VX-4 Evaluators F-14A Tomcat BuNo 158618, XF-30, over Armitage Field, circa 1976. Photo from Larry McCarley.

VX-5 Vampires A-6A Intruder BuNo 151812, XE-17, in-flight, circa 1976. Photo from Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

AIM-9M Sidewinder seeker & target simulator, 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-9L Sidewinder Annular Blast Fragmentation warhead, QT-33A drone, circa 1976. Photo from Ray Powell.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 152593, XE-20, China Lake, January 1976. Photographer unknown.

NAF China Lake A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149969 in tow, hangar #3, China Lake, 04 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Jet Mechs, hangar #3, China Lake, 04 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Bubble Chaser servicing a strut, hangar #3, China Lake, 04 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Jet Mech, China Lake, 04 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Roy Schroder (foreground) and Ray Brode (cockpit) of the Test and Evaluation Departments Airborne Instrumentation Branch install AN/AVQ-10 Pave Knife equipment on VX-5 Vampires A-6A Intruder BuNo 158041, XE-18, China Lake, 09 January 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

Armitage Field L-r: NAF China Lake QF-86H Sabre s/n BuNo 53-1409, NAF QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 53-13??, PMTC QT-33A drone BuNo 156016 and QT-33A drone BuNo 156005, China Lake, 14 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF China Lake flight operations, hangar 3, China Lake, 14 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field VX-5 Vampires hangar, VX-5 Intruders & Corsair upper left, NAF China Lake Blue Canoe s/n's 57-5891, 58-2111 & 58-2123 at left, VX-5 Tracker BuNo 136544, XE-21, center & QT-33A drone BuNo 156004 at right, China Lake, 14 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field Line shack at left, VX-4 Vampires Phantom, VX-5 Intruders & Corsair at center, VX-5 hangar at right, China Lake, 14 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field VX-5 Vampires hangar, VX-5 Intruders & Corsair at left, NAF Blue Canoe s/n's 57-5891, 58-2111 & 58-2123 at lower right and VX-5 Tracker BuNo 136544, XE-21, center right, China Lake, 14 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

1st NAF China Lake QT-38A Talon drone prototype s/n 59-1598, China Lake, 27 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

1st NAF China Lake QT-38A Talon drone prototype s/n 59-1598 and DT-38A controller s/n 59-1596, NOLO touch & go, China Lake, 27 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

1st NAF China Lake QT-38A Talon drone prototype s/n 59-1598, 27 January 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VAQ-136 Gauntlets Lt. Bernie Hedger checks the jammer pod on EA-6B Prowler BuNo 158547, AG-615, during Operation Bold Eagle 76 as AMH1 Larry Gregory looks on, China Lake, 20 February 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Personnel from VAQ-136 Gauntlets prepare to take-off on an ECM mission in EA-6B Prowler BuNo 158547, AG-615, during Operation Bold Eagle 76. Lt. Alan Schaffer is being assisted by ADJ3 John Dempsey as he gets into one of the countermeasure officer seats, pilot Lt. Bernie Hedger stands by the jammer pod and AME Dale Kalista is on the wing. China Lake, 20 February 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

VAQ-136 Gauntlets XO Cdr. Ken Carlson (at right) reviews the details of an upcoming BOLD EAGLE 76 mission with (l-r) Lt. Will Forness, Lt. Jim Rowley and Lt. Denny Major, China Lake, 20 February 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Personnel of the CA ANG 162nd Mobile Communications Group took an active part in BOLD EAGLE 76, 20 February 1976. Rocketeer photo.

LTV Contractor personnel (l-r) Jerry Simmank, W.T. James, Ron Peebles (in cockpit) and Gus Getusky run through a pre-flight test on the last NAF China Lake QF-86H Sabre drone conversion, China Lake, 27 February 1976.

George Mullett associate head of NAF China Lake Targets Department adjusts an item of ground test equipment as Price Workman looks over the shoulder of Gordon Zurn (in cockpit) as they observe the operation of the remote control gear, China Lake, 27 February 1976. Rocketeer photo.

NAF China Lake QF-86H Program safety pilots Harlan Reep, LCdr. Gordon Williamson and Lt. Bruce Frazier pose by one of the QF-86H Sabre drones, China Lake, 27 February 1976. Rocketeer photo.

NAF China Lake CO Capt. C. B. Olson (right) accepts the last one of a group of 29 QF-86H Sabre subsonic drones (s/n 52-2094) from Project Manager Jay Bornfleth. Looking on are Acceptance Test Technician Bill Stuart and Shop Supervisor Hal Schmeer, China Lake, 27 February 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

NAF China Lake A-6C Intruder BuNo 155647, TRAM cupola with LLTV & FLIR sensors mounted in the forward OSP, China Lake, ca. Mar 1976. Photo from Thomas Tye.

VX-5 Vampires A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159471, XE-15, Andrews AFB, March 1976. Photo by Rob Mignard via W. Mutza.

There are 14 Fuze E type dispensers used for cloud seeding mounted on the wing of Cessna 401 N3221Q which can be used to seed squall lines or clear away super cooled fog, 05 March 1976. Rocketeer photo.

National Science Foundation LC-130R Hercules BuNo 160740, XD-02, in hangar 3 following installation of the NWC developed data acquisition system, China Lake, 12 March 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

Design Engineer Richard Chatterton checks out the instrument panel of LC-130R Hercules BuNo 160740, XD-02, following installation of the NWC developed data acquisition system, China Lake, 12 March 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

AH-1G Cobra helicopters from the 155th Aviation Company at Fort Ord are flying low over the desert during "nap-of-the-earth" firing tests carried out at the NWC's Airport Lake Range, China Lake, 19 March 1976. Rocketeer photo by Joe Dunn.

NWC Commander RAdm R.G. Freeman III presented certificates of advancement to NAF China Lake personnel during a recent inspection. Front row (L-r) ADJ1 Kenneth Berryhill, AMH1 Michael Zych, AO2 Kenneth Fouse, AC2 Ralph Smith, AO2 Timmon McGee, AMS3 Barry Olson and AZ3 Thomas Rapp. Back row (l-r) ADJ3 Charles Lemak, ADJ3 Robert Martino, AO3 Harry Wolters, ADJ3 Rick Murphy, ADJ3 James Robinson and AMH3 Irvin Friege, China Lake, 19 March 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Personnel from the 155th Aviation Company at Fort Ord are loading 40mm guns in preparation for "nap-of-the-earth" firing tests by AH-1G Cobra helicopters at the NWC's Airport Lake Range, China Lake, 19 March 1976. Rocketeer photo by Joe Dunn.

NAF China Lake A-7E Corsair II BuNo 156883 on the ramp with a FLIR pod, circa April 1976. Photo from Mark Nankivil Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

A-4 Skyhawk canopy, K-2 Range, China Lake, 01 April 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Two of the astronauts that visited China Lake look over the equipment that has been installed in the NAF China Lake QT-38A Talon supersonic target aircraft. John Owens (left) discusses the aircraft capabilities with Cmdr. McCandless and Hal Schmeer (right) and Capt. Kerwin examine the drone panels in the safety pilots cockpit, China Lake, 02 April 1976. Rocketeer photo.

NASA astronaut Cmdr. Joseph Kerwin looks through the holographic optical element (HOE) visor as (l-r) Capt. John Young and Cdr. Bruce McCandless observe, China Lake, 02 April 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Even without an explosive warhead the AGM-65 Night Attack Maverick missile packs quite a wallop as can seen after a direct hit on a moving M-48 tank target, China Lake, 09 April 1976. Rocketeer photo.

NAF China Lake A-6A Intruder BuNo 149937 is about to take-off for a free flight test of the Night Attack AGM-65 Maverick missile that makes use of FLIR for target acquisition, China Lake, 09 April 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Technicians from Yesterday's Air Force are restoring B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61669 which will be put on display at the museum's Barstow branch, China Lake, 16 April 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

NAF China Lake QF-86H Sabre s/n 53-1314 and HARM missile, NAF China Lake 20 Apr 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo, Duncan Curtis collection.

NAF China Lake NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, FAE ordnance close-up, 21 April 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF China Lake NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, FAE ordnance, A-7C BuNo 156734 in the background, 21 April 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF China Lake NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, FAE ordnance, A-6A BuNo 149936 in the background, 21 April 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

B-29A Superfortress 44-62070, "FIFI", 26 April 1978. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF China Lake's last F-4B Phantom II was flown to the North Island Naval Rework Facility by LCdr Gordon Williamson, former base ops officer at China Lake who is shown pre-flighting the aircraft with line troubleshooter AE2 Ken Martin, China Lake, 30 April 1976. Rocketeer photo.

The 50 foot high Arctic tower being erected on Laurel Mt. by a 13 member team from the 1833rd Electronic Installation Squadron (McClellan AFB) nears completion. According to T/Sgt Robert Crockett the new radar and communications gear will raise the overall height to over 100 feet. China Lake, 30 April 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61669 (299 foxtrot) undergoes engine start up tests prior to its flight from NAF to the Yesterday's Air Force Museum in Barstow, China Lake, 04 May 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

VX-5 Vampires A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159471, XE-15, on the ramp next to a USAF F-101B Voodoo, probably EAFB, circa May 1976. Photographer unknown.

NPTF El Centro NA-4C Skyhawk BuNo 145063, AMARC 3A0491, June 1976. Photo by M. Roth via C. T. Robbins.

Don Knypstra, of Studio City, CA, was able to retrieve his Start and Flug H101 Salto (c/n 13) glider N807 after an emergency landing on a dry lake bed in a portion of the NWC range area during a championship soaring contest. China Lake, 07 June 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

F-14A Tomcat BuNo 157981 arrives in the Super Guppy for use in a test program by Code 4083, China Lake, 11 June 1976. Rocketeer photo.

B-29 Superfortress 44-62070, "FIFI", Barstow, CA, 15 June 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

B-29 Superfortress 44-62070, "FIFI", Barstow, CA, 16 June 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires A-6A Intruder BuNo 151812, XE-17, over the snow capped Sierras, 23 Jul 1976. Official Navy photo by PHC Robert Ziesler, USN Ret.

VX-5 Vampires A-6A Intruder BuNo 151812, XE-17, over the snow capped Sierras, 23 Jul 1976. Official Navy photo by PHC Robert Ziesler, USN Ret.

PMTC Pt. Mugu A-7A Corsair II BuNo 153656, PMTC-63, on final with the gear and flaps down, July 1978. Photo by Joe Cupido.

NWC Mechanical engineering technician Dan Branson solved a long-standing problem on how to secure the AGM-53 Condor missile pod doors, China Lake, 09 July 1976. Rocketeer photo.

PMTC Pt. Mugu A-6A Intruder BuNo 149486, #57, 13 July 1976. Photo by Joe Cupido.

NWC Commander RAdm R.G. Freeman III headed the delegation of Navy officers that met The Honorable Jack L. Bowers, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Logistics, when he arrived in Bakersfield to officiate at the opening of the Elk Hills Oil Reserve near Taft, 16 July 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

AGM-123 Skipper II laser-guided bomb (LGB) with its fins closed at NWC China Lake, 16 July 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo by H. Hoshii.

NAF China Lake T-38A Talon s/n 59-1594 in hangar 2 with F-86H upper cockpit section in the foreground, China Lake, circa August 1976. Photographer unknown.

Posing in front of VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 159300, XE-09, are VX-5 CO Capt. R.N. Livingston (r) who looks on as Lt. Skip Harvey, VX-5 safety officer, greets Lt. Terry Nolan (center) as the Vampires complete two years of accident free operations, China Lake, 06 August 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Head of the Safety and Security Department W.R. Davis (left) and Fire Chief William R. Knight (2nd from left) show NWC Commander RAdm R.G. Freeman III and NAF CO Capt. C.B. Olson the new P-4A aircraft fire fighting and rescue truck, China Lake, 13 August 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

NWC Technical Officer Capt. W.B. Haff (2nd from right) was on hand following the first flight here of the DASH QH-50 drone helicopter. Also present are Jay Bornfleth (at right) and Harlan Reep, the drone controller for the flight. Technician Joe Chesney is post-flighting the aircraft, China Lake, 20 August 1976. Rocketeer photo by Sam Wyatt.

NAF China Lake TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 154332, Walleye IIR, China Lake, 24 August 1976. A-6A Intruder BuNo 152642 at right. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF China Lake TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, Walleye IIR close-up, China Lake, 24 August 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF China Lake A-6E Intruder BuNo 152642, Edwards AFB, September 1976. Photo from Paul Minert Collection, courtesy A. Romano www.navarchives.com

Northrop F-5F Tiger II s/n 73-0889 with AIM-9J Sidewinder, AGM-65 Maverick missiles and Auxiliary fuel tanks over China Lake, Edwards AFB, Sept. 1976.

A Fire-Fighting Equipment project vest (Vital Emergency Survival Time) Coil. NWC China Lake, 14 September 1976. Official U.S. Navy Photograph by R.A. Mann. National Archives collection.

With Capt. W.B. Haff, NWC Technical Officer, looking on, Harlan Reep goes through a simulation of the various operations involved in piloting a drone aircraft from the NAF Targets department's remote ground station, China Lake, 17 September 1976. Rocketeer photo by Ron Allen.

NAF China Lake QT-38A Talon drone s/n 59-1596 in the Bi-Centennial paint scheme over the Sierras circa October 1976. Photographer unknown.

VX-5 Vampires C-1A Trader BuNo 136782, XE-76, bicentennial paint scheme, McClellan AFB, October 1976. Photographed by Peter Mancus.

Posing beside VX-5 Vampires A-7E Corsair II BuNo 159300, XE-09, is Cdr. Melvin D. Munsinger (l) who is being congratulated by Vought representative Capt. R.E. Breen (ret) for 3,000 hours in the Corsair II. At left is RAdm R.P. McKenzie, Commander Light Attack Wing, Pacific Fleet, and VX-5 CO Capt. R.N. Livingston. China Lake, 15 October 1976. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires Lt. Joseph P. Connellan poses in front of A-7E Corsair II BuNo 159300, XE-09, as he is presented a mug commemorating his 1,000 hours in a Corsair II by Vought representative A.W. Vang, China Lake, 15 October 1976. Rocketeer photo.

USAF F-15 Eagle in-flight with AIM-7 Sparrow and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles, 18 October 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

The aerial portion of the Bicentennial salute to the Armed Forces on October 30 will open with a demonstration by the Navy Parachute Team, China Lake, 22 October 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Several members of the Indian Wells Valley Search and Rescue Team run to get aboard a NAF China Lake UH-1 Huey helicopter piloted by Cmdr. J.W. Ehl during training exercises in the B Mountain area, 22 October 1976. Rocketeer photo by Sam Wyatt.

Several members of the Indian Wells Valley Search and Rescue Team are briefed by NAF China Lake UH-1 Huey plane captain ADJ3 Alfred P. Ortiz prior to training exercises in the B Mountain area, 22 October 1976. Rocketeer photo by Sam Wyatt.

The Army's 10th Special Forces (Airborne) will perform at the NWC's Bicentennial Salute to the Armed Forces. Pilot of the UH-1 Huey is LtCol. D.E.P. Miller of the NWC USMC Liaison Office and NAF crew members are ADJ2 Gordon Draper and ADJ3 Rob Martino, China Lake, 29 October 1976. Rocketeer photo by Sam Wyatt.

Visitors to the Air Show had an opportunity to go inside HMM-63 CH-46F Sea Knight helicopter BuNo 156437, YP-12, used for landing rapid assault forces, China Lake, 30 October 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Youngsters at the NWC's Bicentennial Salute to the Armed Forces clamber over a self-propelled gun mount that was among the USMC static exhibits, China Lake, 30 October 1976. Rocketeer photo.

NAF China Lake T-38A Talon BuNo 59-1596, bicentennial paint scheme, NAF China Lake, 30 October 1976. Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association.

NAF China Lake C-131F Samaritan BuNo 141028, China Lake, 30 October 1976. Photographer unknown.

NAF China Lake QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 52-2094, China Lake, 30 October 1976. Photo by T.R. Waddington.

NAF China Lake QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 53-1351, east side of the drone hangar, China Lake, 30 October 1976. QT-38A Talon drone s/n 58-1195 at right. Photographer unknown.

NAF China Lake T-39D Sabreliner BuNo 150992, NAF China Lake, 30 October 1976. Photographed by Clay Jansson, Tailhook Assoc. collection.

NAF China Lake QT-38A Talon drone s/n 58-1195, west side of hangar #3, China Lake, 30 October 1976. Photographer unknown.

VX-5 Vampires C-1A Trader BuNo 136782, XE-76, bicentennial paint scheme, NAF China Lake, 30 October 1976. Photographed by Clay Jansson.

VX-5 Vampires C-1A Trader BuNo 136782, XE-76, bicentennial paint scheme, NAF China Lake, 30 October 1976. Photographed by Robert Lawson, courtesy of Angelo Romano.

Fire Program Office Mechanical Engineering Technician Marion "Willie" Williams adjusts the pilot plant apparatus that mixes an antimisting agent with Jet-A fuel, China Lake, 05 November 1976. Rocketeer photo.

Tony San Miguel (left) and Tom Horeff inspect the propane torch under the airfoil used to ignite fuel during testing at the T range airflow facility, 05 November 1976. Rocketeer photo.

NAF China Lake QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 52-2122, China Lake, 12 November 1976. Photo by B. Knowles, Jr.

NAF China Lake A-7E Corsair II BuNo 156883, FLIR, over the Sierras, 02 Dec 1976. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Command Chief Petty Officer AFCM J.W. Hendry presents a new American flag to be flown at the airfield flag pole to a flag bearer detail composed of (l-r) PN3 Christopher W. Wood, ADJAA Michael R. Brown and AZ3 Gordon R. Gillie prior to the official disestablishment of NAF China Lake as a seperate command, China Lake, 03 December 1976. Rocketeer photo

RAdm R.G. Freeman II and NAF CO Capt C.B. Olson inspect NAF China Lake personnel for the last time prior to the disestablishment of NAF as a seperate command, China Lake, 03 December 1976. Rocketeer photo.

A new chapter in the history of the Naval Air Facility began Wednesday morning following official disestablishment of NAF as a seperate command as RAdm R.G. Freeman III presnts the American flag that was flown at NAF during the time he was NAF CO to Capt C.B. Olson, China Lake, 03 December 1976. Rocketeer photo.

NAF China Lake A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159485, Smart Hawk, landing at China Lake, 01 January 1977. Official U.S. Navy photo.