Naval Air Station Pensacola

Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola is a United States Navy installation located adjacent to Warrington, Florida, southwest of Pensacola. The site was established in 1825 as the Pensacola Navy Yard by President John Quincy Adams and Secretary of the Navy Samuel Southard. During the antebellum period, the facility utilized enslaved labor for ship construction, repair, and general labor. In January 1861, the yard surrendered to secessionist forces. It was reduced to rubble by retreating Confederate troops in 1862 and subsequently rebuilt following the Civil War. The location was designated as a naval aeronautical station in 1914, becoming the first permanent facility for naval aviation training.

The base is operated by the US Navy under the direction of Navy Region Southeast. It serves as the primary training center for US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard officers pursuing designation as naval aviators and naval flight officers. It also provides advanced training for naval flight officers. NAS Pensacola hosts the Naval Education and Training Command, the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, and the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATTC). NATTC provides technical instruction for enlisted aircraft maintenance and aircrew specialties across the US Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.

Flight operations are conducted at Forrest Sherman Field. The air station hosts Training Air Wing SIX and the United States Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. Aircraft types operating from the facility include F/A-18 Super Hornets and C-130T Hercules. Tenant units include the United States Air Force 479th Flying Training Group, which operates squadrons of T-6A Texan II and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft. The base also houses the 2nd German Air Force Training Squadron USA and USAF Detachment 1 of the 359th Training Squadron. Additional facilities include the National Naval Aviation Museum and Barrancas National Cemetery.