LAS VEGAS (KLAS) — In honor of National Aviation Week, 8 News Now reporter JC Fernandez was live Wednesday morning from Freedom Park inside Nellis AFB with Dan Wheaton, historian for the 57th Wing.
Wheaton began by outlining the history of Freedom Park, an outdoor museum on the base that displays aircraft retired from active service.
He also shared the story of Nellis Air Force Base itself, which first opened in 1941 as the Las Vegas Army Airfield. It was later renamed to honor 1st Lieutenant William Harrell Nellis, a Las Vegas native and World War II fighter pilot who lost his life in combat in 1944.
Wheaton showcased some of the impressive static aircraft on display, including:
- Fairchild A-10A Warthog
- General Dynamics F-111A Aardvark
- Lockheed YF-117A Night Hawk
- McDonnell F-4C Phantom II
- North American F-86E Sabre
- North American F-100D Super Sabre
- Northrop F-5E Tiger II
- Republic F-105G Thunderchief
Each aircraft has its history of missions and has played a role in shaping our military’s past…