Kelly Silveria

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.

Attack Squadron 55 (VA-55), also known as the "Warhorses," was a distinguished U.S. Navy attack squadron established in 1943. Initially designated as Torpedo Squadron VT-5, it served with distinction during World War II, participating in key Pacific campaigns aboard aircraft carriers such as USS Yorktown (CV-10). Over its history, VA-55 was re-designated multiple times and flew various aircraft, including the TBM Avenger, A-1 Skyraider, and A-4 Skyhawk. The squadron saw combat in the Korean and Vietnam Wars before it was disestablished in 1975.