NAF AD-5 Skyraider BuNo 132654, location unknown, circa 1956. Photo from Wayne Mutza collection.

VX-5 Vampires AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 134537, XE-14, circa 1956. Photo & comment from S. Joel Premselaar ... running in for a loft delivery. Stores are fuel tanks on the wings and the large 60 KT nuke with fins extended on the centerline bomb station.

VX-5 Vampires A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135416, XE-1, making a low pass by the range tower on Baker Range, China Lake, circa 1956. Video from Joel Premselaar.

VX-5 Vampires pilots Gordy Engel, Hugh Tate, Jack Sickel & Hogenmiller pose in front of one of the Vampires F9F-8 Cougars, China Lake, 1956. Photo from John Sickel Jr.

NAF F9F-5 Panther BuNo 126043, GIMLET launchers, China Lake, 05 Jan 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

CPO's R.L. Chase (left), "Red" Park (center, and Jack Stith, load relief supplies for northern California flood victims aboard an R4D (probably R4D-5 39074) at the Naval Air Facility, China Lake, 06 January 1956. CPO's Park and Stith piloted the R4D on its trip to the flood stricken area. Rocketeer photo.

NAF AD-5 Skyraider prototype BuNo 124006, Mk-12 Brok special weapon, China Lake, 06 Jan 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF JD-1D Invader BuNo 71142, KDA-1 drone 0017, Armitage Field, China Lake, 18 Jan 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Deputy and Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics RAdm. C.S. Cooper (left) was received at NAF on Wednesday by Station CO Capt. F.A. Chenault (center) and NAF CO Capt. L.E. Ewoldt prior to his intensive study of station programs an developments, Armitage Field, 18 Janury 1956. Rocketeer photo.

L-r Carl Schwind and Horace Hodges of the Ordnance Components Division and Engineering Division Head LCdr. Jack Davis and Aircraft Launchers Section Head Steven Little look over the new rocket launcher display in Michelson Lab. The display shows the Aero 7D "Mighty Mouse" and Aero 9D rocket packages, China Lake, 20 January 1956. Rocketeer photo.

Crash crews work feverishly to extinguish flames of the wreckage of NAF F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 123350 shortly after its crash at NAF China Lake, 15 February 1956. Lt. Charles Duffy was killed in the crash and the plane was a complete loss. Rocketeer photo.

VF-151 Black Knights F7U-3 Cutlass BuNo 129654, Armitage Field, China Lake, 13-18 February, 1956. Top" Butler, Laresen, Moore (CO), Carrig, Howe and Conroy. Bottom: Behnke, Crandall, Corbett, Harwood, Doss and Chantler. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires F7U-3 Cutlass BuNo 129670, XE-3, refueling from an AJ tanker, 21 February 1956. Photo & comment from S. Joel Premselaar... Note the drogue is made of sheet metal. You had to drive in fast for an engagement or the Cutlasses bow wave would displace the cone precluding engagement. The modern ones have a frame with ribbons to prevent the cone from dancing away. The AJ was a poor tanker. At 18,000' it maxed out at 180 knots. At that speed, the Cutlass fell out of the sky before topping off due to fuel load.

VF-52 Knightriders F2H-3 Banshee U-204, Armitage Field, China Lake, 20-24 February 1956. Top: Lt(jg). P.N. Sonnenburg, Ens. B.C. Spray, LCdr. C.N. Seaver (XO) and Lt(jg). R.W. Kaiser. Bottom: Lt. W.J. Henningson, Cdr. L. Barker (CO), Lt(jg). C.R. McDonald and Lt. P.S. Polgar. Official U.S. Navy photo.

A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137829 at Douglas Aircraft prior to it's transfer to NAF China Lake, 29 Feb 1956. Douglas photo.

GF1 Askey & AO1 Fulbright loading a Sidewinder missile on NAF F9F-6 Cougar BuNo 131072, Armitage Field, China Lake, 22 March 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo from the Secret City video.

The Douglas F4D-1 Skyray is the subject of a LIFE magazine photo shoot at NAF China Lake, Armitage Field, 23 March 1956. Rocketeer photo.

Douglas workers make a last minute check-up of the company's F4D-1 Skyray prior to a test run for the LIFE magazine photo shoot at NAF China Lake. L-r are: Fred Hall; George Muller; Paul David and Arthur Proskovec of Douglas El Segundo unit B4-595, Armitage Field, 23 March 1956. Rocketeer photo.

LIFE photographer Loomis Dean and NAF pilot Lt. George Peebles make ready to takeoff in HUP-2 Retriever BuNo 128589 to photograph a Douglas F4D in action, Armitage Field, China Lake, 30 March 1956. Rocketeer photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069 in-flight with two Sidewinder 1 missiles, 02 Apr 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Mr. Meeacham and Dr. Bill McLean look at Sidewinder missile hardware being fabricated in the machine shop of Michelson Laboratory, NOTS China Lake, April 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069, sidewinder 1A & 1C missiles, LCdr. Glenn A. Tierney, Armitage Field, China Lake, 03 Apr 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050, AERO 7D 2.75" FFAR launcher, Armitage Field, China Lake, 16 Apr 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Passing in Review before Commanding Officer of Troops, LCol. Norman Pozinsky, First Terrier SAM Battalion bids farewell to NOTS prior to their moving to Twenty-Nine Palms in May. The unit was assigned to the Station in January, 1950, China Lake, 20 April 1956. Rocketeer photo.

NAF HUP-2 Retriever BuNo 128589 in-flight with a Mk-3 launcher, China Lake, 27 Apr 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field Gate, Armitage Field, China Lake, 04 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field hangar #1 (VX-5) & control tower, NAF R4D-5 BuNo 39074 and VX-5 Vampires T-33 BuNo 131824 at left and F6F Hellcat drones on the south side of the hangar and unknown F9F-8 Cougar at right, Armitage Field, China Lake, 04 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

LCol. Norman Pozinsky reads activation orders for a Marine Guided Missile Test Unit (MCGMTU) at China Lake. OIC of the new unit is Maj. Bruce Rushlow (facing LtCol. Pozinsky). Behind Maj. Rushlow, officers and enlisted men of the new unit stand at attention during the reading of the activation orders, China Lake, 04 May 1956. Rocketeer photo.

NAF P2V-2 Neptune BuNo 122966, east side of hangar 2, Armitage Field, China Lake 07 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF P2V-3B Neptune BuNo 122947, low level bombing trials, China Lake, 07 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 134752 at China Lake for test and evaluation and piloted by LCdr. Dickson Alderton, Armitage Field, China Lake, 11 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F2H-2B Banshee BuNo 125054 in-flight with a sidewinder 1A missile, China Lake, 14 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069 on the ramp with a tow bar, Armitage Field, China Lake, 22 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3H-2M Demon BuNo 133569, construction #81, at China Lake for missile evaluation and is piloted by LCdr. A. F. Tozer, 23 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278 with HPAG rockets taxiing on the ramp, Armitage Field, China Lake, 28 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

BAR R&D El Segundo A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137817, ZUNI FFAR rocket pods, China Lake, 29 May 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61852, starting the taxi to Area R, aka the Boneyard, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61782, taxiing to Area R, aka the Boneyard, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61852, starting #4 prior to taxiing to Area R, aka the Boneyard, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29 Superfortress s/n 44-61782, taxiing to Area R, aka the Boneyard, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

L-r: F6F-5K Hellcat drones, unknown R4D by hangar #1 and F9F-5 Panther BuNo 126043, Armitage Field, China Lake, circa June 1956. Copyright photo from James Schmidt.

L-r: NAF F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 123256, NAF F3D-2 Skyknight BuNo 124609 & NAF F9F-6 Cougar BuNo 131072, south side of hangar 1, Armitage Field, China Lake, circa June 1956. Copyright photo from James Schmidt.

L-r: NAF F6F-5K Hellcat drones and NAF F9F-5 Panther BuNo 126043, Armitage Field, China Lake, circa June 1956. Copyright photo from James Schmidt.

NAF A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135414 east side of hangar 2, Armitage Field, China Lake, circa June 1956. Copyright photo from James Schmidt.

Dart tow targets, east side of hangar #2, Armitage Field, China Lake, circa June 1956. Copyright photo from James Schmidt.

NAF F8F Bearcat, NAF F6F-5K Hellcat drones and NAF AD-3N Skyraider BuNo 122908, Armitage Field, China Lake, circa June 1956. Copyright photo from James Schmidt.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050 with 2.75" Mighty Mouse rocket launchers, Armitage Field, China Lake, 07 June 1956. A-4 Skyhawk in the background at left and a USAF F-100 Super Sabre at right. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Pax River F3H-2N Demon BuNo 133552 with Sidewinder 1A missiles, Armitage Field, China Lake, 21 Jun 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

First to fire 156 rockets from an AERO 7D 19 round 2.75" Mighty Mouse rocket launcher (pictured on F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050 with a frangible nose cone) is LCdr. Irving Applebaum (left ). Steven Little (right) is head of the NOTS section that developed the Mighty Mouse launcher, Armitage Field, China Lake, 22 June 1956. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135425, XE-02, Armitage Field, China Lake, 01 July 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278 with l-r: single 2.5" rocket, single 5" HVAR rocket, five 2" & three 2.75" rocket pod, AERO 6A 7 unit 2.75" rocket pod, 19 unit 2" rocket pod with nose cone, AERO 7D 19 unit 2.75" rocket pod with nose cone & 4 unit 5" ZUNI rocket pod with nose cone on each wing, Armitage Field, China Lake, 01 Jul 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278 with four AERO 7D 19 round & three AERO 6A seven round 2.75" Mighty Mouse rocket launchers on the stbd side, Armitage Field, China Lake, August 1956. Naval Aviation News photo.

Mighty Mouse 2.75-Inch Folding-Fin Aircraft Rocket (FFAR) elapsed firing sequence; originally conceived as an air-to-air weapon, circa August 1956. Naval Aviation News photo.

BAR R&D El Segundo A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137817, ZUNI 5" FFAR rocket pods, Armitage Field, China Lake, 08 Aug 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Ejection seat system test on SNORT for the F5D Skylancer at NOTS China Lake, California, 12 August 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo from R.L. Lawson collection.

F8U-1 Crusader BuNo 141345 at MCB Mojave for CDR "Duke" Windsor speed record attempt, China Lake, 21 Aug 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo. This production model carrier fighter, equipped with full armament of 20 mm cannon and dummy ammunition, was the first operationally equipped jet plane in history to fly faster than 1,000 m.p.h.

The jet fuel for the Crusader speed record attempt was chilled to increase the amount of fuel on board, 21 August 1965. Naval Aviation News photo.

Two NOTS Bowen cameras were on the South end of the course, 21 August 1956. Naval Aviation News photo.

NAA official C.P. Barnett checks the recording stopwatches, 21 August 1956. Naval Aviation News photo.

Cdr. "Duke" Windsor receives congratulations after setting the new speed record in a F8U-1 Crusader, 21 August 1956. Naval Aviation News photo.

NAF A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135414 at China Lake for test and evaluation and is crewed by pilot LCdr. L E. Kirkemo, plane captain AD1 J. P. Gibbs and AQ1 bomber-navigator J.W. Laws, on the ramp with the wings and tail folded, Armitage Field, 29 August 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF FJ-4 Fury BuNo 139308 at China Lake for test and evaluation, test piloting the FJ-4 Fury is Lt. H. F. Tipton, Armitage Field, China Lake, 29 August 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 139929 fresh from the factory at China Lake for test and evaluation and is piloted by LCdr. Dickson Alderton, Armitage Field, China Lake, 29 August 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131159 in-flight with two Sidewinder 1 missiles, 01 Sep 1958. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougars BuNos 131072 & 131159 piloted by LCdr. G. A. Tierney and Lt. T. S. Rogers, each in-flight with two Sidewinder 1 missiles, 01 Sep 1958. Official U.S. Navy photo.

BAR R&D, El Segundo A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137817 in hangar 2, F6F-5 Hellcats BuNo's 94470, 93811, 79234 & 94408 in the background, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F6F-5 Hellcats BuNo's 94470 & 93811, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F6F-5 Hellcats BuNo's 79234 & 94408, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141086, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

SNORT test sled & Breech area of SNORT with Blockhouse in the middle background and headquarters building in the far background, China Lake, 18 September 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-3 AD-6 Skyraider, XC-31, ZUNI rockets, 18 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF AD-3N Skyraider BuNo 122916, arrested landing, Armitage Field, China Lake, 19 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 125677, arrested landing, Armitage Field, China Lake, 20 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Bill Gharrity (left), county editor of the Bakersfield Californian and NAF LCdr. Dickson Alderton prepare to take-off in NAF F3D-2 Skyknight BuNo 124645 to give Gharrity and "eye view" on NOTS, Armitage Field, China Lake, 21 September 1956. Rocketeer photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, Sidewinder missile, Armitage Field, China Lake, 27 Sep 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Time lapse photo of ejection seat system test on SNORT for the F5D Skylancer at NOTS China Lake, California, 12 August 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo from R.L. Lawson collection.

Standing from L-r: VX-5 officers Cdr. (maybe the XO Dale Cox), unknown, LCdr. Calvin Gilbert, CO Capt. Gilkeson, Lt(jg). unknown, Lt. unknown, LCdr. Jack Sickel & unknown. Front row L-r: Lt. unknown, USMC Capt. (James Martz?), Lt. Sigmund Schoenerberger, USMC Maj. (Wegley?), Lt. unknown, Lt. unknown & unknown, China Lake, circa October 1956. Calvin Gilbert collection.

NAF F2H-3 Banshee BuNo 126484 test firing of 30.5-Inch Bombardment Aircraft Rocket (BOAR), sans warhead, China Lake, 01 Oct 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 139926, south of Inyokern, 10 October 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of Steve Grivno.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, AIM-9B Sidewinder, Armitage Field, China Lake, 12 Oct 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Airshow crowd, Armitage Field, 13 October 1956. Partially visible at left is a VX-5 Skyraider and at right a VX-5 Skyknight, NAF Skytrain BuNo 50832 VX-5 A4D-1 Skyhawk (XE-10), VX-5 A3D-1 Skywarrior 135425 (XE-2), NAF Skytrain BuNo 39074. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Airshow crowd, Armitage Field, 13 October 1956. VX-5 F3D-2 Skyknight, NAF R4D-6 Skytrain BuNo 50832, VX-5 A4D-1 Skyhawk 139929? (XE-10), VX-5 A3D-1 Skywarrior 135425 (XE-2), NAF R4D-5 Skytrain BuNo 39074. Official U.S. Navy photo.

SNORT Airshow demonstration, China Lake, 13 October 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF FJ-4 Fury BuNo 139308 takes off in front of the Airshow crowd, 13 October 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Unknown visitors at the Airshow, China Lake, 13 October 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF F-86F Thunderjets, s/n 51-9349 & s/n 51-9327, project 203, China Lake, 18 October 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050, 19 shot 2.75" FFAR AERO 7D pod, Armitage Field, China Lake, 18 Oct 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050, 19 shot 2.75" FFAR AERO 7D pod close-up, Armitage Field, China Lake, 18 Oct 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF AD-5 Skyraider BuNo 132654, RUM-139 ASROC & cameras, Armitage Field, China Lake, 19 Oct 1956. Official U. S. Navy photo.

USMC T/Sgt Chester Cannon, M/Sgt Michael Wieczerzak, GFAN Joseph Pillittere and S/Sgt Thomas Moscoe with a AIM-9 Sidewinder Field Test set used in testing the guidance and control section, China Lake, 19 October 1956. Rocketeer photo.

Standing next to a typical AIM-9 Sidewinder missile on a F9F-8 Cougar are NAF pilots LCdr. G.A. Tierney, Lt(jg). T.S. Rogers Jr., and Capt. T.E. Murphree (USMC), Armitage Field, China Lake, 19 October 1956. Rocketeer photo.

L-r Philco engineer Bob Chatham, GFC Marvin Robertson, GFC Jim Thomas and M/Sgt Stanley Lis check-out a Sidewinder missile seeker, China Lake, 19 October 1956. Rocketeer photo.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069 fires a AIM-9 Sidewinder missile in the skies over (NOTS China Lake, 05 November 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo from Bob Lawson.

VA-56 Champions F9F-8B Cougar NF-304, Armitage Field, China Lake, November 1956. Top: Cumbie, Meigs, unknown, Shanahan, unknown, Font, Estocin, Mitchell, Jennings, __nell, Dean, Titcomb and Cheisty. Bottom: unknown, unknown, Devine (CO), Short, Ettinger and Joyce. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VA-56 Champions F9F-8B Cougar BuNo 138xxx, NF-301, Armitage Field, China Lake, 08 November 1956. Top: Jewell, Thomas, Dean, Shanahan and Joyce. Bottom: Ettinger, Titcomb, Mitchell, Akers and Font. Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 134762, Fight Test, AFCS, Aero X-24 launcher, Armitage Field, China Lake, 09 November 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Research Department's Thompson Aeroballistics Lab. where the free flight of rockets and missiles are studied will be officially named today (09 November 1956) at dedication ceremonies in tribute to Dr. L T. E. Thompson, former Station Technical Director.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61843 "Don's Bald Iggles" from the 6091st RS, flown to China Lake 26 November 1956. L to r: A/C, Maj. Don L Prytulak - Pilot Capt. Merle H. Haskins; Nav. 1st Lt. Donald E. Potts; Eng. T/Sgt. Glenn C. Raloff; Radio A/1c Benjamin L. Rafftesaeth; Scanner T/Sgt. Richard D. Moorhead; Scanner S/Sgt. Morris E."Gene" Nelson. Unidentified Ground Crew in front row. Photo by Gene Nelson via the RB-29 website.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61843 "Don's Bald Iggles" from the 6091st RS, arrives at the China Lake boneyard, 26 November 1956. L to R: Navy civilian, Capt. Haskins, S/Sgt. Nelson, Navy SP & Navy Chief. Photo by Gene Nelson via the RB-29 website.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61843 "Don's Bald Iggles" from the 6091st RS, final resting place, China Lake, 26 November 1956. Photo by Gene Nelson via the RB-29 website.

NAF F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 125677 and some of the men responsible for the ZUNI weapon system, Armitage Field, China Lake, circa December 1956. L-r: Kent Catcott, shop planner; G.S. Morefield, propellant grain expert; Sid Shefler, project engineer, Jim Metcalf, grain manufacturer; and Lt. H.F. Tipton, project pilot. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 134530, XE-13, BOAR, & VX-5 AD-7 Skyraider BuNo 142015, XE-3, behind XE-13, west side of the Line Shack, Armitage Field, China Lake, 15 Dec 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.

TV cowboy hero Clint Walker, better known as "Cheyenne" was in full western regalia when he arrived on NAF R4D-8 Skytrain BuNo 50875for the NAF & VX-5 Christmas party, Armitage Field, December 15 1956. Photo from C. Gilbert.

Santa Claus climbs out of VX-5 A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 139927, XE-9, for the NAF & VX-5 Christmas party held in hangar 1, Armitage Field, 15 December 1956. Photo from C. Gilbert.

Ann and Arloha Lampkin, baton-twirling majorettes for the LA Rams football team perform at the NAF & VX-5 Christmas party held in hangar 1, Armitage Field, 15 December 1956. Photo from C. Gilbert.

TV cowboy hero Clint Walker, better known as "Cheyenne" was in full western regalia as he greeted the dependents at the NAF & VX-5 Christmas party in hangar 1, Armitage Field, China Lake, December 15 1956. Photo from C. Gilbert.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, Walt LaBerge & AIM-9B Sidewinder missile, Armitage Field, China Lake, 26 Dec 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo from Phil LaBerge.

NAF F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, Cdr. F. Ashworth & AIM-9B Sidewinder missile, Armitage Field, China Lake, 26 Dec 1956. Official U.S. Navy photo.