About this Unit
Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) Crows Landing, located in California’s Central Valley, was established in 1942 as an auxiliary airfield to support the training needs of Naval Air Station Alameda during World War II. The airfield served primarily as a training base for carrier-based aircraft, with pilots practicing takeoffs and landings on its long runways. After the war, the facility continued in use for training and touch-and-go operations until the 1990s, when military activity ceased and the property was transferred to local authorities. Today, remnants of its military past remain, but the field stands as a testament to its critical role in preparing naval aviators for combat during and after World War II.
Historical Facts
• Origins as an Auxiliary Field: NALF Crows Landing was established in 1942 during World War II as an auxiliary airfield to support the busy operations of Naval Air Station Alameda.
• Role in World War II: The airfield played a vital role in pilot training and served as a base for carrier landing practice for Navy pilots preparing for deployment in the Pacific Theater.
• Carrier Landing Practice: Crows Landing’s long runways were specially marked and outfitted to simulate the decks of aircraft carriers, helping pilots perfect the demanding skill of arrested landings.
• Named After a Local Family: The site is named after the Crows family, early settlers who established a landing on the San Joaquin River, lending their name to the nearby town and the airfield.
• Postwar Use: After WWII, the airfield continued to support training and overflow operations for other Bay Area naval installations, especially during the Korean War.
• NASA Research: In the 1990s, NASA Ames Research Center used the site for experimental aircraft testing and as a remote landing strip for research flights.
• Cold War Era: During the Cold War, Crows Landing was on standby for activation in case of national emergency and was listed as an emergency landing site for military aircraft.
• Decommissioning: The field was decommissioned in 1993 and officially turned over to Stanislaus County, ending more than 50 years of military aviation history at the site.
• Distinctive Runways: The airfield featured two intersecting runways, both over 7,000 feet long, making it suitable for the largest and fastest military aircraft of its time.
• Current Status: Although no longer an active military installation, the site is occasionally used for emergency landings, law enforcement training, and has served as a location for auto racing events and television filming.
