A Western Air Express dirt runway, a water well and a small operations shack 8 miles north of Las Vegas was the setting of the original site of today's Nellis Air Force Base.
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."
Nellis AFB, an integral part of the United States Air Force's Air Combat Command (ACC), 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.
Main
phone numbers: Commercial (702)652-1110 or
DSN 682-1110
Mailing
address: Nellis AFB, NV 89191
Population:
6,376 active duty; 14,000 family members; 1,398
civilians
Housing: 56
officer family units; 1,112 enlisted family units
(702)652-1840
Temporary
lodging: 753 temporary units
(702)652-2711; campground (702)643-3060/6017
Family
Support Center: (702)652-3327
Schools: Elementary
school on base run by Clark County School District
Child
Care: Two centers for 487; 30 approved
homes (702)652-4241
Health
care: 119-bed hospital. Appointment
(702)653-2778; benefits/Tricare (702)653-2500
Nellis AFB - Las Vegas, NV
has a medium size commissary - (702)652-4898,
a large exchange, a mall, and one shoppette (702)644-2044. Recreation at Nellis AFB - Las Vegas, NV
includes arts and crafts, bowling, library, auto hobby,
recreation center, theater, golf, gym, tennis, swimming,
outdoor activities, fishing, and stables.
