Naval Air Station Key West

NAS Key West Facts

• Location: Key West, Florida
• Website:
  Visit NAS Key West Website ›
• Phone: (305) 293-2268
• Longitude:
  -81.690559
• Latitude:
  24.574602
• DSN:
  483-2268

It is basically a military base and naval station located in west of Florida. Its purpose is to provide security to defense organizations in US, which includes national security, allied forces and agencies. It is also home to many training operations such as US Air Force Special under Water Operations School and task force exercises. The base comprises of many smaller operational facilities including health clinic and properties in Florida. Surprisingly it also has recreational facilities for families such as RV Park and Sigsbee Park built in 1940s. The property of the park is privately owned but it is managed by Florida Key West base.

The base also has bachelor and officer quarters comprising of navy and government personnel. It also has a separate quarter for senior commissioned officers with better facilities. The quarter can also be seen from Sigsbee Park as it was once parts of the base and it was used for landing of sea planes. The base also has a beach that was once in operation.

The base was built in 1823 and it was first used to fight piracy when merchants use sea to transport materials to US. Infact it was home to some of the most widely known pirates of the world. But it stopped during US-Spain and Mexico-US war when the base was expended. The war between US and Spain started after sinking of USS Maine in 1898 and US Atlantic Fleet moved to Florida Key West base. Today it is one of the most ideal places for training having ideal flying conditions round the year. The base is attached adjacent to open sea offering wide area of water for airplanes. It also provides rapid access to open sea and planes.

Today the air base is under command of Captain S. W. Holmes. Florida Key West is not the best air base in Florida but it has its own advantages over others.