Van Nuys Air National Guard Base
Encyclopedia
Van Nuys Air National Guard Base is a former United States Air Force
base, located at Van Nuys Airport
, California. It was originally opened in 1942 during World War II. The Air Force closed its facilities at Van Nuys in 1990.
The Van Nuys Army Airfield was placed under the jurisdiction of the IV Fighter Command
with a mission to conduct P-38 Lightning
operational unit training. On 12 August 1943, 364th Fighter Group
was activated at the new base. The 441st Army Air Force Base Unit was established in 1944 to manage the ground facilities. P-38 pilot training was discontinued in May 1945, and the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group at Hammer Field, California assumed jurisdiction of the field. It was occasionally used as an auxiliary for P-61 Black Widow
Night Fighter training.
At the end of the war the AAF Base Unit was inactivated on 31 October 1945 and the airfield was returned to civil use.
production flight test from the Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, CA, to the vacant Army Air Force Base Unit facilities at Van Nuys, and in September 1946 Lockheed moved its P-80 production flight test to the northeast corner of the airfield.
On September 16, 1946, the 62d Fighter Wing, 146th Fighter Group and 115th Bombardment Squadron (the former 115th Observation Squadron) were given Federal recognition, and flew their first missions out of of the former Army Air Forces Base Unit facilities. In 1948, several units of the new wing moved to Burbank Airport, only to return to Van Nuys a short time later, after too little ramp space at Burbank proved a hindrance to accomplishing the wing’s missions.
In 1949, the City of Los Angeles
purchased the airport from the War Assets Administration
for $1.00 and a provision for an California Air National Guard
facility for 40 years. Airport Renamed to San Fernando Valley Airport. Air National Guard was equipped with two squadrons of P-51s.
In February 1951, the 146th Fighter Wing was re-equipped with the F-86A Sabre. By July 1955 the transition from the F-51H Mustang to the Sabre was complete. The wing was re-designated a Fighter Interceptor Wing with an air defense mission for the Los Angeles area.
From 1946 through 1954 the 115th Fighter Squadron and the 195th Squadron, both part of the 146th Fighter Wing, flew P-51 Mustangs. The 115th Bombardment Squadron (Light) flew A-26 Invader
light bombers from 1946 to 1952. The 115th was stationed at Van Nuys but during part of this period was assigned to the 126th Bombardment Wing at Chicago's O'Hare field. In 1955, the Air National Guard moved into a new Air National Guard base was completed just west of the old Army Air Forces Base Unit facilities.
In 1957 the airport was renamed Van Nuys Airport and the runway extended from 6,000 ft to 8,000 feet with Sherman Way underpass. 1970 brought a new name - the 146th Tactical Airlift Wing; a new command, Tactical Air Command
; and a new aircraft - the Lockheed C-130 Hercules
.
By March 1990, all but a small remnant of wing personnel had transferred operations to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
. Shortly thereafter, the old Van Nuys facility was closed and turned over to the City of Los Angeles. On April 30, 1990, the flag at Van Nuys ANG Base was lowered for the last time during a special ceremony.
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
base, located at Van Nuys Airport
Van Nuys Airport
Van Nuys Airport is a public airport located in Van Nuys in the San Fernando Valley section of the city limits of Los Angeles, California, United States. No major commercial airlines fly into this airport; it is used by private, chartered, and small commercial aircraft...
, California. It was originally opened in 1942 during World War II. The Air Force closed its facilities at Van Nuys in 1990.
History
The airport was established sometime in the 1920s and 1930s as Van Nuys Metropolitan Airport. It was utilized by Timm Aircraft Corp. which built military trainer planes and cargo gliders.World War II
In 1942, the War Department acquired the airport, purchasing the facility for $302,287.00. In addition to the airport, an additional 163 acres purchased on the west side for a support base. The support base consisted of more than one hundred buildings, all intended to be temporary. Station buildings and streets were also constructed, the buildings consisting primarily of wood, tar paper, and non-masonry siding. The use of concrete and steel was limited because of the critical need elsewhere. Most buildings were hot and dusty in the summer and very cold in the winter. Water, sewer and electrical services were also constructed. Initially there was no paving to the streets, compressed earth served immediate needs. The airfield had two sub-bases; Grand Central Air Terminal, Glendale Airport and Oxnard Flight Strip.The Van Nuys Army Airfield was placed under the jurisdiction of the IV Fighter Command
IV Fighter Command
The IV Fighter Command is an inactive United States Air Force unit. It was last assigned to Fourth Air Force, based at Oakland Airport, California...
with a mission to conduct P-38 Lightning
P-38 Lightning
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft built by Lockheed. Developed to a United States Army Air Corps requirement, the P-38 had distinctive twin booms and a single, central nacelle containing the cockpit and armament...
operational unit training. On 12 August 1943, 364th Fighter Group
364th Fighter Group
The 364th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces, being stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945....
was activated at the new base. The 441st Army Air Force Base Unit was established in 1944 to manage the ground facilities. P-38 pilot training was discontinued in May 1945, and the 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group at Hammer Field, California assumed jurisdiction of the field. It was occasionally used as an auxiliary for P-61 Black Widow
P-61 Black Widow
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first operational U.S. military aircraft designed specifically for night interception of aircraft, and was the first aircraft specifically designed to use radar. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II...
Night Fighter training.
At the end of the war the AAF Base Unit was inactivated on 31 October 1945 and the airfield was returned to civil use.
Air National Guard Use
By March 1946, Lockheed had moved its P-80 Shooting StarP-80 Shooting Star
The Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star was the first jet fighter used operationally by the United States Army Air Forces. Designed in 1943 as a response to the German Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighter, and delivered in just 143 days from the start of the design process, production models were flying but...
production flight test from the Lockheed Air Terminal, Burbank, CA, to the vacant Army Air Force Base Unit facilities at Van Nuys, and in September 1946 Lockheed moved its P-80 production flight test to the northeast corner of the airfield.
On September 16, 1946, the 62d Fighter Wing, 146th Fighter Group and 115th Bombardment Squadron (the former 115th Observation Squadron) were given Federal recognition, and flew their first missions out of of the former Army Air Forces Base Unit facilities. In 1948, several units of the new wing moved to Burbank Airport, only to return to Van Nuys a short time later, after too little ramp space at Burbank proved a hindrance to accomplishing the wing’s missions.
In 1949, the City of Los Angeles
City of Los Angeles
The City of Los Angeles was a streamlined passenger train that ran between Chicago, Illinois, and Los Angeles, California, via Omaha, Nebraska, and Ogden, Utah. Between Omaha and Los Angeles it ran on the Union Pacific Railroad; east of Omaha it ran on the Chicago and North Western Railway until...
purchased the airport from the War Assets Administration
War Assets Administration
The War Assets Administration was established in the Office for Emergency Management, effective March 25, 1946, by EO 9689, January 31, 1946. American factorieshad produced massive amounts of weaponry during the World War II...
for $1.00 and a provision for an California Air National Guard
California Air National Guard
The California Air National Guard is the air component of the California National Guard. The California Air National Guard is headquartered at Sacramento, California.One of the duties of the California Air National Guard is defense of the United States...
facility for 40 years. Airport Renamed to San Fernando Valley Airport. Air National Guard was equipped with two squadrons of P-51s.
In February 1951, the 146th Fighter Wing was re-equipped with the F-86A Sabre. By July 1955 the transition from the F-51H Mustang to the Sabre was complete. The wing was re-designated a Fighter Interceptor Wing with an air defense mission for the Los Angeles area.
From 1946 through 1954 the 115th Fighter Squadron and the 195th Squadron, both part of the 146th Fighter Wing, flew P-51 Mustangs. The 115th Bombardment Squadron (Light) flew A-26 Invader
A-26 Invader
The Douglas A-26 Invader was a United States twin-engined light attack bomber built by the Douglas Aircraft Co. during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War's major conflicts...
light bombers from 1946 to 1952. The 115th was stationed at Van Nuys but during part of this period was assigned to the 126th Bombardment Wing at Chicago's O'Hare field. In 1955, the Air National Guard moved into a new Air National Guard base was completed just west of the old Army Air Forces Base Unit facilities.
In 1957 the airport was renamed Van Nuys Airport and the runway extended from 6,000 ft to 8,000 feet with Sherman Way underpass. 1970 brought a new name - the 146th Tactical Airlift Wing; a new command, Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command
Tactical Air Command is an inactive United States Air Force organization. It was a Major Command of the United States Air Force, established on 21 March 1946 being headquartered at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia...
; and a new aircraft - the Lockheed C-130 Hercules
C-130 Hercules
The Lockheed C-130 Hercules is a four-engine turboprop military transport aircraft designed and built originally by Lockheed, now Lockheed Martin. Capable of using unprepared runways for takeoffs and landings, the C-130 was originally designed as a troop, medical evacuation, and cargo transport...
.
By March 1990, all but a small remnant of wing personnel had transferred operations to Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
Channel Islands Air National Guard Station
Channel Islands Air National Guard Station is the home base of the California Air National Guard 146th Airlift Wing. It is also the headquarters of the California Air National Guard...
. Shortly thereafter, the old Van Nuys facility was closed and turned over to the City of Los Angeles. On April 30, 1990, the flag at Van Nuys ANG Base was lowered for the last time during a special ceremony.
Known units assigned
- 441st Army Air Force Base Unit, 1944-1945 (Ground station support)
- 364th Fighter Group364th Fighter GroupThe 364th Fighter Group is an inactive United States Army Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with the Army Service Forces, being stationed at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey. It was inactivated on 10 November 1945....
, 12 August 1943 to 11 October 1943 - 474th Fighter Group, 1 October 1943 to 4 January 1944
- 481st Night Fighter Operational Training Group, May-November 1945
- 146th Fighter Group, California Air National Guard
- Extended Federal recognition and activated, 16 September 1946
- Re-designated: 146th Composite Wing, October 1950
- Re-designated: 146th Fighter Wing, 1 January 1953
- Re-designated: 146th Fighter-Interceptor Wing, July 1955
- Re-designated: 146th Air Transportation Wing (Heavy), 1960
- Re-designated: 146th Military Airlift Wing, January 1966
- Re-designated: 146th Tactical Airlift Wing, 1970
- Inactivated 31 March 1990
- 195th Fighter Squadron, 1946-1948, 1949-
- Re-designated: 195th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1955
- Re-designated: 195th Air Transport Squadron, 1960
- Re-designated: 195th Military Airlift Squadron, 1966
- Re-designated: 195th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 1970-1983
- Designation re-assigned to: Arizona Air National GuardArizona Air National GuardThe Arizona Air National Guard is the branch of the United States Air National Guard operating within the state of Arizona. It was founded by Barry Goldwater, and was integrated two years before President Truman's military integration order.-Units:...
195th Tactical Fighter Training Squadron, 1983- 115th Bombardment Squadron, 1946-1948
- Re-designated: 115th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, 1949
- Re-designated: 115th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, 1955
- Re-designated: 115th Air Transport Squadron, 1960
- Re-designated: 115th Military Airlift Squadron, 1966
- Re-designated: 115th Tactical Airlift Squadron, 1970-1983