Nellis Air Force Base undergoes digital rebrand, Nellis legacy lives on

Nellis Air Force base underwent a digital rebrand, but the legacy of Lt. William Harrell Nellis remains the base’s namesake.

On Wednesday, the military base updated its digital presence, changing its social media profiles and website header to U.S. Air Force Warfare Center.

“Since the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) is a Numbered Air Force equivalent and serves as the higher headquarters for our wings, the website’s branding was updated to better reflect that command structure,” an Air Force media representative said in a statement. “Nellis Air Force Base itself, along with the wings and day-to-day mission, remains the same.”

Founded in 1966, the USAFWC conducts warfighter-centric live and virtual operational test and evaluation, tactics development and advanced training to optimize Air Force capabilities and prepare Airmen for joint, all domain combat operations, according to the base’s website.

Originally the Las Vegas Army Air Field, the base was created during World War II to help train pilots how to use machine guns and bombers. It was later named Nellis Air Force Base in 1950 in dedication of Nellis, a native of Searchlight who participated in 70 aerial combat missions during the war. In what proved to be his final mission, Nellis’ plane was shot down over Luxembourg in December 1944.

“His plane burst into flames and plunged into the ground, and Nellis was not seen exiting the aircraft. His sacrifice was not in vain,” a biography on the base’s website reads. The missions undertaken by the 513th Fighter Squadron saved many lives and destroyed irreplaceable German armored vehicles, personnel and supplies.”

Nellis is also memorialized by Nellis Boulevard, which runs nine miles south from the base in the eastern valley.