About this Unit
Naval Air Station (NAS) Lemoore, located in California’s San Joaquin Valley, was commissioned in 1961 to serve as the U.S. Navy’s premier West Coast master jet base. Designed to support advanced jet operations, it quickly became the primary home for Pacific Fleet strike fighter squadrons. Over the decades, NAS Lemoore has hosted various aircraft, transitioning from the F-4 Phantom II, to the F-14 Tomcat, and currently the F/A-18 Hornet and F-35C Lightning II. The base continues to play a critical role in naval aviation training, operations, and power projection in the Pacific region.
Historical Facts
• Commissioned in 1961: Naval Air Station Lemoore (NAS Lemoore) was officially commissioned on July 8, 1961, and has since served as the U.S. Navy’s premier master jet base on the West Coast.
• Strategic Location: The base is located in California’s San Joaquin Valley, chosen for its clear weather, flat terrain, and relative isolation, ideal for safe and effective jet operations.
• Home to the F/A-18: NAS Lemoore is best known as the home of the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet strike fighter squadrons, making it the largest carrier-based strike fighter base in the U.S. Navy.
• Runway Design: The base features two parallel runways, each 13,500 feet long — some of the longest in the Navy — allowing simultaneous launch and recovery operations.
• Expansion for the F-35C: In the late 2010s, NAS Lemoore became the West Coast home for the new F-35C Lightning II, the Navy’s next-generation carrier-based stealth fighter.
• Carrier Air Wings: NAS Lemoore supports multiple carrier air wings, including Carrier Air Wing TWO (CVW-2) and Carrier Air Wing NINE (CVW-9), with squadrons regularly deploying to aircraft carriers in the Pacific Fleet.
• Training and Readiness: The station is a key site for pilot and aircrew training, including the Fleet Replacement Squadrons (VFA-122 and VFA-125), which train new Super Hornet and F-35C pilots and maintainers.
• Economic Impact: NAS Lemoore is one of the largest employers in the region, supporting over 7,000 military personnel, 1,300 civilians, and thousands of dependents, significantly impacting the local economy.
• Presidential Visit: In 2016, President Barack Obama landed at NAS Lemoore aboard Air Force One, highlighting the base’s importance as a major military transportation hub in California.
• Community Involvement: The base is known for its deep ties with the surrounding communities, hosting annual air shows, educational tours, and charity events to foster civilian-military relations.
