View source for Naval Air Station Fallon

{{Short description|Military air base and training facility near Fallon, Nevada, USA}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox military installation
| name = Naval Air Station Fallon
| ensign = 
| ensign_size =
| native_name = Van Voorhis Field
| partof = <!-- for elements within a larger site -->
| location = 
| nearest_town = [[Fallon, Nevada|Fallon]], [[Nevada]]
| country = the [[United States]]
| image = File:F-16A NSAWC at NAS Fallon fron view.jpg
| alt = 
| caption = A U.S. Navy [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon|F-16A Fighting Falcon]] of the [[Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center]] based at NAS Fallon
| image2 = [[File:NAS Fallon emblem.svg|175px]]
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| type = [[Naval Air Station#United States Navy|Naval Air Station]]
| coordinates = {{coord|39|25|30|N|118|42|10|W|region:US-NV|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 Fallon
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_mark = 
| pushpin_marksize = 
| ownership = [[United States Department of Defense|Department of Defense]]
| operator = [[United States Navy|U.S. 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 = [[Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center]]
| site_area = <!-- area of site m2, km2 square mile etc -->
| code = <!--facility/installation code, applies to U.S. -->
| built = {{Start date|1942}}
| used = 1942 – 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]] Michael J. Haymon
| past_commanders = <!-- past notable commander(s) -->
| occupants = <!-- squadrons only -->
| designations = 
| website = {{Official website|https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrsw/installations/nas_fallon/|cnic.navy.mil/regions/cnrsw/installations/nas_fallon}}
<!-- begin airfield information  -->
| IATA = NFL
| ICAO = KNFL
| FAA = NFL
| TC = 
| LID = 
| GPS = 
| WMO = 692364
| elevation = {{Convert|1199.3|m|0}}
| r1-number = 13R/31L
| r1-length = {{Convert|4267.5|m|0}}
| r1-surface = [[Asphalt concrete|asphalt]]
| r2-number = 13L/31R
| r2-length = {{Convert|3375.9|m|0}}
| r2-surface = [[concrete]]
| r3-number = 7/25
| r3-length = {{Convert|2134.2|m|0}}
| r3-surface = asphalt
| 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=NFL}}</ref>
}}'''Naval Air Station Fallon''' or '''NAS Fallon''' {{Airport codes|NFL|KNFL|NFL}} is the [[United States Navy]]'s premier air-to-air and air-to-ground training facility. It is located southeast of the city of [[Fallon, Nevada|Fallon]], east of [[Reno]] in western [[Nevada]]. Since 1996, it has been home to the [[United States Navy Fighter Weapons School|U.S. Navy-Fighter Weapons School]] (TOPGUN) taking over from the former NAS Miramar, California, and the surrounding area contains {{convert|240000|acre}} of bombing and [[electronic warfare]] ranges. It is also home to the [[Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center|Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center]] (NAWDC), which includes TOPGUN, the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS), and the Navy Rotary Wing Weapons School. [[United States Navy SEALs|Navy SEAL]] and [[Combat Search and Rescue]] (CSAR) training also take place there.

The airfield is named Van Voorhis Field in honor of Commander [[Bruce Van Voorhis]] (1908–1943), who was posthumously awarded the [[Medal of Honor]].

==History==
The [[airfield]] at NAS Fallon was originally built in 1942 as part of a defensive network to repel a feared [[Japan]]ese invasion of the west coast. It was soon taken over by the Navy for training use and has been used as such ever since with the exception of the period of 1946 to 1951, during which it was used by the [[Bureau of Indian Affairs]]. During the years prior to 1972, the base was known as Naval Auxiliary Air Station and was heavily used during the Vietnam War by various squadrons that rotated through the base before deploying to carriers headed for the Vietnam theater. During these same years prior to 1972, many ground troops were temporarily assigned to NAS Fallon for their hot weather training (during the summer months) and cold weather training (during the winter months). On January 1, 1972, the Navy recognized NAS&nbsp;Fallon's importance to naval aviation by upgrading the base from auxiliary air station status to a major aviation command as a full-fledged [[naval air station]]. While NAS&nbsp;Fallon provides training for visiting [[carrier air wing]]s, Strike Fighter Squadron&nbsp;127 ([[VFA-127]]), the "Desert Bogeys", was the air station's only permanently based squadron from October 1987 until it was disestablished on March 23, 1996.

[[Image:NFL - FAA airport diagram.gif|thumb|right]]

The Navy relocated its [[Navy Fighter Weapons School]], or TOPGUN, from [[NAS Miramar]] to NAS Fallon in 1996, following the transfer of NAS&nbsp;Miramar to the [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]] and its redesignation as [[MCAS Miramar]]. This move resulted in the construction of a new ramp, hangars and academic buildings. The new command, [[Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center]] (NSAWC), was established on July 11, 1996, and was a unification of TOPGUN, Strike University (Strike U), the Naval Strike Warfare Center, and TOPDOME, the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School. In addition to transferring the NSAWC squadron, a [[United States Navy Reserve|Navy Reserve]] adversary squadron, Fighter Squadron Composite THIRTEEN ([[VFC-13]]), the "Fighting Saints," was also permanently relocated from its former base at NAS&nbsp;Miramar to NAS&nbsp;Fallon. As a result, [[VFC-13]] replaced the disestablished VFA-127 in the fighter adversary role.

Associated bombing ranges checker the surrounding [[Lahontan Valley]] and [[Dixie Valley]], which is the next valley to the east. Dixie Valley also contains a simulated air defense network, including approximately 20&nbsp;operational [[radar]] installations. Many demilitarized [[armored vehicle]]s, including some exotics, have been scattered throughout the area, presumably for ambiance. Most of this area is publicly accessible, with the exception of areas immediately surrounding the radar installations. The entire training area surrounding NAS Fallon is known as the [[Fallon Range Training Complex]] (FRTC).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Regions/cnrsw/installations/nas_fallon/about/fallon_range_training_complex/|title=Fallon Range Training Complex|website=www.cnic.navy.mil}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/fallon-trc.htm|title=Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC)|website=www.globalsecurity.org}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

===USAF Radar Station===
Between 1956 and 1975, the [[United States Air Force]] [[Air Defense Command]] (ADC) operated a General Surveillance Radar station at NAS Fallon. The Air Force area was named '''Fallon Air Force Station'''<ref name=cj171>Cornett & Johnson, p. 171</ref> (AFS) and designated ADC site SM-156 (later NORAD site Z-156). The [[858th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron]] moved to Fallon AFS from [[Hamilton Air Force Base]] (AFB), California<ref name=cj171/> in the south central section of NAS Fallon in 1956. It initially activated [[AN/MPS-7]] search and [[AN/MPS-14]] height-finder radar sets, and initially the station functioned as a [[Ground control intercept|Ground Control Intercept]] (GCI) and warning station. As a GCI station, the [[Squadron (aviation)|squadron]]'s role was to guide [[interceptor aircraft]] toward unidentified [[Intruder (air combat)|intruders]] picked up on the unit's [[radar]] scopes. An [[AN/FPS-3]] search set briefly saw service in 1959.

[[File:A-7 Corsair II at Fallon NAS Air Park Museum Crop.jpg|thumb|left|A [[VFA-97|VA-97]] [[LTV A-7 Corsair II|A-7 Corsair II]] at Naval Air Station Fallon Nevada US Air Park Museum that was on the [[USS Coral Sea (CV-43)|USS ''Coral Sea'']] flown by Vice Admiral [[Andrew L. Lewis (admiral)|Andrew ("Woody") L. Lewis]] |alt=]]

During 1962, Fallon AFS joined the [[Semi Automatic Ground Environment]] (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-16 at [[Stead AFB]], Nevada. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 858th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on December 1, 1962.<ref name=cj171/> The radar squadron provided information 24/7 to the SAGE Direction Center, where it was analyzed to determine range, direction, altitude, speed, and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile. Also, in this time frame, the radar site was relocated from the original location in the south central part of Naval Air Station Fallon's grounds to the far southwest corner. At the new SAGE radar site, the squadron used an [[AN/FPS-35]] search radar that replaced the AN/MPS-7 set in 1963. In 1964, an [[AN/FPS-6]] height-finder radar was added.

In addition to the main facility at NAS Fallon, the squadron also operated a remote [[AN/FPS-14]] gap filler site:
* Gabbs, NV (SM-156A): {{Coord|38|46|28|N|118|01|17|W|display=inline|name=SM-156A}}

Around 1965, NAS Fallon became an [[FAA]]/ADC joint-use facility. The AN/MPS-14 radar was retired in 1969. In the early 1970s, the AN/FPS-35 was replaced with an [[AN/FPS-66]]A.

Over the years, the equipment at the station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by radars. The 858th Radar Sq. was inactivated and replaced by the 858th Air Defense Group in March 1970.<ref name=cj86>Cornett & Johnson. p.86</ref> The upgrade to [[Group (military aviation unit)|group]] status was done because of Fallon AFS' status as a [[Backup Interceptor Control]] (BUIC) master control center site. BUIC sites were alternate control sites if SAGE Direction Centers became disabled and unable to control interceptor aircraft.<ref>Winkler & Webster, p. 41</ref> The group was inactivated and replaced by the 858th Radar Squadron.<ref name=cj171/><ref name=cj86/> as defenses against manned bombers were reduced only to be inactivated in June 1975.<ref name=cj171/> The group was disbanded in 1984.<ref>Department of the Air Force/MPM Letter 575q, 27 Sep 1984, Subject: Disbandment of Units</ref> The FAA retained the AN/FPS-66A search radar, still in-use today and is networked into the [[Joint Surveillance System]] (JSS); the radar tower still is painted with red-and-white checkerboard.

==Museum==
The Navy maintains '''Naval Air Station Fallon Air Park''' museum on the base.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aviationmuseum.eu/Blogvorm/naval-air-station-fallon-air-park/|title=Naval Air Station Fallon Air Park |date=23 September 2016 |access-date=November 28, 2019}}</ref>

==Search and rescue team==
Since 1972, the base has had its own search and rescue team. Originally named Desert Angels and later renamed Longhorns, the team's mission was to provide search and rescue support for visiting Carrier Air Wings and other NAS Fallon tenant commands. The Longhorns flew the Bell UH-1N from 1972 to 2009 and the Sikorsky SH-60F from 2009 to 2011.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}} The team flew the Sikorsky MH-60S until its disestabliment in 2022 when SAR responsibilities shifted to the Naval Aviation Warfare Development Command's Navy Rotary Wing Weapons School.<ref name="AFMNOV21-95">{{cite book|title=[[AirForces Monthly]]|date=November 2021|publisher=[[Key Publishing|Key Publishing Ltd]]|location=[[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]], [[Lincolnshire]], [[England]]|pages=95}}</ref> The Longhorns frequently supported civilian search, rescue and medical evacuation efforts in conjunction with local law enforcement, medical and search and rescue agencies.{{Citation needed|date=October 2021}}

==Gallery==

<gallery caption="" widths="220px" heights="150px">
File:Naval Air Station Fallon TDY 141113-Z-WT236-030.jpg|A 157th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon prepares for a mission, November 2014.
File:Naval Air Station Fallon TDY 141112-Z-WT236-013.jpg|A 157th Fighter Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off, November 2014.
File:SAR MH-60S at Naval Air Station Fallon in May 2015.JPG|A U.S. Navy Sikorsky MH-60S ''Sea Hawk'' helicopter (BuNo 165769) attached to the "Longhorns"
</gallery>

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

== References ==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
* {{AFHRA}}
* {{cite book|last=Cornett|first=Lloyd H|author2=Johnson, Mildred W|title=A Handbook of Aerospace Defense Organization, 1946–1980|url=http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf|year=1980|publisher=Office of History, Aerospace Defense Center|location=Peterson AFB, CO|archive-date=2016-02-13|access-date=2011-12-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213173347/http://www.usafpatches.com/pubs/handbookofadcorg.pdf|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite book|last=Winkler|first=David F.|author2=Webster, Julie L|title=Searching the skies: The legacy of the United States Cold War Defense Radar Program|url= http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bn/GetTRDoc?Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf&AD=ADA331231 |year=1997|publisher=US Army Construction Engineering Research Laboratories|location=Champaign, IL|lccn=97020912}}{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|last=Leonard|first=Barry|title=History of Strategic Air and Ballistic Missile Defense|url= http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/bmd/BMDV2.pdf |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100608103023/http://www.history.army.mil/html/books/bmd/BMDV2.pdf |url-status= dead |archive-date= June 8, 2010 |volume= II, 1955–1972|year=2009|publisher=Center for Military History|location=Fort McNair, DC|isbn=978-1437921311}} (USAF Radar site)
* STRIKE: U.S. Naval Strike Warfare Center (Presidio Press, {{ISBN|0891413200}}) by John Joss, photography by George Hall.

==External links==
* {{FAA-diagram|00143}}
* {{FAA-procedures|NFL}}
*{{US-airport-mil|NFL}}
* {{HABS |survey=NV-33-A |id=nv0242 |title=Naval Air Station Fallon, 100-man Fallout Shelter, 800 Complex, off Carson Road near intersection of Pasture & Berney Roads, Fallon, Churchill County, NV |photos=16 |data=9 |cap=1}}
* {{HABS |survey=NV-33-B |id=nv0323 |title=Naval Air Station Fallon, Power Plant, 800 Complex |photos=23 |data=8 |cap=2 |link=no}}
* {{HABS |survey=NV-33-C |id=nv0324 |title=Naval Air Station Fallon, Fuel Tanks, 800 Complex |photos=10 |data=7 |cap=1 |link=no}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fallon}}
[[Category:United States Naval Air Stations|Fallon]]
[[Category:Airports in Nevada]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Churchill County, Nevada]]
[[Category:Military installations in Nevada]]
[[Category:Military airbases established in 1942]]
[[Category:Historic American Buildings Survey in Nevada]]
[[Category:1942 establishments in Nevada]]