View source for Naval Air Station Lemoore

{{Short description|Military airport in California, US}}
{{Use American English|date=May 2025}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Naval Air Station Lemoore
| ensign = 
| ensign_size =
| native_name = Reeves Field
| partof = 
<!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = 
| nearest_town = [[Lemoore, California|Lemoore]], [[California]]
| country = the [[United States]]
| image = File:F-35Cs of VFA-101 in flight over NAS Lemoore with FA-18EFs of VFA-122 in April 2015.JPG
| alt = 
| caption = Two [[United States Navy|US Navy]] [[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35C Lightning II]] from [[VFA-101]] fly in formation over NAS Lemoore with [[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E/F Super Hornets]] of [[VFA-122]] during 2015.
| image2 = [[File:NAS Lemoore Emblem.svg|150px]]
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = [[Naval air station#United States Navy|Naval Air Station]] ([[Master jet base]])
| coordinates = {{Coord|36|19|59|N|119|57|07|W|type:airport_region:US-CA|display=inline,title}}
| gridref = 
| image_map = 
| image_mapsize = 
| image_map_alt = 
| image_map_caption = 
| pushpin_map = USA
| pushpin_mapsize = 
| pushpin_map_alt = 
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in the United States
| pushpin_relief = 
| pushpin_image = 
| pushpin_label = NAS Lemoore
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_mark = 
| pushpin_marksize = 
| ownership = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
| operator = [[United States Navy|US Navy]]
| controlledby = [[Navy Region Southwest]]
| open_to_public = 
<!-- for out of use sites/sites with museums etc -->
| site_other_label = 
<!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| site_other = 
<!-- for other sorts of facilities – radar types etc -->  
| site_area = 
<!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = 
<!--facility/installation code, applies to US -->
| built = {{Start date|1961}}
| used = 1961 – present<!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| builder = 
| materials = 
| height = 
<!-- height of tallest part, not above sea level -->
| length = 
<!-- for border fences or other DMZs -->
| fate = 
<!--changed from demolished parameter-->
| condition = Operational
| battles = 
| events = 
| current_commander = [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]] Douglas M. Peterson 
| past_commanders = 
<!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = Strike Fighter Wing Pacific
| occupants = 
<!-- squadrons only -->
| designations = 
| website = {{Official website|https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrsw/installations/nas_lemoore/}}
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = NLC
| ICAO = KNLC
| FAA = NLC
| TC = 
| LID = 
| GPS = 
| WMO = 747020
| elevation = {{Convert|65.2|m|0|sp=us}}
| r1-number = 14L/32R
| r1-length = {{Convert|4115.4|m|0|sp=us}}
| r1-surface = [[Concrete]]
| r2-number = 14R/32L
| r2-length = {{Convert|4115.1|m|0|sp=us}}
| r2-surface = Concrete
| h1-number = 
| h1-length = <!-- {{Convert| |m|0}} -->
| h1-surface = 
| airfield_other_label = 
<!-- for renaming "Other facilities" in infobox -->
| airfield_other = 
<!-- for other sorts of airfield facilities -->
<!--  end airfield information   -->
| footnotes = '''Source:''' [[Federal Aviation Administration]]<ref>{{FAA-airport|ID=NLC}}</ref>}}'''Naval Air Station Lemoore''' or '''NAS Lemoore''' {{Airport codes|NLC|KNLC|NLC}} is a [[United States Navy]] base, located in [[Kings County, California|Kings County]] and [[Fresno County, California|Fresno County]], [[California]], United States. [[Lemoore Station, California|Lemoore Station]], a [[census-designated place]], is located inside the base's borders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrsw/installations/nas_lemoore/|title=Naval Air Station Lemoore|publisher=www.cnic.navy.mil}}</ref>

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 wing]]s: [[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).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csfwp.navy.mil/Home.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013031143/http://www.csfwp.navy.mil/Home.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 13, 2014|title=Home|publisher=www.csfwp.navy.mil}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:NAS Lemoore NAN7-63.jpg|thumb|Aerial view of NAS Lemoore in the early 1960s|left]]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 {{convert|4600|ft|m}} apart. Aircraft parking and maintenance hangars are aligned between the {{convert|13500|ft|m|adj=on}} 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.csfwp.navy.mil/history.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216211325/http://www.csfwp.navy.mil/history.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 16, 2013|title=History|publisher=www.csfwp.navy.mil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.militarybases.us/navy/nas-lemoore/|title=NAS Lemoore|publisher=www.militarybases.us}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://abc30.com/news/chp-chase-ends-in-fatal-crash-into-a-f-a-18-at-nas-lemoore/1270233/|title=CHP chase ends in fatal crash into a F/A-18 at NAS Lemoore|last=Peres|first=Jessica|date=2016-03-31|publisher=ABC30 Fresno|access-date=2018-10-08|language=en-US}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Citation|last=Real World Police|title=Pursuit onto NAS Lemoore Ends When Jeep Crashes into F-18 Super Hornet|date=2018-10-04|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgC2BWWqdOc |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/RgC2BWWqdOc| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-08}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==Current operations==
With the transfer of [[Marine Corps Air Station Miramar|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.
[[File:NAS Lemoore Aircraft Display.png|thumb|The Various Naval Aircraft Stationed at NAS Lemoore]]
Lemoore is home to aircraft assigned to the following Carrier Air Wings.

*[[CVW-2|Carrier Air Wing 2]] (CVW-2), assigned to {{USS|Carl Vinson|CVN-70}}
*[[CVW-9|Carrier Air Wing 9]] (CVW-9), assigned to {{USS|Abraham Lincoln|CVN-72}}
*[[CVW-11|Carrier Air Wing 11]] (CVW-11), assigned to {{USS|Theodore Roosevelt|CVN-71}}
*[[CVW-17|Carrier Air Wing 17]] (CVW-17), assigned to {{USS|Nimitz|CVN-68}}
*[[Carrier Air Wing One|Carrier Air Wing 1]] (CVW-1), assigned to [[USS Harry S. Truman|USS ''Harry S. Truman'' (CVN-75)]]

==Based flying units ==
Flying units based at NAS Lemoore.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Kaminski|first=Tom|date=2020|title=Air Power Review|magazine=US Navy and Marine Corps Air Power Review Yearbook 2020|publisher=Key Publishing|pages=66–81}}</ref>

=== United States Navy ===
'''[[Commander, Naval Air Forces Pacific|Commander, Naval Air Forces, Pacific]]'''

==Tenant squadrons==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Insignia
!Squadron
!Code
!Callsign/Nickname
!Assigned Aircraft
!Operational Assignment
!Administrative Assignment
|-
|[[File:VFA-2 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-2|Strike Fighter Squadron 2]]
|VFA-2
|Bounty Hunters
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Two]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-14 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-14|Strike Fighter Squadron 14]]
|VFA-14
|Tophatters
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Nine]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-22 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-22|Strike Fighter Squadron 22]]
|VFA-22
|Fighting Redcocks
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Seventeen]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-25 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-25|Strike Fighter Squadron 25]]
|VFA-25
|Fist of the Fleet
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Eleven]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-41 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-41|Strike Fighter Squadron 41]]
|VFA-41
|Black Aces
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Nine]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-86 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-86|Strike Fighter Squadron 86]]
|VFA-86
|Sidewinders
|[[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35C Lightning II]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Eleven]]
|Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING)
|-
|[[File:VFA-94 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-94|Strike Fighter Squadron 94]]
|VFA-94
|Mighty Shrikes
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Seventeen]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-97 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-97|Strike Fighter Squadron 97]]
|VFA-97
|Warhawks
|[[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35C Lightning II]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Two]]
|Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING)
|-
|[[File:VFA-113 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-113|Strike Fighter Squadron 113]]
|VFA-113
|Stingers
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Two]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-122 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-122|Strike Fighter Squadron 122]]
|VFA-122
|Flying Eagles
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]
|[[Fleet Replacement Squadron]] (FRS)
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-125 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-125|Strike Fighter Squadron 125]]
|VFA-125
|Rough Raiders
|[[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35C Lightning II]]
|[[Fleet Replacement Squadron]] (FRS)
|Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING)
|-
|[[File:VFA-136 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-136|Strike Fighter Squadron 136]]
|VFA-136
|Knighthawks
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing One]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-137 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-137|Strike Fighter Squadron 137]]
|VFA-137
|Kestrels
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Seventeen]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-146 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-146|Strike Fighter Squadron 146]]
|VFA-146
|Blue Diamonds
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Seventeen]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-115 Emblem.svg|frameless|71x71px]]
|[[VFA-115|Strike Fighter Squadron 115]]
|VFA-115
|Eagles
|[[Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II|F-35C Lightning II]]
|Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING)
|Commander, Joint Strike Fighter Wing (COMJSFWING) 
|-
|[[File:VFA-151 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-151|Strike Fighter Squadron 151]]
|VFA-151
|Vigilantes
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Nine]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-154 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-154|Strike Fighter Squadron 154]]
|VFA-154
|Black Knights
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18F Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Eleven]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:VFA-192 Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[VFA-192|Strike Fighter Squadron 192]]
|VFA-192
|World Famous Golden Dragons
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E Super Hornet]]
|[[Carrier Air Wing Two]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:NASL SAR Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|Naval Air Station Lemoore Search and Rescue
|NASL SAR
|
|[[Sikorsky SH-60 Seahawk|MH-60S Seahawk "Knighthawk"]]
|Naval Air Station Lemoore (NASL)
|-
|[[File:SFWSPAC Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[Strike Fighter Weapons School Pacific]]
|SFWSPAC
|
|[[Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet|F/A-18E/F Super Hornet]]
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|Commander, Strike Fighter Wing Pacific (COMSTRKFIGHTWINGPAC)
|-
|[[File:FRCW Emblem.svg|center|frameless|70x70px]]
|[[Fleet Readiness Center West]]
|FRCW
|
|
|Naval Air Station Lemoore (NASL)
|Commander, Fleet Readiness Centers (COMFRC)
|}

==Other tenant activities==
[[File:NLC - FAA airport diagram.gif|thumb|right|FAA airport diagram]]

* Fleet Logistics Center San Diego, Det Lemoore
* Fleet Aviation Specialized Operational Training Group, Pacific Fleet
* Naval Air Technical Services Facility Detachment
* Naval Aviation Engineering Service Unit
* Naval Air Maintenance Training Group
* [[Naval Hospital Lemoore|Naval Hospital]]
* Naval Branch Dental Clinic
* Naval Training Systems Center
* Trainer Systems Support Activity
* Navy Operational Support Center (formerly Naval Air Reserve Center)
* Naval Criminal Investigative Service NCISRA
* Naval Legal Service Office, Southwest Branch Office
* Aviation Survival Training Center
* NATEC, Naval Air Technical Data and Engineering Service Command
* NAFC, Naval Aviation Forecast Component
* NAMCE, Naval Aviation Maintenance Center for Excellence
* [[Marine Wing Support Squadron 473|MWSS 473 Detachment Alpha]], Marine Corps Reserve Motor transportation company

===Educational institutes===
* Akers Elementary School (Preschool–8th)
* Neutra Elementary School (K–5)
* Columbia College
* West Hills College

== See also ==
* [[List of United States Navy airfields]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite web
 | title = Naval Air Station Lemoore
 | url = https://cnrsw.cnic.navy.mil/Installations/NAS-Lemoore/
 | publisher = Official website
 | access-date = 2008-10-11
}}
* {{cite web
 | title = Naval Air Station Lemoore
 | url= http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/lemoore.htm
 | publisher = GlobalSecurity.org
 | access-date = 2006-10-30
}}
* {{FAA-airport|ID=NLC|use=PR|own=MN|site=01767.12*A}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrsw/installations/nas_lemoore/}}{{US-airport-mil|NLC}}
** {{FAA-diagram|05067}}

{{CAMilitary|state=autocollapse}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1961 establishments in California]]
<!-- Pre-1961--[[Category:Airfields of the United States Army Air Forces in California]]--WWII-->
[[Category:Airports in Fresno County, California|NAS Lemoore]]
[[Category:Airports in Kings County, California|NAS Lemoore]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Fresno County, California|NAS Lemoore]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Kings County, California|NAS Lemoore]]
[[Category:Installations of the United States Navy in California]]
[[Category:Lemoore, California]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1961]]
[[Category:United States Naval Air Stations|Lemoore, Naval Air Station]]