Naval Air Station Key West is located in the southwestern part of Florida. A naval base was established in the area to counter piracy in 1823. It was expanded substantially in 1846 during the Mexican-American War. During the American-Spanish War of 1898, the entire American Atlantic fleet was based here. During the First World War, seaplanes and airships were based in Key West. They were supposed to counter German submarines off the coast of Florida. Before the surrender of Germany, more than 500 naval pilots and aviation specialists were trained at the base.
The first Coast Guard aircraft stationed at Key West was the Curtiss N-9 float biplane, which arrived on September 22, 1917. A two-seater aircraft with a 150 hp water-cooled engine. developed a maximum speed of 126 km / h.
Patrol "Curtiss" were involved in the search for German submarines that surfaced to charge batteries. At first glance, it might seem that a fragile biplane armed with one machine gun did not pose a particular threat to enemy submarines, but the observer pilot had several light bombs at his disposal. Due to the low speed of the aircraft, during the tests, manually dropped bombs could be placed in a circle with a diameter of 5 meters. In the event of an attack on a surfaced submarine, even these small-caliber bombs posed a real danger to it.
During the interwar period, Key West Naval Aviation Station continued to be a training center for pilots, observer pilots and technicians. On December 15, 1940, the base became one of the main training centers for the aviation of the Navy, and a large-scale construction of runways and technical hangars began here.
By 1943, the main capital structures of the air base took on their present form. At Key West, capital hangars and three concrete strips were built: one 3048 m long and two 2134 m long.
The base trained flight and technical personnel for hydroaviation, coastal and deck-based aircraft. In 1943, coastal anti-submarine Douglas B-18 Bolo and Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina seaplanes tracked German submarines off the coast of Florida.
After the end of the war, the base continued to be used for training naval aviation personnel. In 1946, the 1st test squadron of the Center for Operational and Combat Tests of Naval Aviation was formed here. This unit was engaged in assessing the effectiveness of anti-submarine weapons: acoustic buoys, helicopter hydrophones lowered into the water and anti-submarine torpedoes.
In mid-1962, the 671st radar squadron was deployed to Key West, serving the AN / FPS-37 radar and the AN / FPS-6 radio altimeter. After the start of the Caribbean Crisis, the airbase became the front line of the Cold War. The P-2 Neptune patrol aircraft and the P-5 Marlin seaplanes that participated in the blockade of Cuba were based here.
The crews of the radars deployed here were on alert on high alert. They were entrusted with the task of detecting missile launches and taking off of Il-28 bombers from the "Island of Freedom". To protect against front-line cruise missiles FKR-1 and bombers in the vicinity of the airbase deployed batteries of air defense systems "Nike-Hercules" and "Hawk".
As you know, in the 70s, almost all positions of the air defense system in the continental part of the United States were dismantled. But in Florida, they remained until the last moment, despite the fact that Soviet missiles were withdrawn from Cuba. Moreover, in the second half of the 60s, Key West upgraded the existing ones and added new AN / FPS-67 all-round radars and AN / FPS-90 altimeters. The Americans were seriously afraid of the Soviet long-range Tu-95 bombers, which could use the Cuban runways as jump airfields. Operation of the AN / FPS-67 and AN / FPS-90 radars ended in 1988.
Now the airspace in this area is controlled by an automated stationary three-coordinate radar ARSR-4 with a detection range of high-altitude targets of 450 km.
In 1973, the headquarters of the 1st Shock and Reconnaissance Wing settled at the Key West airbase. The air wing was armed with reconnaissance aircraft: RA-5C Vigilante, TA-3B Skywarrior and TA-4F / J Skyhawk.
I would also like to dwell on the RA-5C aircraft. For the early 60s, Vigilent was a unique machine. This large, heavy and very high-tech for its time two-seater twin-engine aircraft, deck-based, had outstanding flight data. During its creation, many technical solutions were applied that were not previously used in other aircraft. To control the A-5, fly-by-wire systems were used. For the first time in American aviation, bucket-shaped adjustable air intakes were used. "Vigilent" became the first carrier-based aircraft, which had an internal bomb bay, a wing without ailerons (instead of them spoilers and a differentially deflected stabilizer were used) and an all-turning vertical tail.
For its size and weight, the A-5 had unexpectedly good maneuverability and could make supersonic throws when breaking through air defense. The aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 28 550 kg had a combat radius of 1580 km without PTB. When breaking through air defense in a supersonic flight mode, the radius was 1260 km. At an altitude of 12,000 meters, the aircraft developed a speed of 2124 km / h, at the ground - 1296 km / h. Vigelant flying at supersonic speed in the 60s was not vulnerable to interceptor fighters.
But, as is often the case, the payment for high performance was very complex and expensive maintenance. The A-5 was originally created for the delivery of nuclear weapons, but the admirals of the US Navy in the conditions of the war in Indochina needed a versatile, simple, and possibly inexpensive carrier-based bomber. In addition, the rather large Vigelant took up too much space on the aircraft carrier. Two Skyhawks could be accommodated in the same area.
As a result, the command of the US Navy chose the Grumman A-6 Intruder as a carrier-based bomber, and converted the existing Vigilents into scouts. In this role, the plane was not bad. In addition, the fleet required far fewer scouts than strike vehicles, and high operating costs did not play a decisive role. The Vigilent's low vulnerability to air defense systems in the target area was largely guaranteed by its high supersonic flight speed. Eight of the ten RA-5C reconnaissance squadrons participated in 32 combat missions of aircraft carriers. According to American data, 17 aircraft were lost from the impact of anti-aircraft guns and air defense systems in Vietnam, another Vigilent was shot down by a MiG-21 interceptor.
After the end of hostilities in Indochina, the RA-5C began to be decommissioned. In peacetime, the maintenance of an expensive and complex aircraft became too burdensome. In the late 70s, "Vigilents" from the decks of aircraft carriers for the most part migrated to coastal airfields, and in 1980 the last reconnaissance RA-5C was finally withdrawn from service.
In the mid-70s, the 33rd Electronic Warfare Training Squadron moved from the Norfolk naval base to Key West. In Florida, the technicians and personnel of the electronic warfare squadron tested new jamming equipment and simulated various electronic threats in the exercises of the fleet and naval aviation. Some vehicles bore red stars along with the US Navy insignia.
Squadron 33 had 4 ERA-3B Skywarrior, 4 EA-4F Skyhawk, one EF-4B and one EF-4J Phantom II, and one NC-121K Warning Star. The electronic warfare squadron assembled aircraft unique to the US Navy. So, only 8 aircraft were converted into the ERA-3B Skywarrior. All Skyhawks modified for jamming, like the Navy Phantoms of a similar purpose, were based in Key West. Until 1982, the last piston giant, the Warning Star, operated as part of the VAQ-33.
In 1978, 33 Squadron added four EA-6A Electric Intruders, donated by the Marine Corps. These machines, like the ERA-3B, were the last to be operated by the US Navy until the squadron was liquidated on October 1, 1993.
After the NC-121K was decommissioned, the squadron received two EP-3J aircraft. These machines, converted from the anti-submarine P-3A Orion, were used in exercises to jam ship radars and simulate the operation of the radio systems of Soviet bombers. The 33rd EW Squadron, until its disbandment, was actively touring the US Navy aviation bases. Several times a year, electronic warfare aircraft participated in major exercises held on the East and West coasts of the United States, in Europe and Asia.
Key West airbase has become a permanent base for carrier-based fighters due to favorable climatic conditions and a large number of sunny days a year. In the 70s and 80s, the Phantoms of the 101st and 171st Fighter Squadrons were deployed here. In 1984, Key West's F-4 Phantom II replaced the F-14 Tomcat that had been in service in Florida until 2005.
In 1999, the first F / A-18C / D Hornets of the 106th Strike Fighter Squadron settled in Key West. In 2005, Squadron 106 received the F / A-18E / F Super Hornet. The main function of the 106th Squadron in the past was the training and education of pilots retraining from other types of carrier-based aircraft. At the moment, the Hornets and Superhornets, based in Key West, are testing new types of aircraft weapons. In addition, fighters of the 106th squadron, if necessary, are involved in air defense missions and intercepting light aircraft, on which smugglers are trying to deliver cocaine to the United States.
The 45th Fighter Squadron is unique even by US standards. After a clash in Vietnam with Soviet-made fighters, naval admirals were surprised to find that the majority of carrier-based fighter pilots were not prepared for close maneuverable air combat. At the first stage, the subsonic MiG-17F was the main "sparring partner" of American aircraft in Vietnam. This seemingly hopelessly outdated fighter turned out to be an unexpectedly strong adversary. The powerful cannon armament and good horizontal maneuverability of the MiG-17F made it very dangerous at low and medium altitudes.
For training in close air combat, the US Navy has chosen specially modified Douglas A-4E / F Skyhawk as a conditional enemy. On the Skyhawks prepared for use as a conditional enemy, they dismantled the built-in armament, bomb racks and armor protection and installed the forced engines Pratt & Whitney J52-P-408. At the same time, the Skyhawks of the 45th Fighter Squadron, for greater realism, carried red stars and tactical numbers adopted by the USSR Air Force.
The refurbished Skyhawks were used by pilots of the highest qualifications, and in a relatively short period of time they improved the level of training of pilots of carrier-based fighters. This directly affected the results of real air battles and losses in Vietnam. The Navy pilots who flew the Phantoms performed better in aerial combat than the US Air Force pilots.
Although most of the A-4 attack aircraft were decommissioned in the late 1980s, these aircraft flew to Key West until the mid-1990s. Along with the Skyhawks, Squadron 45 used modified F-5E / F Freedom Fighters, and, uncharacteristically for the US Navy, the F-16N Fighting Falcon, which were lightweight F-16As.
In 1996, in connection with the end of the Cold War and in order to save budgetary funds, the 45th squadron was disbanded. However, it soon became clear that this decision was hasty. Ten years later, in November 2006, Key West formed a new 111th Reserve Fighter Squadron. As in the case of Squadron 45, the main purpose of the 111th "reserve" was to train US Navy pilots in close air combat. Since most of the American Freedom Fighters had exhausted their resources by the end of the 90s, and for training they needed an aircraft unfamiliar to naval pilots, it was decided to purchase 32 used F-5E / Fs from Switzerland.
The start of the F-5N fighter modernization program was given in 2000. At Northrop Grumman, an upgraded version of the F-5N was assembled from out-of-date F-5Es and supplied Swiss aircraft. This model is distinguished by dismantled weapons and systems necessary for its use, a reinforced airframe structure and special digital equipment that records flight parameters and the process of conducting training air combat. The F-5N avionics introduced a satellite navigation system and a multifunctional color display, which significantly improved the navigation capabilities and situational awareness of the pilot. The "Aggressors" received red stars and a coloration not typical for American fighters.
It took about 2 years to re-equip the entire batch. The upgraded F-5N made its maiden flight in March 2003. After the decision was made to create a squadron at Key West airbase, the Navy command financed an additional delivery of 12 aircraft.
In September 2005, the leadership of the Navy decided to equip the new 111th "aggressor squadron" with two-seater vehicles. For this, the second stage of the F-5F twin modernization program was launched. Currently, the 111th Squadron at Key West Air Force Base has 18 single and double F-5N / Fs.
In the summer of 1994, Key West airbase became the main staging area for the preparation of the military operation in Haiti. P-3C Orion and E-3A Sentry flew in the direction of Haiti on reconnaissance missions. From here the aircraft of the "psychological operations" EC-130E Commando Solo operated, from which propaganda TV and radio broadcasts were broadcast. And after the landing of the American military contingent, Key West was used by military transport C-130H Hercules.
However, the Key West airbase, located close to the island states of the Caribbean, has been a base for the preparation of special operations and "ideological sabotage" since the 1960s. It was from here that the first "flying TV and radio stations" EU-121S Coronet Solo operated against Cuba.
The airbase houses a training school for naval saboteurs, the Yug reconnaissance center and the regional headquarters of the coast guard. The Key West airstrip is regularly used by P-3C, P-8A, E-2C and E-2D aircraft patrolling the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean as part of the anti-drug smuggling program. In addition, the airbase serves as an intermediate point for flights of American combat aircraft to the Middle East.
