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Naval Air Station Cecil Field

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585: 520: 480: 45: 77: 64: 679:"weather guessers" of Cecil Field first became a detachment, as Naval Weather Service Environmental Detachment (NWSED), Cecil Field when, in an effort to centralize control of support from the Navy's shore-based meteorological units, the CNO established the Office of the Naval Weather Service on 29 December 1965. In September 1979, almost 14 years later, the name changed to Naval Oceanography Command Detachment (NOCD), Cecil Field. 84: 471:, and NAAS Cecil Field became the principal war-at-sea and dive-bombing training center for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps. From 1943 until the war ended, NAAS Cecil Field was a pilot's last stop before assignment to combat in either the Atlantic Fleet or Pacific Fleet. It operated at full capacity during the war years and after the war. 510:
specifically used for the operation of carrier-based jet aircraft. In 1951, the land area of NAS Cecil Field was increased to 4,600 acres (19 km) and additional new buildings and facilities were constructed. Naval Air Station Cecil Field occupied 19,664 acres (79.58 km), and was projected
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The first weather observations were recorded at NAS Cecil Field in May 1949, with the first meteorological equipment installed in December of the same year. In those days, weather observing and forecasting services were provided by the Meteorology Division of the Air Operations Department. The
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NAS Cecil Field consisted of four separate facilities, the NAS Cecil Field Complex (Cecil Field), Outlying Field Whitehouse (OLF Whitehouse), the Yellow Water Weapons Department and the Pinecastle Electronic Warfare Target Area / Warfare Range. Including nearly 2,500 acres (10 km) at OLF
499:, it was then re-established and disestablished until finally redesignated as a Naval Air Station Cecil Field on 30 June 1952. The station was rejuvenated as an operating base for fleet aircraft squadrons and air groups, ushering in the "jet age" for Naval Aviation in the Jacksonville area. 572:(BRAC). Upon notice, by the BRAC, the city of Jacksonville initiated the development of a reuse plan to guide transition of base property and facilities to other uses that support local goals for economic and community development. There have been efforts to see the base returned as a 460:. Carrier-based fighter (VF) and scout bombing (VSB) units of Advanced Carrier Group, Atlantic arrived at Cecil Field in late 1942 to commence replacement pilot combat training and Cecil Field was commissioned as a Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) in February 1943. 397:
Whitehouse, the NAS Cecil Field complex consisted of 22,939 acres (92.83 km); in addition, the base leased another 8,379 acres (33.91 km). By late 1999, approximately 17,200 acres (70 km) were transferred to the civilian sector in the form of the
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pursuant to BRAC 1993 and BRAC 1995, NAS Cecil Field was decommissioned as an active naval installation on 30 September 1999. It is now a civilian, public-use, joint civil-military airfield and industrial park known as
1252: 1113:, as well as itinerant military aircraft, especially those undergoing modification or repair work at former military aircraft maintenance facilities at Cecil Field now operated by 444:, a 2,600-acre (11 km) tract of land was purchased in western Duval County and construction began on the "U.S. Naval Auxiliary Air Station, Cecil Field" (NAAS Cecil Field). 694:. The POW/MIA memorial located behind the base chapel has become the chosen site for many retiring officers and enlisted personnel to hold their retirement ceremonies. 1382: 251: 110: 247: 907: 896:
Commander, Air Antisubmarine Wing ONE / renamed Commander, Sea Strike Wing ONE (May 1987) / renamed Commander, Sea Control Wing Atlantic (October 1992)
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aircraft, detected the presence of nuclear-armed intermediate range ballistic missiles in Cuba and monitored the associated Soviet buildup during the
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helicopters. The airfield is also extensively used for practice approaches and touch-and-go landings by military aircraft based at
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aircraft from AASF No. 1 at Cecil Field. Also located at Cecil Field is Coast Guard Air Facility Jacksonville, which supports the
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In the mid-1950s, NAS Cecil Field's growth was given further impetus when the station was selected to serve as one of four
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NAS Cecil Field was named in honor of Commander Henry Barton Cecil, USN, who died in 1933 in the crash of the Navy airship
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During the 1980s and 1990s, in addition to the station leadership of NAS Cecil Field, the principal tenant commands were:
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Squadrons from NAS Cecil Field were aboard every Atlantic Fleet aircraft carrier deployed to Southeast Asia during the
1154: 1342: 535:) out of NAS Cecil Field (along with Marine Aviators from Marine Photographic Squadron TWO (VMAQ-2|VMCJ-2), based at 724:, marking the final combat deployment for the A-7E Corsair II and the first combat operations for the S-3B Viking. 1372: 398: 375: 343: 259: 49: 1281: 402: 732: 1058: 584: 484: 228: 1176: 255: 145: 960: 53: 1140: 1136: 1033: 775: 1293: 1224: 949: 605: 457: 1102: 1054: 965: 418: 390: 232: 1210: 954: 568:
Naval Air Station Cecil Field was identified for closure, and enacted, by the 1993 federal
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Commanding Officer, Marine Aviation Training Support Group (MATSG) Cecil Field
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Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command Detachment, NAS Cecil Field
1287: 686:. During this period, thirteen NAS Cecil Field pilots were listed as 434: 1030:
Marine Security Force Company, Yellow Water Weapons, NAS Cecil Field
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sea control squadron/S-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron, September 1994}
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remains with Army Aviation Support Facility No. 1 (AASF #1) of the
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Numerous commands operated from NAS Cecil Field over its lifetime.
576:(NAS), but these have failed due to political and economic forces. 305: 456:, and operations were accelerated just 11 days after the Japanese 971: 874: 867: 856: 850: 839: 832: 34: 888:
light attack squadron/A-7 Fleet Replacement Squadron, June 1988}
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It was RF-8 Crusaders from Light Photographic Squadron SIX TWO (
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The base got its start in June 1941 as an outlying field of
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Naval Air Reserve Jacksonville, Detachment NAS Cecil Field
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Aviation Physiology Training Unit (APTU), NAS Cecil Field
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In March 1943, the fighter training unit moved to nearby
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NAS Cecil Field squadrons again made history during the
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Commander, Light Attack Wing ONE / renamed Commander,
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Sea Control Squadron 27 (VS-27) {disestablished as an
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1942–1999 naval air base in Duval County, Florida, USA
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Commander, Carrier Air Wing Reserve TWENTY (CVWR-20)
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The Nuclear Weapons Storage Facility at Yellowwater
957:{disestablished as a carrier air wing, April 1993} 331:2,439 metres (8,002 ft) asphalt/concrete 323:2,439 metres (8,002 ft) asphalt/concrete 315:2,439 metres (8,002 ft) asphalt/concrete 495:Disestablished as NAAS Cecil Field at the end of 1314: 579: 440:. Shortly before the United States' entry into 1383:Closed installations of the United States Navy 1049:A continuing military presence at what is now 1044: 961:Commander, Carrier Air Wing SEVENTEEN (CVW-17) 697:The first Atlantic Fleet Squadrons to fly the 1155:"Strike Fighter Wings Pacific and Atlantic" 1277:Resources for this U.S. military airport: 1209:. Viking Association. 2008. Archived from 1087:Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron 1021:Naval Air Maintenance Training Detachment 950:Commander, Carrier Air Wing THREE (CVW-3) 401:, while the remainder was transferred to 1018:Naval Branch Medical Clinic, Cecil Field 583: 518: 478: 955:Commander, Carrier Air Wing SIX (CVW-6) 891:Strike Fighter Weapons School, Atlantic 570:Base Realignment and Closure Commission 410:Base Realignment and Closure Commission 223:Transferred to civilian use and became 1315: 1177:"Commander Sea Control Wing, Atlantic" 511:to be Navy's largest Master Jet Base. 1353:Military installations closed in 1999 940:Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 6 ( 465:Naval Auxiliary Air Station Lee Field 1107:Jacksonville Air National Guard Base 977:Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 142 ( 56:returning to NAS Cecil Field in 1994 1065:in late 1999. The FLARNG operates 863:strike fighter squadron, June 1992) 717:were all based at NAS Cecil Field. 558:1990s: Base realignment and closure 527:of VF-62 over NAS Cecil Field, 1962 300:3,811 metres (12,503 ft)  83: 13: 1130: 1111:Jacksonville International Airport 14: 1394: 1378:1999 disestablishments in Florida 1348:Military installations in Florida 1338:Military in Jacksonville, Florida 1333:Airports in Jacksonville, Florida 1246: 984:other CVWR-20 squadrons based at 793:light attack squadron, June 1991) 771:light attack squadron, June 1991) 1328:United States Naval Air Stations 782:light attack squadron, Mar 1987) 82: 75: 62: 43: 1225:"Naval Air Station Cecil Field" 923:Sea Control Squadron 30 (VS-30) 920:Sea Control Squadron 28 (VS-28) 399:Jacksonville Aviation Authority 344:Federal Aviation Administration 1368:1941 establishments in Florida 1217: 1195: 1169: 1147: 611:F8U Crusader and RF-8 Crusader 403:Naval Air Station Jacksonville 1: 1274:, effective September 5, 2024 1137:FAA Airport Form 5010 for VQQ 1124: 970:Strike Fighter Squadron 203 ( 873:Strike Fighter Squadron 137 ( 866:Strike Fighter Squadron 136 ( 831:Strike Fighter Squadron 105 ( 580:Aircraft assigned (1960–1999) 352:Naval Air Station Cecil Field 96:Location in the United States 24:Naval Air Station Cecil Field 1363:Airports established in 1941 1288:airport information for KVQQ 1203:"Viking Squadrons and Wings" 855:Strike Fighter Squadron 132 849:Strike Fighter Squadron 131 838:Strike Fighter Squadron 106 824:Strike Fighter Squadron 87 ( 817:Strike Fighter Squadron 86 ( 810:Strike Fighter Squadron 83 ( 803:Strike Fighter Squadron 82 ( 796:Strike Fighter Squadron 81 ( 756:Strike Fighter Squadron 37 ( 749:Strike Fighter Squadron 15 ( 733:Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic 7: 1323:Defunct airports in Florida 1306:aeronautical chart for KVQQ 1300:latest weather observations 1282:airport information for VQQ 1059:Florida Army National Guard 1045:Current military operations 981:); based at NAS Cecil Field 974:); based at NAS Cecil Field 846:Fleet Replacement Squadron) 670: 229:Florida Army National Guard 10: 1399: 1358:Superfund sites in Florida 1144:. Retrieved 15 March 2007. 595:at NAS Cecil Field in 1976 561: 428: 54:Carrier Air Wing Seventeen 933:Sea Control Squadron 32 ( 926:Sea Control Squadron 31 ( 906:Sea Control Squadron 24 ( 899:Sea Control Squadron 22 ( 339: 291: 286: 281: 277: 266: 243: 238: 219: 204: 189: 184: 176: 166: 156: 151: 141: 104: 70: 61: 42: 37:in the United States 28: 23: 1343:Military Superfund sites 1294:accident history for NZC 1034:Marine Aircraft Group 42 884:) {disestablished as an 789:) (disestablished as an 778:) (disestablished as an 767:) (disestablished as an 514: 491:at NAS Cecil Field, 1956 474: 447: 666:AIR OPS NAS CECIL FIELD 660:AIR OPS NAS CECIL FIELD 654:AIR OPS NAS CECIL FIELD 270:25 metres (82 ft) 1373:Westside, Jacksonville 859:(disestablished as an 596: 528: 492: 458:Attack on Pearl Harbor 1253:Cecil Commerce Center 1103:Naval Station Mayport 1055:Cecil Commerce Center 880:Attack Squadron 174 ( 587: 522: 482: 419:Cecil Commerce Center 389:air base, located in 233:Cecil Commerce Center 161:Department of Defense 126:30.21861°N 81.87667°W 1231:. GlobalSecurity.org 1183:. GlobalSecurity.org 785:Attack Squadron 72 ( 774:Attack Squadron 66 ( 763:Attack Squadron 46 ( 742:Attack Squadron 12 ( 589:Lockheed S-3A Viking 552:Cuban Missile Crisis 506:to be designated as 239:Airfield information 1264:FAA Airport Diagram 408:As directed by the 131:30.21861; -81.87667 122: /  1229:GlobalSecurity.org 1207:Viking Association 1181:GlobalSecurity.org 1165:on 16 August 2012. 1115:The Boeing Company 994:NAS JRB Fort Worth 597: 529: 504:naval air stations 493: 469:Green Cove Springs 387:United States Navy 292:Length and surface 1143: 648:AIR OPS NAS CECIL 574:Naval Air Station 554:of October 1962. 537:MCAS Cherry Point 349: 348: 335: 334: 146:Naval Air Station 1390: 1273: 1241: 1240: 1238: 1236: 1221: 1215: 1214: 1213:on 4 March 2012. 1199: 1193: 1192: 1190: 1188: 1173: 1167: 1166: 1151: 1145: 1139: 1134: 1119:Northrop Grumman 1099:NAS Jacksonville 1083:U.S. Coast Guard 508:Master Jet Bases 454:NAS Jacksonville 279: 278: 215: 213: 200: 198: 152:Site information 137: 136: 134: 133: 132: 127: 123: 120: 119: 118: 115: 86: 85: 79: 66: 47: 38: 21: 20: 1398: 1397: 1393: 1392: 1391: 1389: 1388: 1387: 1313: 1312: 1267: 1255:(official site) 1249: 1244: 1234: 1232: 1223: 1222: 1218: 1201: 1200: 1196: 1186: 1184: 1175: 1174: 1170: 1153: 1152: 1148: 1135: 1131: 1127: 1071:UH-60 Blackhawk 1047: 1040:), Detachment A 998:NAS New Orleans 735:(December 1992) 673: 582: 566: 560: 517: 477: 450: 431: 412:(BRAC) and the 356:NAS Cecil Field 211: 209: 196: 194: 130: 128: 124: 121: 116: 113: 111: 109: 108: 100: 99: 98: 97: 94: 93: 92: 91: 87: 57: 29: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1396: 1386: 1385: 1380: 1375: 1370: 1365: 1360: 1355: 1350: 1345: 1340: 1335: 1330: 1325: 1311: 1310: 1309: 1308: 1302: 1296: 1290: 1284: 1275: 1261: 1256: 1248: 1247:External links 1245: 1243: 1242: 1216: 1194: 1168: 1146: 1128: 1126: 1123: 1095:MH-65C Dolphin 1046: 1043: 1042: 1041: 1031: 1028: 1025: 1022: 1019: 1016: 1013: 1010: 1009: 1008: 1006:NAF Washington 982: 975: 963: 958: 952: 947: 946: 945: 938: 931: 924: 921: 918: 911: 904: 894: 893: 892: 889: 886:A-7 Corsair II 878: 871: 864: 853: 847: 836: 829: 822: 815: 808: 801: 794: 791:A-7 Corsair II 783: 780:A-7 Corsair II 772: 769:A-7 Corsair II 761: 754: 747: 737: 736: 699:A-7 Corsair II 672: 669: 668: 667: 661: 655: 649: 643: 638: 633: 628: 626:A-7 Corsair II 623: 618: 616:F-4 Phantom II 613: 608: 606:A-3 Skywarrior 603: 581: 578: 562:Main article: 559: 556: 541:U.S. Air Force 516: 513: 476: 473: 449: 446: 430: 427: 347: 346: 337: 336: 333: 332: 329: 325: 324: 321: 317: 316: 313: 309: 308: 298: 294: 293: 290: 284: 283: 275: 274: 268: 264: 263: 245: 241: 240: 236: 235: 227:(also used by 221: 217: 216: 206: 202: 201: 191: 187: 186: 182: 181: 178: 174: 173: 168: 164: 163: 158: 154: 153: 149: 148: 143: 139: 138: 106: 102: 101: 95: 89: 88: 81: 80: 74: 73: 72: 71: 68: 67: 59: 58: 50:F/A-18 Hornets 48: 40: 39: 26: 25: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1395: 1384: 1381: 1379: 1376: 1374: 1371: 1369: 1366: 1364: 1361: 1359: 1356: 1354: 1351: 1349: 1346: 1344: 1341: 1339: 1336: 1334: 1331: 1329: 1326: 1324: 1321: 1320: 1318: 1307: 1303: 1301: 1297: 1295: 1291: 1289: 1285: 1283: 1279: 1278: 1276: 1271: 1265: 1262: 1260: 1257: 1254: 1251: 1250: 1230: 1226: 1220: 1212: 1208: 1204: 1198: 1182: 1178: 1172: 1164: 1160: 1156: 1150: 1142: 1138: 1133: 1129: 1122: 1120: 1116: 1112: 1108: 1104: 1100: 1096: 1092: 1088: 1084: 1080: 1076: 1072: 1068: 1067:CH-47 Chinook 1064: 1063:Craig Airport 1060: 1056: 1052: 1051:Cecil Airport 1039: 1035: 1032: 1029: 1026: 1023: 1020: 1017: 1014: 1011: 1007: 1003: 999: 995: 991: 987: 983: 980: 976: 973: 969: 968: 967: 964: 962: 959: 956: 953: 951: 948: 943: 939: 936: 932: 929: 925: 922: 919: 916: 912: 909: 905: 902: 898: 897: 895: 890: 887: 883: 879: 876: 872: 869: 865: 862: 861:F/A-18 Hornet 858: 854: 852: 848: 845: 844:F/A-18 Hornet 841: 837: 834: 830: 827: 823: 820: 816: 813: 809: 806: 802: 799: 795: 792: 788: 784: 781: 777: 773: 770: 766: 762: 759: 755: 752: 748: 745: 741: 740: 739: 738: 734: 730: 729: 728: 725: 723: 718: 716: 712: 708: 704: 703:F/A-18 Hornet 700: 695: 693: 689: 685: 680: 676: 665: 662: 659: 656: 653: 652:US-2B Tracker 650: 647: 644: 642: 639: 637: 636:F/A-18 Hornet 634: 632: 629: 627: 624: 622: 619: 617: 614: 612: 609: 607: 604: 602: 599: 598: 594: 590: 586: 577: 575: 571: 565: 564:Cecil Airport 555: 553: 549: 545: 542: 538: 534: 526: 521: 512: 509: 505: 500: 498: 490: 486: 481: 472: 470: 466: 461: 459: 455: 445: 443: 439: 438: 426: 424: 423:Cecil Airport 420: 415: 414:U.S. Congress 411: 406: 404: 400: 394: 392: 388: 384: 380: 377: 373: 369: 365: 361: 357: 353: 345: 342: 338: 330: 327: 326: 322: 319: 318: 314: 311: 310: 307: 303: 299: 296: 295: 289: 285: 280: 276: 273: 269: 265: 261: 257: 253: 249: 246: 242: 237: 234: 230: 226: 225:Cecil Airport 222: 218: 207: 203: 192: 188: 183: 179: 175: 172: 169: 165: 162: 159: 155: 150: 147: 144: 140: 135: 107: 103: 78: 69: 65: 60: 55: 51: 46: 41: 36: 32: 27: 22: 19: 1233:. Retrieved 1228: 1219: 1211:the original 1206: 1197: 1185:. Retrieved 1180: 1171: 1163:the original 1158: 1149: 1132: 1075:UH-72 Lakota 1048: 726: 719: 715:ES-3A Shadow 696: 681: 677: 674: 567: 530: 501: 497:World War II 494: 462: 451: 442:World War II 436: 432: 407: 395: 391:Duval County 382: 371: 363: 355: 351: 350: 340: 185:Site history 31:Jacksonville 18: 1235:25 February 1002:NAS Norfolk 986:NAS Atlanta 711:S-3B Viking 684:Vietnam War 658:T-28 Trojan 646:C-1A Trader 641:ES-3 Shadow 621:A-4 Skyhawk 244:Identifiers 208:1941 – 1999 205:In use 129: / 117:081°52′36″W 105:Coordinates 90:Cecil Field 1317:Categories 1304:SkyVector 1125:References 1093:) and its 1079:C-12 Huron 990:NAS Dallas 915:S-3 Viking 713:, and the 664:C-12 Huron 631:S-3 Viking 114:30°13′07″N 1298:NOAA/NWS 601:F3H Demon 288:Direction 267:Elevation 177:Condition 1159:The Hook 979:VMFA-142 722:Gulf War 671:Commands 385:) was a 306:concrete 262:: 722067 254:: KNZC, 167:Operator 1286:AirNav 992:(later 972:VFA-203 875:VFA-137 868:VFA-136 857:VFA-132 851:VFA-131 840:VFA-106 833:VFA-105 429:History 341:Source: 312:18R/36L 302:asphalt 297:18L/36R 282:Runways 258:: NZC, 256:FAA LID 250:: NZC, 210: ( 195: ( 171:US Navy 35:Florida 1266:  1091:HITRON 1038:MAG-42 882:VA-174 826:VFA-87 819:VFA-86 812:VFA-83 805:VFA-82 798:VFA-81 758:VFA-37 751:VFA-15 705:, the 701:, the 548:RF-101 533:VFP-62 525:F8U-1s 328:9R/27L 320:9L/27R 231:) and 180:Closed 1187:4 May 935:VS-32 928:VS-31 908:VS-24 901:VS-22 787:VA-72 776:VA-66 765:VA-46 744:VA-12 593:VS-31 515:1960s 489:VF-62 487:from 475:1950s 448:1940s 437:Akron 190:Built 157:Owner 52:from 1292:ASN 1280:FAA 1237:2007 1189:2019 1117:and 1105:and 1077:and 1053:and 1004:and 942:VQ-6 709:and 707:S-3A 546:and 523:Two 485:FJ-3 435:USS 421:and 372:KNZC 368:ICAO 360:IATA 272:AMSL 252:ICAO 248:IATA 220:Fate 212:1999 197:1941 193:1941 142:Type 1270:PDF 1141:PDF 1109:at 1085:'s 996:), 692:MIA 690:or 688:POW 591:of 544:U-2 483:An 467:in 383:NZC 379:LID 376:FAA 364:NZC 354:or 260:WMO 1319:: 1227:. 1205:. 1179:. 1157:. 1121:. 1101:, 1073:, 1069:, 1000:, 988:, 425:. 405:. 381:: 374:, 370:: 366:, 362:: 33:, 1272:) 1268:( 1239:. 1191:. 1089:( 1036:( 944:) 937:) 930:) 910:) 903:) 877:) 870:) 842:( 835:) 828:) 821:) 814:) 807:) 800:) 760:) 753:) 358:( 304:/ 214:) 199:)

Index

Jacksonville
Florida

F/A-18 Hornets
Carrier Air Wing Seventeen

Cecil Field is located in the United States
30°13′07″N 081°52′36″W / 30.21861°N 81.87667°W / 30.21861; -81.87667
Naval Air Station
Department of Defense
US Navy
Cecil Airport
Florida Army National Guard
Cecil Commerce Center
IATA
ICAO
FAA LID
WMO
AMSL
Direction
asphalt
concrete
Federal Aviation Administration
IATA
ICAO
FAA
LID
United States Navy
Duval County
Jacksonville Aviation Authority

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