,000 km) of land, the largest such range in the United States, and another five-million-acre (20,000 km) military operating area which is shared with civilian aircraft. The center also uses Eglin AFB, FL, range, which adds even greater depth to
3936-544: The airfield. 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 Fortresses arrived in 1942 and allowed training of 600 gunnery students and 215 co-pilots from
4018-416: The airline also operating nonstop Kodiak, Alaska - Seattle service with Lockheed Constellation propliners. Also in 1967, Western added Vancouver , and in 1969 it began nonstop flights between several California airports and Hawaii . In the late 1960s, Western aimed for an all-jet fleet, adding Boeing 707-320s , 727-200s and 737-200s to its 720Bs . The two leased B707-139s had been sold in favor of
4100-490: The airline capitalized on it. Western had a famous flyer out of Seattle: Captain "Red" Dodge. Red worked previously as a helicopter test pilot, and got involved with flying for the Central Intelligence Agency ( CIA ) in his later years when he wasn't flying as captain on the DC-10. The movie Breakout starring Charles Bronson was based on his daring airlift of a CIA operative out of the courtyard of
4182-466: The airline centered on Star Trek icons William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy . Some of the carrier's last television ads, shortly before the merger with Delta, featured actor/comedian Rodney Dangerfield . In the 1970s Western called itself "the champagne airline" because champagne was offered free of charge to every passenger over age 21. (Actor Jim Backus uttered the "It's the only way to fly!" phrase while piloting an airplane, somewhat inebriated, in
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#17327873649594264-547: The airline was operating nonstop Boeing 720Bs between the Annette Island Airport (serving Ketchikan, Alaska ) and Seattle in addition to 720Bs between Juneau and Seattle, and in 1973 was flying 720B nonstops between Kodiak, Alaska and Seattle. In 1978, Western Airlines and Continental Airlines agreed to merge. A dispute broke out over what to call the combined airline: Western-Continental or Continental-Western, prompting an infamous coin toss. Bob Six ,
4346-465: The base switched to B-29 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
4428-667: The base: "Nellis Air Force Base", the airfield, the post office, a Community College of Southern Nevada campus, and the census-designated place (CDP). The Nellis Air Force Base CDP is an 8.0 km (3.1 sq mi) 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. The Nellis Air Force Base Complex
4510-470: The center's capabilities, providing over water and additional electronic expertise to the center. The USAF Warfare Center oversees operations of the 57th Wing, the NTTR, and the 99th Air Base Wings at Nellis AFB , Nevada ; the 53d Wing (with Geographically Separated Units at Tyndall AFB , Florida and Holloman AFB , New Mexico) and 350th Spectrum Warfare Wing at Eglin AFB , Florida ; and the 505th Command and Control Wing at Hurlburt Field , Florida . By
4592-439: The colorful founder of CAL, demanded that Continental be "tails" in deference to its marketing slogan "We Really Move Our Tail for You! Continental Airlines: the Proud Bird with the Golden Tail". The coin flip turned up "heads". Six was so disappointed he called the merger off. From October 1980 to October 1981, Western flew Honolulu to Anchorage to London Gatwick Airport with a single McDonnell Douglas DC-10-30 ; for less than
4674-420: 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 " (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 Military Medical Center . Area III also includes
4756-429: The early 1980s Air Florida tried to buy Western Airlines, but it was able to purchase only 16 percent of the airline's stock. On September 9, 1986, Western Airlines and Delta Air Lines entered into an agreement and plan of merger. The merger agreement was approved by the United States Department of Transportation on December 11, 1986. On December 16, 1986, shareholder approval was conferred and Western Airlines became
4838-473: The end of the Cold War when Tactical Air Command was inactivated. The 57th Wing was designated on 15 June 1993 from the 57th Operations Group in conjunction with the introduction of the RQ-1 Predator 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
4920-504: 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 wings on 23 August 1943. By 1944, gunnery students utilized B-17, B-24 Liberator and B-40 Flying Fortress gunship aircraft (for example by firing at aircraft-towed targets). In March 1945,
5002-489: The former Stapleton International Airport in Denver . Before it merged with Delta Air Lines in 1987 it was headquartered at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Throughout the company's history, its slogan was "Western Airlines...The Only Way to Fly!" In 1925, the United States Postal Service began to give airline contracts to carry airmail throughout the country. Western Airlines first incorporated in 1925 as Western Air Express by Harris Hanshue. It applied for, and
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#17327873649595084-507: The merger was nonetheless rejected in a 4–1 decision by the Civil Aeronautics Board in July 1972. Western was headquartered in Los Angeles, California. After the Airline Deregulation Act in 1978, the airline's hubs were reduced to two airports: Los Angeles International Airport and Salt Lake City International Airport . Before deregulation, Western had small hubs in Anchorage, Alaska , Denver , Las Vegas , Minneapolis / St. Paul and San Francisco . In spring 1987, shortly before Western
5166-454: The merger was opposed by rival airlines such as Continental Airlines and the United States Department of Justice Antitrust Division under Richard Wellington McLaren . President Richard Nixon 's attorney Herbert W. Kalmbach suggested that the antitrust suit would be dropped in exchange for a $ 75,000 campaign contribution to the Committee for the Re-Election of the President , which American Airlines CEO George A. Spater agreed to. However,
5248-417: 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 , was leased to the Army on 5 January, and was "signed over" to the Quartermaster Corps on 25 January—Army construction began in March 1941. The city's Federal Building became the May 1941 location of
5330-479: The mid-1930s, Western Air Express had introduced new Boeing 247 aircraft. Western Air Express built and owned Vail Airport in Montebello, CA from 1926 to 1930 and the Alhambra Airport in southern California from 1930 to 1931. Western Air Express operated a seaplane route out of Hamilton Cove Seaplane Base on Catalina Island, California from 1928 to 1930 The company reincorporated in 1928 as Western Air Express Corp. In 1930 it purchased Standard Air Lines ,
5412-406: The mid-1960s, USAF aircraft and aircrew losses in the Vietnam War had convinced Tactical Air Command (TAC) of the need to improve technical and operational skills for the widening conflict. TAC established the Tactical Fighter Weapons Center at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada in 1966 for the expressed purpose of improving fighter operations and tactics. Nellis AFB had been referred to as the "Home of
5494-550: The smallest jet destinations was West Yellowstone, Montana , near Yellowstone National Park . Western flew Boeing 737-200s to West Yellowstone Airport in the summer, replacing Lockheed L-188 Electras . In the 1970s and 1980s, Western served a number of small cities with 737-200s including Butte, Montana , Casper, Wyoming , Cheyenne, Wyoming , Helena, Montana , Idaho Falls, Idaho , Pierre, South Dakota , Pocatello, Idaho , Rapid City, South Dakota and Sheridan, Wyoming . The 737 replaced Electras to all of these cities. In 1968
5576-461: The transfer to TAC, the F-100C, F-100D, and tandem cockpit 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 . 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. The 4520th Combat Crew Training Wing
5658-459: The turbofan-powered Boeing 720B. Lockheed L-188 Electra turboprops were replaced with new 737-200s. In 1973 Western added nine McDonnell Douglas DC-10-10s , marketing its wide-body cabins as "DC-10 Spaceships". They were configured with 46 first-class seats, 193 coach, and a lower level galley. From 1976 to 1981 the DC-10s flew Los Angeles to Miami nonstop. In 1969, Western Airlines opened negotiations to merge with American Airlines . However,
5740-604: Was acquired by Delta Air Lines , the airline had two hubs, a major operation in Salt Lake City and a small hub in Los Angeles. At its peak in the 1970s and 1980s, Western flew to cities across the western United States, and to Mexico ( Mexico City , Puerto Vallarta , Acapulco , Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo and Mazatlán ), Alaska ( Anchorage , Fairbanks , Juneau , Ketchikan , Kodiak and other Alaskan destinations), Hawaii ( Honolulu , Kahului , Kona , and Hilo ), and Canada ( Vancouver , Calgary and Edmonton ). New York City , Washington, D.C. , Boston , and Miami were added on
5822-657: 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 training after March 1980. Redesignated the 57th Tactical Training Wing in 1977, the wing trained tactical 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
5904-547: 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
5986-419: Was awarded a route from Los Angeles to Denver via Las Vegas, but in 1947 financial problems forced Western to sell the route, and Douglas DC-6 delivery positions, to United Air Lines . In 1947 Western extended the left arm of the W north to Seattle , and added San Diego to Yuma for a few years; in 1950 it extended the middle of the W north to Edmonton . It finally cut across the W in 1953 when DC-6Bs started
6068-629: Was awarded, the 650-mile long Contract Air Mail Route #4 (CAM-4) from Salt Lake City , Utah , to Los Angeles . On 17 April 1926, Western's first flight took place with a Douglas M-2 airplane. It began offering passenger services a month later, when the first commercial passenger flight took place at Woodward Field . Ben F. Redman (then president of the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce) and J.A. Tomlinson perched atop U.S. mail sacks and flew with pilot C.N. "Jimmy" James on his regular eight-hour mail delivery flight to Los Angeles. By
6150-512: 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 Thunderchiefs 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 Instructor Course began in mid-1965 and during
6232-509: 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 nuclear testing, 1 of the 12 Zone Commanders was based at Nellis AFB for community liaison/public relations (weapons for other atomic tests were stored at Nellis). Air Training Command suspended training at
6314-596: Was 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. It continued to perform this mission for nearly thirty years, undergoing several name changes in the 1990s. In 1991, the center became the USAF Fighter Weapons Center, and then
6396-461: 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. The USAF Fighter Weapons School
6478-525: Was instead begun at Mather Army Airfield in June 1946. AAF Training Command 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. Renamed Las Vegas Air Force Base on 13 January 1948 and assigned as
6560-1014: 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 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 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
6642-648: Was serving 38 airports; in June 1968 that number had grown to 42. In June 1960, Western Airlines introduced Boeing 707s (707-139s) between Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. 720B nonstops MSP-SFO and MSP-LAX began in 1966, along with LAX-Acapulco. In 1967 WAL acquired Pacific Northern Airlines (PNA, the successor of Woodley Airways ) based in Anchorage, Alaska , its primary routes being Anchorage - Seattle nonstop as well as Anchorage - Juneau - Seattle and Anchorage - Juneau - Ketchikan - Seattle with PNA flying Boeing 720 jetliners on these routes with
6724-536: Was too similar to its own stylized "W" logo. In the 1980s Western Airlines slightly modified the scheme by stripping the white fuselage to bare metal, retaining the red "Flying W" (with a dark blue shadow). This color scheme was known as "Bud Lite" due to its resemblance to a popular beer's can design. Western Airlines was a favorite first class carrier for Hollywood movie stars and frequently featured them in its on board magazine, "Western's World". Marilyn Monroe and many other silver screen actors were frequent flyers and
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