VVX-5 Vampires OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155465, XE-70, January 1987. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

VX-5 Vampires AH-1W Sea Cobra BuNo 159227 with empty ZUNI launcher on the ramp next to VS-41 Shamrocks S-3A Viling BuNo 160598, NJ-746, location unknown, January 1987. Photo by C. T. Robbins.

Ens. Ken Black talks to Fred Mansfield about aircraft maintenance as they stand by NWC China Lake QF-4N Phantom II drone BuNo 150993, NWC-407, China Lake, 21 January 1987. Rocketeer photo.

Standing behind the recoverable rocket sled assembly that has achieved a 25-percent higher speed than any previously used by DOD are those responsible for its design and fabrication: Hugh McCoy, John Richards, Jim Lawson, John Benckendorf, and Howard Gerrish. They are joined by Capt. John Burt and Gerry Schiefer, NWC Technical Director, who had just presented the others with Technical Director's awards for their outstanding work of design and fabrication. China Lake, 30 January 1987. Rocketeer photo.

NWC China Lake F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 161713, NWC-101, Andrews AFB, 22 February 1987. Photo by Dave Brown.

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 161726, XE-32, Pt Mugu, February 1987. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

Heavy-duty moving equipment, including an overhead crane and giant elevator, are used to get ordnance items into the correct position to be X-rayed in the computed tomography facility. China Lake, 27 February 1987. Rocketeer photo.

A USMC AV-8 Harrier with AIM-9L Sidewinder missiles climbs over one of the China Lake ranges. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Technicians prepare former VMA-542 Tigers AV-8A Harrier BuNo 159528 to act as surrogate for the AV-8B for Joint Live Fire testing at the NWC Survivability Lab, 03 April 1987. Rocketeer photo.

U.S. Navy test parachutists board UH-1N Iroquois (BuNo unknown) prior to a jump at China Lake, 24 April 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Barbara Scratchard.

A U.S. Navy test parachutist jumpmaster checks a student`s altimeter prior to a training jump at NWC China Lake, 24 April 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo by PH1 Barbara Scatchard.

A US Navy test parachutist makes a descent with a new canopy type parachute at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, 24 April 1987. Official U.S. Navy Photo by PH1 Barbara Scratchard.

A US Navy test parachutist makes a descent at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center. Official U.S. Navy Photo by PH1 Barbara Scratchard.

Technicians work with a Shrike missile in the Center's largest anechoic chamber at Michelson Lab. This facility recently underwent extensive rehabilitation and upgrading. China Lake, 24 April 1987. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155465, XE-70, MCAS Yuma, 25 April 1987. Photo by Bruce Trombecky.

RAF GR.1 Tornados and team, TOEU, NWC China Lake, 1987. Photo from Pete Thornton.

Early morning at NWC China Lake, CA for the SAOEU ('Donout' in the cockpit), 1987. Photo from Pete "Clickey" Thornton.

VX-5 Vampires AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162721, XE-10, Maverick missile, China Lake, 02 May 1987. Photo by Jim Tunney.

VX-5 Vampires A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 160264, XE-15, China Lake, circa May 1987. Photo by C.T. Robbins.

VAK-208 Jockeys KA-3B Skywarrior BuNo 147655, AF-523, over a target range at NWC China Lake, 15 May 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo by PHC R. L. Lawson.

VA-22 Fighting Redcocks A-7E Corsair II's with AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and Mark 82 500-pound bomb en route to a target range at NWC, China Lake, 15 May 1987. Nearest A-7E is BuNo 158674, NH-301. The others L-R are BuNo 158019, NH-304, NH-312 & BuNo 157550, NH-316. Official U.S. Navy photo by PHC R. L. Lawson.

NWC personnel begin the hard work of moving KC-97G Stratofreighter s/n 52-2669 to its new home after it was replaced at the mini-deck with a P-3A Orion, China Lake, 22 May 1987. Rocketeer photo.

After KC-97G Stratofreighter s/n 52-2669 got stuck in the sand Air bags borrowed from Edwards AFB were used to raise the aircraft so steel plates could be placed under the wheels, China Lake, 22 May 1987. Rocketeer photo.

The Center's blue and white helium balloon soars skyward after a launch. Laying out the rigging takes about an hour and filling the balloon with 35,000 cubic feet of helium takes another hour before it can be airborne. China Lake, 22 May 1987. Rocketeer photo.

Marines gather around USAF C-141B Starlifter s/n 64-0617, China Lake, 27 May 1987. Official U.S. Navy Photo by TSGT Simons.

An Air Force member loads a pallet of collapsible fuel containers with USAF C-141B Starlifter s/n 64-0617 in the background, China Lake, 27 May 1987. Official U.S. Navy Photo by TSGT Simons.

Marines nap under camouflage netting while USAF C-141B Starlifter s/n 64-0617 taxis in the background, China Lake, 27 May 1987. Official U.S. Navy Photo by TSGT Simons.

VX-5 Vampires OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155465, XE-70, and AH-1W Sea Cobra BuNo 162537, XE-44, Armitage Field, China Lake, June 1987. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

VX-5 Vampires OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155499, XE-71, and OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155465, XE-70, Armitage Field, China Lake, June 1987. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 155714, XE-22, China Lake, June 1987. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

VX-5 Vampires A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 160245, XE-14, on the ramp next to VX-5 OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155499, XE-71, China Lake, June 1987. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

VX-5 Vampires AH-1W Sea Cobra BuNo 162537, XE-44, China Lake, June 1987. Photo by Bob Niedermeier.

VX-5 Vampires AH-1W Sea Cobra BuNo 162537, XE-44, Sidearm missile, China Lake, 11 June 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Vampires AH-1W Sea Cobra BuNo 159228, XE-43, 11 June 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473, NACES runway level seat test, Armitage Field, China Lake, 14 June 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo from R.L. Lawson Collection.

LCdr. Doug Henry sits in the cockpit of NWC F/A-18C Hornet BuNo 162851 production verification aircraft after its 100th mission, Armitage Field, China Lake, 26 June 1987. Rocketeer photo.

VMFA-122 Werewolves F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 161978, DC-03, Armitage Field, China Lake, July 1987. Photographer unknown.

The Blue Angels stopped at Armitage Field to take on fuel as they headed for a Fourth of July weekend exhibition in the San Francisco Bay Area, China Lake, 3 July 1987. This was their first visit to China Lake since converting to the F/A-18A Hornet. TID Photo by Tim Tyson.

VX-5 Vampires F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 161958, XE-32, 04 July 1987. Photo by David Brown.

NWC China Lake QF-86F Sabre drone BuNo 56-2827, NWC-881, painted matte black on the stbd side to evaluate its effect on the radar signature, China Lake 21 Jul 1987. Photo from Duncan Curtis.

NATC Patuxent River pilot Capt. Terry Wilcut brings F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 165668 (F-7) in to Armitage Field for use in the Joint Live Fire Test Program, China Lake, 22 July 1987. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Bob Reynolds.

VX-5 Vampires OV-10D Bronco BuNo 155494, XE-73, piloted by LCol. Tim "Hustler" Hill, China Lake, 31 Jul 1987. Photo courtesy of LCol. Tim "Hustler" Hill, MCAA.

LCol. Tim "Hustler" Hill firing a ZUNI from VX-5 Vampires OV-10D Bronco BuNo 155494, XE-73, to evaluate potential plume ingestion and accuracy while firing in an angle of bank, China Lake, 31 Jul 1987. Photo courtesy of LCol. Tim "Hustler" Hill, MCAA.

NWC China Lake LCdr. Kenneth Bowersox gives a "thumbs up" as he prepares for his final flight in an NWC A-7E Corsair II. The veteran pilot departs soon to join NASA's astronaut corps as a space shuttle pilot candidate. He has been a project test pilot for the Aircraft Weapons Integration Department since coming to NWC from the Air Force's Test Pilot School at Edwards AFB. China Lake, 31 July 1987. Rocketeer photo by PH3 Bob Reynolds.

F-86F Sabre BuNo 52-4450 being manhandled into a transit stand after its arrival at China Lake, 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo, Duncan Curtis collection.

NWC China Lake QF-86F Sabre drone BuNo 56-2827, NWC-881, in flight showing the usual paint scheme on the port side, China Lake 31 July 1987. Photo by from Duncan Curtis.

VX-5 Vampires TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 152862, XE-12, location unknown, August 1987. Photo by G. Vincent.

NWC China Lake QT-38A Talon s/n 59-1603, NWC-381, Armitage Field, China Lake, August 1987. Photographer unknown.

NWC China Lake QF-86F Sabre drone s/n 55-5058, NWC-891, with Captain J.A. Burt USN below the canopy rail provides the backdrop as NWC Commander Capt. John Burt (right) talks to Cdr. John Cranmer (left) new head of the Aircraft Department's Aircraft Support Branch and Cdr. Richard Erickson, whom Cdr. Cranmer succeeded as division head. China Lake, 21 August 1987. TID Photo.

Mike Gray and Matt Matthews begin the slow move of F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 165668 (F-7) to the Aircraft Survivability Range, China Lake, 04 September 1987. Rocketeer photo.

The #1 F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 160775 at the Aircraft Survivability Lab., China Lake, 18 September 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo.

F/A-18A Hornet BuNo unknown, armed with an AIM-7 Sparrow missile, over the China Lake Test Range, 30 September 1987. Official U.S. Navy Photo by Bob Lawson.

Cdr. Thomas R. Williams is congratulated by Capt. Eric Vanderpoel II, VX-5 Vampires CO, as he retires following 30 years service in the U.S. Navy. China Lake, 23 October 1987. VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 154124, XE-24, at right. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampres AV-8B Harrier BuNo 162721 in-flight with a Maverick missile, China Lake, 06 Nov 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC China Lake QF-4N Phantom II drone BuNo 150993, NWC-407, China Lake, 14 November 1987. Photo by M. Aldrich.

NWC China Lake F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 162851, NWC-103, laser Maverick (AGN-65E), China Lake, 16 Nov 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Convair-240 N54215 (former USCG HC-131A Samaritan s/n 5784) modified to fill role of a Space Shuttle at Shafter Airport, CA, 18 November 1987. Space shuttle side hatch mockup is visible toward the aft section of the fuselage. N54215 is part of crew escape system (CES) testing of a candidate concept developed to provide crew egress capability during Space Shuttle controlled gliding flight. Photo from NASA JSC digital image collection.

Shuttle Crew Escape System (CES) hardware includes space shuttle side hatch incorporated into Convair-240 N54215 (former USCG HC-131A Samaritan s/n 5784) at Shafter Airport, CA, 18 November 1987. Close-up shows dummy positioned in the Convair-240 escape hatch. Photo from NASA JSC digital image collection.

Following dedication ceremonies last Thursday, many of the more than 600 visitors to the Coso Geothermal Plant were given tours of the U.S. Navy's first operational geothermal facility. China Lake, 19 November 1987. Rocketeer photo.

NWC China Lake AMH2 Zack Ingram (top) and AD3 Ed Leclair working on an A-7 Corsair II are on the Phase Crew of the Aircraft Support Division at Armitage Field, China Lake, 20 November 1987. Rocketeer photo.

NWC China Lake drone hangar (#2), TA-4J Skyhawk, T-39D Sabreliner BuNo 150992, QF-86F Sabre drones and YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473, Armitage Field, China Lake, 1987.  Photo from D. Curtis.

VX-5 Vampires A-6E Intruder BuNo 162190, XE-21, in-flight with HARM missile, 07 December 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo courtesy of the Maturango Museum.

An articulated dummy on the end of a burning tractor rocket exits a modified Convair-240 N54215 (former USCG HC-131A Samaritan s/n 5784) in tests of a space shuttle crew escape system at NWC China Lake, 11 December 1987. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Representatives of NASA's Astronaut Office, Jim Bagian (seated) and Steve Nagel show the differences between the new shuttle crew flight equipment and the old. Bagian has the new flight uniform on and Nagel the old. China Lake, 11 December 1987. Rocketeer photo.

USAF B-47B Stratojet s/n 51-2275 sat on the NWC ranges for over 20 years before volunteers from March AFB dismantled it to fit on a number of flat-bed trucks for it's relocation to the museum, China Lake, 18 December 1987. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 Vampires Officers and Chiefs pose by the CO's A-7E Corsair II, BuNo 160729, XE-01, and F/A-18A Hornet BuNo 162400, XE-33, on the west side of hangar 1, China Lake 1987/1988. Photo from Hayward (Dan) Dunn, CWO4 USN(Ret).

DESC.