Aerial Photos of San Clemente Island, July 2, 2020
San Clemente Island, located 60 miles SSW of Los Angeles, is the southernmost of the Channel Islands off the southern California coast. It is controlled by the US Navy and home to the Naval Auxiliary Landing Field (NALF) San Clemente Island on the northern tip of the island. The airfield is designed for aircraft carrier landing training, with both ends of the runway near the ocean.
The island is also the center of a large air, land and sea training range. There are various specialized training facilities on the island as well as the infrastructure to control the air and sea ranges. The island also features a rocket test facility and living quarters for military personnel stationed here.
All photos with friendly permission. Click in the photos to enlarge.
External links for more information:
NALF San Clemente Island, also known as Frederick Sherman Field. It is located on the northern tip of the island with both ends of the 9,300ft. runway close to the coast.
Higher angle view of the air field from the west. |
Close-up of the main ramp area and the tower. |
Living quarters on the east side of the island.
Mysterious smaller air field with a 2,000 ft. runway near the center of the island. This was the site of the original air field on the island dating back to at least the 1930's. The air field was long abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Some time since 2015 the runway was paved and the buildings and ramp area were renovated. The runway is marked as abandoned but the ramp looks pretty active. There is not a lot of information on this airfield available online. In one document the area is marked as "VC-3 Maintenance Facility (EW & Targets)"
Close-up of the mystery air field. Above the center "X" on the runway it says "Manned Aircraft Prohibited". So this facility seems to have gotten a new lease on life as a test facility for drones |
This facility at the very northern tip of the island is a mock town used for urban Navy SEAL training. |
Radar sites and other radio antennas in high spots on the island. |
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