View source for Naval Air Station Whiting Field

{{Short description|US Navy base near Milton, Florida}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Naval Air Station Whiting Field
| ensign = 
| ensign_size =
| native_name = 
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = 
| nearest_town = [[Milton, Florida|Milton]], [[Florida]]
| country = the [[United States]]
| image = File:US Navy 050713-N-1510T-011 Helicopters assigned to Training Air Wing Five (TW-5) return to Naval Air Station Whiting Field after Hurricane Dennis forced over 200 aircraft to evacuate to various bases throughout the country.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = [[TH-57 Sea Ranger]] helicopters assigned to [[Training Air Wing Five]] at NAS Whiting Field
| image2 = [[File:NAS Whiting Field.png|175px]]
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = [[Naval Air Facility|Naval Air Station]]
| coordinates = {{coord|30|42|45|N|87|01|06|W|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 Whiting Field
| pushpin_label_position = top
| pushpin_mark = 
| pushpin_marksize = 
| ownership = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
| operator = [[United States Navy|US Navy]]
| controlledby = [[Navy Region Southeast]]
| 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|1943}}
| used = 1943 – present <!--{{End date|1946}} -->
| builder = 
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| 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]] Paul N. Flores
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| garrison = [[Training Air Wing Five]]
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations = 
| website = {{Official website|https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrse/installations/nas_whiting_field/}}
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| WMO = 722226
<!--  end airfield information   -->
| footnotes = For airfield information see [[Naval Air Station Whiting Field – North|NAS Whiting Field – North]] and [[Naval Air Station Whiting Field – South|NAS Whiting Field – South]]
}}
'''Naval Air Station Whiting Field''' is a [[United States Navy]] base located near [[Milton, Florida]], with some outlying fields near [[Navarre, Florida]], in south and central [[Santa Rosa County, Florida|Santa Rosa County]], and is one of the Navy's two primary pilot training bases (the other being [[Naval Air Station Corpus Christi|NAS Corpus Christi, Texas]]).  NAS Whiting Field provides training for [[U.S. Navy]], [[U.S. Marine Corps]], [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]], and [[U.S. Air Force|Air Force]] student pilots, as well as those of several allied nations.  NAS Whiting Field is home to [[Training Air Wing Five]] (TRAWING 5).

NAS Whiting Field is actually two airfields sharing a common support base.  [[Primary Flight Training]] student aviators fly the [[Beechcraft T-6 Texan II]] from [[NAS Whiting Field - North|North Whiting Field]] (KNSE) while [[Advanced Helicopter Training]] takes place utilizing the [[TH-57 Sea Ranger]] at [[NAS Whiting Field - South|South Whiting Field]] (KNDZ).

==Namesake==
Whiting Field is named for [[Kenneth Whiting]], who was commissioned from the [[United States Naval Academy]] on 25 February 1908.  Whiting qualified in submarines, commanding {{USS|Porpoise|SS-7}}, {{USS|Shark|SS-8}}, {{USS|Tarpon|SS-175}}, and {{USS|Seal|SS-183}}. In 1914 he learned to fly under [[Orville Wright]] and was designated [[Naval Aviator]] number 16. He assumed command of the 1st Naval Air Unit in France following America's entry into [[World War I]] and was subsequently assigned to command Naval Air Stations 14 and 15 at [[RNAS Killingholme]], [[England]]. He was awarded the [[Navy Cross (United States)|Navy Cross]] "for exceptionally meritorious service in a duty of great responsibility."  After the war he was partially responsible for the conversion of collier ''Jupiter'' into the Navy's first aircraft carrier {{USS|Langley|CV-1}}. He subsequently commanded ''Langley'' and {{USS|Saratoga|CV-3}}, and various air squadrons prior to his retirement as captain in June 1940.

==Operations==
North Field is used solely for [[T-6 Texan II]] fixed-wing, primary flight training operations. Students from the United States Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, and Air Force (as well as exchange students from various allied nations) go through the T-6B [[Joint Primary Aircraft Training System]] syllabus.

South Field is utilized for United States Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Coast Guard, and select NATO/Allied students in the Advanced Helicopter pipeline, flying the [[TH-57 Sea Ranger]]. Upon completion of this syllabus U.S. students will become designated as [[Naval Aviator]]s and assigned to their respective [[Fleet Replacement Squadron]] (FRS) or the Coast Guard Aviation Training Center in Mobile, Alabama for follow-on-training.

==Squadrons==
[[File:T-28Bs from VT-2 Whiting field 1967.jpg|thumb|T-28s from VT-2 at Whiting field in 1967.]] [[file:T-28 BuNo 137648 VT-2.jpg|thumb|T-28B from Whiting Field in 1967]]
{|
! T-6B Texan II !! TH-57 Sea Ranger
|-
|valign=top|
*VT-2 Doerbirds
*VT-3 Red Knights
*[[VT-6|VT-6 Shooters]]
|valign=top|
*[[HT-8|HT-8 Eightballers]]
*[[HT-18|HT-18 Vigilant Eagles]]
*[[HT-28|HT-28 Hellions]]
|}

==Outlying Fields==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Fixed Wing Fields
|-
! Name !! State !! Coordinates !! Notes
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Barin|NOLF Barin]] || AL<ref name="NASWF">{{cite web|url=https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrse/installations/nas_whiting_field/om/operations/|title=Operations|publisher=CNIC - U.S. Navy|date=July 20, 2020}}</ref> || {{Coord|30|23|21|N|87|38|07|W|display=inline}} ||  Primary Student Solo Field: Area 1
|-
| [[Brewton Municipal Airport|NOLF Brewton]]  || AL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|31|03|03|N|87|03|57|W|display=inline}} || Secondary Student Solo Field: Area 2
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Choctaw|NOLF Choctaw]] || FL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|30|33|N|86|57|28|W|display=inline}} ||  
|-
| [[Middleton Field|NOLF Evergreen]] || AL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|31|24|53|N|87|02|40|W|display=inline}} || Primary Student Solo Field: Area 2
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Holley|NOLF Holley]] || FL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|25|32|N|86|53|42|W|display=inline}} || Closed
|-
| <s>[[Naval Outlying Landing Field Silverhill|NOLF Silverhill]]</s > || AL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|33|47|N|87|48|35|W|display=inline}} || Area 1, Closed{{efn|name=fn1|These stations are currently marked as "unverified" on [[sectional chart]]s<ref>[https://airportnavfinder.com/airport/KNQB/ AirportNavFinder.com: NOLF Silverhill]</ref><ref>[https://airportnavfinder.com/airport/KNHL/ AirportNavFinder.com: NOLF Wolf]</ref> and their [[FAA Location Identifier]]s (NQB & NHL) are no longer listed in [https://adip.faa.gov/agis/public/#/public FAA databases]. Additionally, satellite imagery shows their runways marked as closed.<ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/@30.5616234,-87.8092652,995m/data=!3m1!1e3 NOLF Silverhill (Google Earth)]</ref><ref>[https://www.google.com/maps/place/Wolf+Nolf/@30.3438927,-87.5430416,998m/data=!3m1!1e3 NOLF Wolf (Google Earth)]</ref>}}
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Summerdale|NOLF Summerdale]] || AL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|30|28|N|87|38|44|W|display=inline}} || Area 1
|-
| <s>[[Naval Outlying Landing Field Wolf|NOLF Wolf]]</s> || AL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|20|37|N|87|32|29|W|display=inline}} || Closed{{efn|name=fn1}}
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Helicopter Fields
|-
! Name !! State !! Coordinates !! Notes
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Spencer|NOLF Spencer]] || FL<ref name="NASWF"/>  || {{Coord|30|37|30|N|87|08|24|W|display=inline}} ||  
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Santa Rosa|NOLF Santa Rosa]] || FL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|36|39|N|86|56|24|W|display=inline}} ||  
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Pace|NOLF Pace]] || FL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|42|09|N|87|11|13|W|display=inline}} ||  
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Site X|NOLF Site X]] || FL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|48|49|N|87|10|04|W|display=inline}} ||  <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=108474|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201014117/https://www.navy.mil/submit/display.asp?story_id=108474|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 1, 2019|title= Navy's Newest Outlying Landing Field Open for Training Operations |publisher=U.S. Navy|date=July 20, 2020}}</ref>
|-
| [[Naval Outlying Landing Field Harold|NOLF Harold]] || FL<ref name="NASWF"/> || {{Coord|30|40|43|N|86|53|00|W|display=inline}} ||  
|}

==History==
[[File:WAVES mechanics work on a North American SNJ at Naval Auxiliary Air Station Whiting Field, circa in 1944 (80-G-K-15003).jpg|thumb|right|Mechanics working on a [[North American T-6 Texan|Texan trainer]], c. 1943]]
Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Whiting Field was commissioned on July 16, 1943, by Rear Admiral [[George D. Murray]], Commandant of the Naval Air Training Center, and the widow of Naval Captain [[Kenneth Whiting]], after whom the station was named. During construction, a [[prisoner of war]] camp was located at the station, providing additional labor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.militarybases.us/navy/nas-whiting-field/ |title=NAS Whiting Field |website=www.militarybases.us |access-date=February 23, 2015}}</ref>

Jet trainers first arrived at Whiting Field in early August 1949 when eight [[TO-1 Shooting Star]]s transferred from [[NAS Corpus Christi]], Texas as part of a new transitional jet training squadron to commence operations in September 1949, commanded by Lt. Cmdr. V. P. O'Neil, USN.<ref>Fort Walton, Florida, "''Jets Arrive At Whiting''", Playground News, Thursday 4 August 1949, Volume 4, Number 27, page 7.</ref> The [[Blue Angels]] demonstration team moved its headquarters to Whiting Field from [[NAS Corpus Christi]], Texas, in 1955.<ref>Murphy, Leo, Commander, USN, Retired, "History of Naval Aviation in Pensacola", Part 9, Meyers, Paul, producer, Cox Communications, Florida/Georgia.</ref>

In 1982, Lieutenant Commander [[Barbara Allen Rainey]], the first US female naval aviator, was killed along with a trainee at Naval Outlying Landing Field Evergreen.<ref>{{cite web | title =Lt. Cmdr. Barbara Ann Allen (Rainey) (1948–1982) | work = Aviation Pioneers : An Anthology | editor= Naughton, Russell | publisher = Hargrav | url =http://www.ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave/rainey.html | accessdate = 2023-10-18}}</ref> The subsequent product liability lawsuit led to a U.S. Supreme Court case, ''[[Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey]]''.<ref>{{ussc|name=Beech Aircraft Corp. v. Rainey|488|153|1988}}.</ref>

On Friday August 6, 2021 Training Air Wing 5 received the first one of its new training helicopter. This is the [[AgustaWestland AW119 Koala|Leonardo TH-73A Thrasher]] of Italian origin.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.navy.mil/Resources/Photo-Gallery/igphoto/2002824590/ |title=Navy's first TH-73A Thrasher arrives at NAS Whiting Field |publisher=Navy.mil |date= |accessdate=2021-11-20}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of United States Navy airfields]]
*[[NAS Whiting Field – North]] (T-6B fixed wing training only)
*[[NAS Whiting Field – South]] (TH-57 helicopter training only)

==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Notelist}}

==External links==
*{{Official website|https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrse/installations/nas_whiting_field/}}

{{US Navy navbox}}
{{Naval Air Training Command}}
{{FLMilitary}}
{{Florida airports}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:United States Naval Air Stations|Whiting Field]]
[[Category:Military installations in Florida]]
[[Category:Airports in Florida]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Santa Rosa County, Florida]]
[[Category:United States Coast Guard Air Stations]]
[[Category:Former census-designated places in Florida]]<!--through 1970-->
[[Category:Military Superfund sites]]
[[Category:Superfund sites in Florida]]
[[Category:1943 establishments in Florida]]