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<-- 1955 1956 Aircraft Photo Gallery. Last updated 11 May, 2008 1957 -->
• Jan -- NAF has 43 aircraft consisting of 2 AD-3N, 1 HUP-2, 1 F9F-5, 5 F9F-8, 4 F2H-2, 4 F6F-5, 1 F3D-2, 2 F3D-1, 1 AD-6, 1 AD-5, 1 A3D-1, 1 P2V-3B, 1 P2V-2, 1 R4D-6, 1 R4D-5, 1 PBY-6A (loaner), 1 SNB-5  & 14 F6F-5K drones. VX-5 Moffett has 13 aircraft consisting of 2 F7U-3, 4 F9F-8, 2 F3D-2, 1 AD-6, 2 AD-5N, 1 TV-2 & 1 SNB-5.
• The Sidewinder guided-missile system declared operational.
• Feb. 15 -- U.S. Navy Lt.(jg) Charles Arthur Duffy lost his life when his F2H-2 Banshee crashed.
• July 1956 VX-5 moved to China Lake, CA.
• Jul -- NAF has 39 aircraft consisting of 2 AD-3N, 1 HUP-2, 1 F9F-8, 4 F9F-8B, 5 F2H-2, 4 F6F-5, 2 F3D-2, 2 F3D-1, 1 AD-6, 1 A3D-1, 1 P2V-3B, 2 P2V-2, 1 R4D-6, 1 R4D-5, 1 SNB-5  & 10 F6F-5K drones. VX-5 has 14 aircraft consisting of 4 F9F-8B, 2 F3D-2, 2 AD-6, 2 AD-5N, 2 A3D-1, 1 TV-2 & 1 SNB-5.
• Aug. 21 -- An F8U-1 Crusader, piloted by Cdr. R. W. "Duke" Windsor, captured the Thompson Trophy with a new national speed record of 1015.428 m.p.h. over the 15-kilometer course at NOTS, China Lake, CA.
• Oct. 05 -- U.S. Navy Lt. Bennett W. Hooks of VX-5 lost his life when his A4D-1 Skyhawk crashed.

F9F-5 Panther, BuNo 126043, GIMLET, China Lake, 05 Jan 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-5 Skyraider prototype, BuNo 124006, BOAR, China Lake, 06 Jan 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

JD-1D Invader, BuNo 71142, KDA-1 drone, China Lake, 18 Jan 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 F7U-3 Cutlass BuNo 129670, XE-3, 21 February 1956

Photo & comment from S. Joel Premselaar... note /1

VX-5 AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 134537, XE-14, circa 1956

Photo & comment from S. Joel Premselaar ... note /2

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131072, Ordies loading a Sidewinder missile, China Lake, circa 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131072, GF1 Askey & AO1 Fulbright loading a Sidewinder missile, China Lake, March 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo from the Secret City video.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131072, two Sidewinder 1A missiles, 22 Mar 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

JD-1D Invader BuNo 71142, KDA-1 drone, China Lake, 30 Mar 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069, two Sidwinder 1 missiles, 02 Apr 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069, two Sidwinder 1 missiles, circa 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069, sidewinder 1A & 1C missiles, LCDR. Glenn A. Tierney, China Lake, 03 Apr 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050, 2.75" FFAR launcher, China Lake, 16 Apr 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

HUP-2 Retriever BuNo 128589, Mk-3 launcher, China Lake, 27 Apr 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field Gate, China Lake, 04 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field hangar #1 (VX-5) & control tower, R4D-5 BuNo 39074 and VX-5 T-33 BuNo 131824 at left.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

P2V-2 Neptune BuNo 122966, China Lake 07 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

P2V-3B Neptune BuNo 122947, low level bombing trials, China Lake, 07 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 134752, China Lake, 11 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 125054, sidewinder 1A missile, China Lake, 14 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3H-2M Demon BuNo 133569, construction #81, China Lake ramp, 23 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131069, tow bar, China Lake, 22 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278, ZUNI FFAR's, China Lake, 28 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137817, ZUNI FFAR rocket pods, China Lake, 29 May 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F8F Bearcat, F6F-5K Hellcat drones and AD-3N Skyraider BuNo 122908, China Lake, circa June 1956.

Photo from James Schmidt.

L-r: F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 123256, F3D-2 Skyknight BuNo 124609 & F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131072, China Lake, circa June 1956.

Photo from James Schmidt.

L-r: F6F-5K Hellcat drones, unknown R4D by hangar #1 and F9F-5 Panther BuNo 126043, China Lake, circa June 1956.

Photo from James Schmidt.

L-r: F6F-5K Hellcat drones, F9F-5 Panther BuNo 126043, China Lake, circa June 1956.

Photo from James Schmidt.

L-r: F3D-2 Skyknight BuNo 124609 and F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131072, China Lake, circa June 1956.

Photo from James Schmidt.

A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135414, hangar #2 in the background, China Lake, circa 1956.

Photo from James Schmidt.

A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135414, hangar #2 in the background, China Lake, circa 1956.

Dart tow targets at left, AD-3N Skyraider, F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 123256 & F3D-2 Skyknight BuNo 124609 at right. Photo from James Schmidt.

Dart tow targets, east side of hangar #2, China Lake, circa June 1956.

Photo from James Schmidt.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61782, taxiing to the B-29 compound, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61782, taxiing to the B-29 compound, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61852, starting #4 prior to taxiing to the B-29 compound, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61852, starting the long taxi to the B-29 compound, China Lake, 01 Jun 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NATC Pax River F3H-2N Demon BuNo 133552, with Sidewinder 1A missiles, China Lake, 21 Jun 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A3D-1 Skywarrior, VX-5, XE-2, China Lake, 01 July 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278, mix of 2", 2.75" & 5" rockets & rocket pods, China Lake, 01 Jul 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278, China Lake, 01 Jul 1956.

l-r: single 2.5" rocket, single 5" ZUNI rocket, 2" & 2.75" rocket pod, 7 unit 2.75" rocket pod, 19 unit 2" rocket pod, 19 unit 2.75" rocket pod & 4 unit 5" ZUNI rocket pod.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-3N Skyraider BuNo 122908 with 12 5" rockets, China Lake, August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278 with 156 2.75" Mighty Mouse rockets, China Lake, August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

AD-6 Skyraider BuNo 135278 with four 19 round & three seven round 2.75" Mighty Mouse rocket launchers on the stbd side, China Lake, August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

Mighty Mouse 19 round 2.75" rocket launcher, China Lake, August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050 and 19 round 2.75" Mighty Mouse rocket launcher with frangible cone, China Lake, August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050 & pilot Applebaum & S. Little by 19 round 2.75" Mighty Mouse rocket launcher with frangible cone, China Lake, August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

2.75" Mighty Mouse rocket elapsed firing sequence, China Lake, August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137817, ZUNI 5" FFAR rocket pods, China Lake, 08 Aug 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F8U-1 Crusader BuNo 141345, MCB Mojave, China Lake, 21 Aug 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo... note /3

F8U-1 Crusader BuNo 141345, MCB Mojave, China Lake, 21 Aug 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

The jet fuel for the speed record attempt was chilled to increase the amount of fuel onboard, 21 August 1965.

Naval Aviation News photo.

Two 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.

F8U-1 Crusader BuNo 141435 & CDR "Duke" Windsor depart for the record attempt, 21 August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

CDR "Duke" Windsor receives congratulations after setting the new speed record, 21 August 1956.

Naval Aviation News photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 131159, two Sidewinder 1 missiles, 01 Sep 1958.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougars BuNos 131072 & 131159, each with two Sidewinder 1 missiles, 01 Sep 1958.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137817, F6F Hellcats in the background, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F6F Hellcats BuNo ??, 79234 & 94408, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F6F-5 Hellcats BuNo's 94470 & 93811, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141086, China Lake, 05 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-3 AD-6 Skyraider, XC-31, ZUNI rockets, 18 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137816, simulated carrier landing, 19 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-3N Skyraider BuNo 122916, arrested landing, China Lake, 19 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F2H-2 Banshee BuNo 125677, arrested landing, China Lake, 20 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135416, XE-1, China Lake, 20 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, Sidewinder, China Lake, 27 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4 Fury BuNo 139308, China Lake, 29 Sep 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F2H-3 Banshee BuNo 126484, BOAR launch, China Lake, 01 Oct 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F2H-3 Banshee BuNo 126484, BOAR firing, China Lake, 01 Oct 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, Sidewinder, China Lake, 12 Oct 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Airshow crowd, Armitage Field, 13 October 1956.

VX-5 F3D Skyknight, NAF R4D-6 Skytrain BuNo 50832 VX-5 A4D-1 Skyhawk (XE-10), VX-5 A3D-1 Skywarrior (XE-2), NAF R4D-5 Skytrain BuNo 39074 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 Skywarrior (XE-2), NAF Skytrain BuNo 39074. Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B 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.

SNORT Airshow demonstration, China Lake, 13 October 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050, 2.75" Mighty Mouse FFAR pod, China Lake, 18 Oct 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141050, 2.75" Mighty Mouse FFAR pod, China Lake, 18 Oct 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-5 Skyraider BuNo 132654, ASROC & cameras, China Lake, 19 Oct 1956.

official U. S. Navy photo.

AD-5 Skyraider, BuNo 132654, circa 1956.

photo from Wayne Mutza collection.

A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137829, China Lake, 20 Oct 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A3D-1 Skywarrior BuNo 135414, China Lake, 20 Oct 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 134762, Fight Test, AFCS, Aero X-24 launcher.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-86F Thunderjets, s/n 51-9349 & s/n 51-9327, project 203, China Lake, 18 October 1956.

official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF B-29A Superfortress s/n 44-61843 "Don's Bald Iggles" from the 6091st RS, flown to China Lake 26 November 1956.

Photo by Gene Nelson via the RB-29 website... note /4

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.

VX-5 AD Skyraider, XE-13, BOAR, China Lake, 15 Dec 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

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

Photo from John Sickel, jr.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, Cdr. F. Ashworth & Sidewinder missile, China Lake, 26 Dec 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F9F-8 Cougar BuNo 141655, Cdr. Ashworth & ordies loading a Sidewinder missile, China Lake, 26 Dec 1956.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

/1 I'm in-flight refueling from an AJ. Note the drogue; it 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.

/2 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.

/3 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.

/4 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, Staff Sgt. Morris E."Gene" Nelson. Unidentified Ground Crew in front row.