Nellis Air Force Base, Military air base in Clark County, Nevada, United States
Nellis Air Force Base is a military airfield in Clark County, Nevada, featuring two parallel concrete runways. The taxiways connect hangars, maintenance facilities, and large open parking areas for different aircraft types across the sprawling grounds.
The site opened in 1941 as Las Vegas Army Airfield and trained gunners for bombers during World War II. After the war the facility was renamed in 1950 for the fallen pilot and later became the main site for tactical air combat exercises.
The facility carries the name of William Harrell Nellis, a fighter pilot from Las Vegas who died in combat over Europe in 1944. Its military tradition appears in squadron emblems and memorials along the access roads that honor past units and fallen airmen.
Access is restricted to authorized personnel and escorted visitors with prior clearance. Photography is prohibited outside publicly accessible areas, so keep cameras stowed except in approved zones.
The grounds host annual multi-day exercises involving participants from several countries, running realistic combat scenarios over the adjoining training range. Observers sometimes spot aircraft in unusual formations or camouflage schemes near the city when these drills are underway.
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