Nellis War Relics Symbolize Freedom, Dedication Of Military

They stand as symbols of freedom. Some are perched on concrete pedestals at parks and military bases. Others guard the entrances to American Legion and VFW posts.

The thunder from their jet engines and deafening blasts from their barrels have long been silent. Yet their sun-baked shrouds remain as reminders of their historic roles in the nations defense.

Freedom Park at Nellis Air Force Base has the most prolific display of war relics in Southern Nevada. Eight jets line the lawn at Freedom Park, spanning five decades of combat training.

Theres an F-86 Sabre from the Korean War era; an F-111A Ardvark, F-105G Thunderchief, and an F-4C Phantom from the Vietnam War; an F-100D Super Sabre from 1954 that was first to fly level, supersonic speeds; an F-5 Freedom Fighter flown by Nellis aggressors from 1972 to 1989.

Theres also an A-10 Thunderbolt from the New Orleans-based Ragin Cajuns reserve wing; and the Stealth on a Stick, a black F-117A Nighthawk that flew under a cloak of secrecy at Tonopah Test Range in the 1980s.

This is a visual history of Nellis and fighter pilots, the modern successor of knights and chivalry, said Jerry White, the 99th Air Base Wing historian.

Whether you are a pilot, maintainer, weapons guy or a G.I. or Marine in a foxhole, this means the difference between life and death, he said as he gave a preview for Independence Day of the Freedom Park display.

OTHER AIRCRAFT, ARTILLERY

The aircraft plus an F-16 Fighting Falcon outside the Thunderbirds hangar and another red-white-and-blue jet, an F-84F Thunderstreak near Creech Air Force Base, 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas, are all on loan from the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at the Wright-Patterson base in Ohio.

Similarly, a pair of towed artillery guns and a UH-1H Huey Iroquois helicopter parked at Amargosa Valley VFW Post 6826 are on loan from the Army Tank and Automotive Command in Warren, Mich.

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Nellis War Relics Symbolize Freedom, Dedication Of Military