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<-- 1959 1960 Photo Gallery. Last updated 31 July, 2010 1961 -->
• Jan 1  -- NAF has 43 aircraft consisting of 1 R4D-8, 1 R4D-4, 1 HRS-3, 1 FJ-4B, 3 F3D-2T2, 1 F4D-1, 4 F9F-6D, 2 FJ-3D2, 1 P2V-4, 1 YP2V-3W, 2 T-28BD, 2 JD-1D, 15 F9F-6K, 8 F6F-5K drones & 1 F-104A. VX-5 has 12 aircraft consisting of 1 F9F-8T, 2 FJ-4B, 5 A4D-2, 2 A4D-2N, 1 A3D-2 & 1 SNB-5.
• Hangar No. 3 completed at the Naval Air Facility.
• BuWeps and OpTEvFor successful evaluations of the ASROC anti-submarine weapon system.
• First successful Polaris firing after underwater launching.
• January -- VX-5 received three new A4D-2N Skyhawks and was assigned to develop improved en-route & delivery tactics for nuclear & conventional weapons. LCdr. James Nance was named A4D-2N project officer.
• April 13 -- Public Works employee Mr. Jesse Ariel Thomas lost his life in a SNORT Track incident.
• 13 June -- The Marine Corp Guided Missile Test Unit (MCGMTU) is deactivated.
• July 1 -- NAF has 33 aviation officers, 2 other officers, 445 enlisted and 52 aircraft consisting of 1 AD-5N, 1 A3D-2, 1 A4D-1, 1 A4D-2, 1 F3D-2, 3 F3D-2T2, 3 F4D-1, 2 F8U-1, 1 FJ-4, 2 FJ-4B, 1 P2V-3W, 1 P2V-4, 1 R4D-8, 1 HRS-3, 2 JD-1D, 2 T28-BD, 1 F9F-6D, 1 FJ-3D2, 15 F9F-6K, 6 F6F-5K & 1 F-104A. VX-5 has 30 officers, 200 enlisted and 12 aircraft consisting of 1 SNB, 1 F9F-8T, 1 A3D-2, 2 FJ-4B, 4 A4D-2N, 2 A4D-2 & 1 A4D-1.
• July 28 -- 1st CALEB R&D flight.
• August 1 -- The Naval Air Rocket Test Station, Lake Denmark, NJ, was disestablished and the land was turned over to the Army for incorporation in Picattinny Arsenal. Navy liquid rocket development projects were transferred to other activities, primarily NOTS China Lake, CA; the Naval Propellant Plant, Indian Head, MD.; and the Naval Weapons Laboratory, Dahlgren, VA.
• Sep. 22 -- U.S. Marine Corp Capt. Howard O. Casada Jr. lost his life when his Navy F-104A Starfighter (56-0740) collided with Josephine mountain north of  Los Angeles, CA.
• Oct. 21 -- U.S. Navy Reserve Lt. Jan M. Graves lost his life when his F4D-1 Skyray (130745) flipped over on it's back while simulating carrier takeoffs & landings on runway 21.The cause was determined to have been a broken wire on the rudder system positioning feed back servo which caused the rudder to fully deflect just after lift-off.
• Oct. 24 -- 2nd CALEB R&D flight unsuccessful after 2nd stage failed.
• Dec. 13 -- Civil Service employees Mr. Robert B. Hughes of Code 3081, Test Department, and Mr. Hubert J. Stanfill of Code 3081, Test Department, lost their lives at San Clemente when a rocket motor ignited prematurely.

VX-5 A4D-2N Skyhawk BuNo 145064, XE-1, shortly after its arrival from Douglas waits to begin its specialized work, China Lake, January 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo. /1

AIM-9 Sidewinder refrigerated detector unit, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

MK-17 Sadeye art, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

MK-17 Gladeye art, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B Fury BuNo 139285, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo from Art Jensen.

FJ-4B Fury BuNo 139285, COBRA, China Lake, 06 Jan 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B Fury BuNo 143606, hooking DART target, China Lake, 07 Jan 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armitage Field from about the 7,500' mark on runway 21, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo by Larry Ruybal.

Larry Ruybal at the wheel of the Cherry Picker, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo by Larry Ruybal.

JD-1D Jig Dog BuNo 77142 at left & AD-5N Skyraider BuNo 132521 at left, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo by Larry Ruybal.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 130745, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo by Larry Ruybal.

F9F-6K Cougar BuNo 130837, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo by Larry Ruybal.

FJ-4 Fury BuNo 132285 & AD-5N Skyraider BuNo 139521, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo by Larry Ruybal.

F6F-5K Hellcat drone, BuNo 77722, at Pt Mugu before its transfer to NAF China Lake.

photo ©John Campbell.

F6F-5K Hellcat drone, BuNo 77722, China Lake, 01 Feb 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F6F-5K Hellcat drone, BuNo 77722, China Lake, 01 Feb 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3H Demon and Sparrow III missiles, 10 Feb 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF F-100D Super Sabre, Skydart, China Lake, 07 Mar 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF CAPT Charles Kuyk, Jr., from EAFB landing B-47B Stratojet, s/n 50-016, at 180 mph on a 14 foot wide strip on Randsburg Wash, 12 March 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo. (note the B-17 at right)

B-47B Stratojet, s/n 50-016, after landing on a 14 foot wide strip on Randsburg Wash Range, 12 March 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

B-47B Stratojet, s/n 50-016, after landing on a 14 foot wide strip on Randsburg Wash Range, 12 March 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF CAPT Charles Kuyk, Jr., from Edwards AFB after landing the B-47B Stratojet on the Randsburg Wash Range, 12 March 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF H-21B Workhorse s/n 52-8675, Bomarc test, Randsburg Wash Range, 12 March 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F8U-1 Crusader, BuNo 144435, sidewinder 1C missile, China Lake, 18 Mar 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-104A Starfighter, s/n 56-0740, China Lake, 22 Mar 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-104A Starfighter, s/n 56-0740, China Lake, 22 Mar 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AD-5N Skyraider, BuNo 132521, Polaris, China Lake, 30 Mar 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 130745, CALEB rocket motor, China Lake, 15 Apr 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 130745, CALEB rocket motor close-up, China Lake, 15 Apr 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VMA-311 A-4B Skyhawk, BuNo 142946, WL-2, China Lake, 15 Apr 1960. L-r standing: Gustafson, Coxe, Cox, McCauley, Baker, Trant, Murphy, James & Ruescher. L-r sitting: Emery, Clark, Col. Rushlow, Glass, Cornish & Coffin. Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF F-104A Starfighter, s/n 57-1328, sidewinder 1C missile, China Lake, 18 Apr 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-104A Starfighter, s/n 56-0740, sidewinder 1C IR missile, China Lake, 28 Apr 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

YA4D-1 Skyhawk, BuNo 137818, Fireye (Napalm) ordinance, China Lake, 02 May 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Slick Airways Super Connie N6937C at San Francisco Int'l Airport, 07 May 1960.

Photo by Lawrence S. Smalley, courtesy of Greg Vaughn... note /2

A4D-1 Skyhawk, BuNo 137818, firing 5" ZUNI FFAR's, China Lake, 11 May 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Foreign Naval Attaches arriving on an Anacostia R5D are welcomed upon their arrival at NAF China Lake, 10 May 1960. Rocketeer photo.

FJ-4B Fury, BuNo 143606, MK-81 iron bombs, China Lake, 13 May 1960. Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B Fury, BuNo 143606, MK-81 iron bombs, China Lake, 13 May 1960. Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3D-2T Skyknight, BuNo 124595, Cobra (aka Shrike) missile, China Lake, 24 May 1960. Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3D-2T Skyknight, BuNo 124595, Cobra (aka Shrike) missile, China Lake, 24 May 1960. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Armed Forces Day visitors inspect the various capsules and sleds at the SNORT facility, China Lake, 21 May 1960. The one at front center looks like the Vigi sled. Rocketeer photo.

VX-5 A3D-2 Skywarrior, BuNo 142654, XE-15, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3D-2T Skyknight BuNo 124616, Cobra (aka Shrike) missile, China Lake, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3D-2T Skyknight BuNo 124616, Cobra (aka Shrike) missile, China Lake, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F3D-2T Skyknight BuNo 124616, Cobra (aka Shrike) missile, China Lake, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 Ordie AN Ronald W. Bowen was declared the winner of the Golden Shoe Club Award when a Mk-7 Practice Bomb slipped off a transport carriage and struck the top of his safety boot, tearing a two-inch gash in the boot toe, China Lake, 03 June 1960. Rocketeer photo.

Alan Hale, Jr., TV and movie star, poses in front of NAF R4D-5 Skytrain BuNo 17121 with Little League queen Sylvia Castaneda, Babe Ruth and Little League players. China Lake, 10 June 1960. Rocketeer photo.

F3D-2M Skyknight BuNo 127083, Litchfield Park, June 1960.

Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association.

T-28B Trojan BuNo 138345, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo © Global Air Image

China Lake R4D-5 Skytrain BuNo 17121, circa 1960. R5D at left is from NAS Anacostia, tail code 6A.

Photographer unknown.

A4D-1 Skyhawk, BuNo 137818, MBER & Mk-81, China Lake, 27 Jun 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A4D-1 Skyhawk, BuNo 137818, MBER & Mk-81, China Lake, 27 Jun 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

RAdm. Charles J. Bergin (left), newly appointed commander of ComOpTevFor, is shown with Capt. K . S. Van Meter, VX-5 CO, before taking an orientation flight of the area in VX-5 A3D-2 BuNo 142654, XE-15. China Lake, 08 July 1960. Rocketeer photo.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 130745, CALEB, China Lake, 28 Jul 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 130745, CALEB, China Lake, 28 Jul 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 130745, CALEB, China Lake, 28 Jul 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A Sidewinder 1-C missile on the wing of NAF F-104A Starfighter s/n 56-0740, China Lake, 29 July 1960. Official U. S. Navy photo from Bob Lawson.

A Sidewinder 1-C missile on the wing of NAF F-104A Starfighter s/n 56-0740, China Lake, 29 July 1960. Official U. S. Navy photo from Bob Lawson.

F-104A Starfighter, s/n 56-0740, sidewinder 1C IR missile, China Lake, 29 Jul 1960. Official U.S. Navy photo.

RCAF CC-109 Cosmopolitan s/n 11158, DT-28B Trojan BuNo 137667.

NAF A4D-2 Skyhawk BuNo 142892, NAF A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137818 & VX-5 Fury BuNo 139549, China Lake, circa August 1960. Official U.S. Navy photo.

VAW-11 AD-5Q Skyraider, BuNo 135031, RR-756, radar pod, China Lake, 12 Aug 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VAW-11 AD-5Q Skyraider, BuNo 135031, RR-756, radar pod, China Lake, 12 Aug 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F8U-2N Crusader, BuNo 147036, S side of hangar 3, China Lake, 27 Aug 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F8U-2N Crusader, BuNo 147036, S side of hangar 3, China Lake, 27 Aug 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-104A Starfighter, BuNo 56-0740, China Lake, photo file date 01 Jan 1961.

Crashed into Josephine mountain north of Los Angeles, 22 Sep 1960. Pilot USMC Capt. Harold O. Casada Jr.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4B Skyhawk, BuNo 144936, VA-23, China Lake, 01 Sep 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 FJ-4B Fury BuNo 141478, just received, gets a full inventory and inspection, China Lake, September 1960.

Naval Aviation News photo.

XF4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 124587, 22 Sep 1960.

Douglas Aircraft Co., Inc. photo... note/3

JD-1D Jig Dog drone director 77156 and drone loader, Frank Turchi adjusting the sway braces & Jim Thompson on the loader, China Lake, ca. 1960.

photo from Frank Turchi.

JD-1D Jig Dog drone director 77156, east side of hangar 2, China Lake, ca. 1960.

photo from Rick Saiger.

JD-1D Jig Dog drone directors, BuNo 77142 & 77156, east side of hangar 2, China Lake, ca. 1960.

Photo ©Rick Saiger.

KDA crew posed for this picture right after they started having in-flight emergencies with the JD's, China Lake, abt 1960.

from lower left, R. B. Saiger AT2, David O. Teasdale AE1, crew chief, standing is Jim Thomas AT2, and Jim Thompson AT2.

Photo from Rick Saiger.

Thirteen senior officers from friendly allied nations pose in front of North Island R4Y-1 Samaritan BuNo 141022 after their arrival at NAF for a tour of NOTS, China Lake, 14 October 1960. Rocketeer photo.

Artist's conception of what the Navy's Eagle air-to-air missile will look like as it streaks to its target. Launching aircraft and a fleet task force hover over the horizon (insert). China Lake, 14 October 1960. Rocketeer photo.

USAF C-97 Stratofreighter cargo transport, s/n 45-595xx, China Lake, 18 Oct 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

CALEB transport, China Lake, 24 Oct 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

CALEB loader, China Lake, 24 Oct 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 134856, CALEB upload, China Lake, 24 Oct 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 134745, CALEB upload, China Lake, 24 Oct 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 130745, CALEB, China Lake, 28 Jul 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray BuNo 130745, CALEB, China Lake, 28 Jul 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A4D-2 Skyhawk BuNo 145041, XE-5, with Snakeyes, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo from "Frenchy" LeBlanc.

VX-5 A4D-2 Skyhawk BuNo 145041, XE-5, with Snakeyes, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo from "Frenchy" LeBlanc.

VX-5 A4D-2N Skyhawk BuNo 145068, XE-4, & squadron officers, China Lake, circa 1960.

Photo from "Frenchy" LeBlanc.

VA-25 practicing nuclear weapons delivery ( Loft Bombing) at NAF China Lake November 1960.

Chuck Muhl standing on the far left. Next to him is Jack Feldhaus, later shot down and killed, on a mission over North Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the Fist of the Fleet Association.

VX-5 A-4C Skyhawks, BuNo 145075 & looks to be 145068, China Lake, 09 Nov 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Hangar 1, Armitage Field, China Lake, 09 Nov 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4C Skyhawk, BuNo 145075, XE-03, MBER & Mk-81 bombs, China Lake, 16 November 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4C Skyhawk, BuNo 145075, XE-03, MBER & Mk-81 bombs, China Lake, 16 November 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4C Skyhawk, BuNo 145075, XE-03, MBER & Mk-81 bombs, China Lake, 16 November 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 130745, CALEB in-flight, 17 Nov 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F4D-1 Skyray, BuNo 130745, CALEB in flight, NAF China Lake, ca. 1960.

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

P2V-4 Neptune BuNo 124238, Skywarrior nose, China Lake circa 1960-1961.

Official U.S. Navy photo

Original working model of adapter for Mk-55 by Chief Brelsford. China Lake, 09 December 1960. Rocketeer photo.

Perfected model, by toolmaker John Harris, of adapter for Mk-55 ready for installation. China Lake, 09 December 1960. Rocketeer photo.

An Aero-X2A rack equipped with six Mk-55 bomb racks which have been modified to carry Mk-106 practice bombs are shown on an FJ-4B Fury. China Lake, 09 December 1960. Rocketeer photo.

FJ-4B Fury, BuNo 143605, ARM, China Lake, 12 Dec 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B Fury, BuNo 143606, PADEYE smoke tank, China Lake, 12 Dec 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B Fury, BuNo 143606, PADEYE smoke tank, China Lake, 12 Dec 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B Fury, BuNo 143606, PADEYE smoke tank, China Lake, 12 Dec 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FJ-4B Fury, BuNo 143606, PADEYE smoke tank, China Lake, 12 Dec 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Marshall Kriesel (L) in G-2 control room watching launch of his Mark V rocket, China Lake, 21 December 1960.

LIFE photo by Grey-Villet.

Marshall Kriesel (L) in the G-2 Range control room, prior to launch time, China Lake, 21 December 1960.

LIFE photo by Grey-Villet.

Marshall Kriesel with his MARK V rocket before flight on G-2 Range, China Lake, 21 December 1960.

LIFE photo by Grey-Villet.

Marshall Kriesel with Mark V rocket he built and which the navy will test fire, China Lake, 21 December 1960.

LIFE photo by Grey-Villet.

Marshall Kriesel looking over his Mark V rocket after successful test firing, China Lake, 21 December 1960.

LIFE photo by Grey-Villet.

LTjg T.G. Stumfall stands next to a Sidewinder-1A missile and his VF-124 F8U Crusader, side number 413, China Lake, circa 1960/61

Naval Aviation News photo.

AGM-62 Walleye TV guided bomb, China Lake, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AGM-45 Shrike aerodynamic testing southwest of B Mountain, China Lake, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AGM-45 Shrike aerodynamic testing southwest of B Mountain, China Lake, circa 1960.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-104A Starfighter, BuNo 56-0757, China Lake, 01 Jan 1961.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TV-2 Seastar, BuNo 141547 (former USAF 55-3062), China Lake, 01 Jan 1961.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A4D-2N Skyhawk BuNo 145069, Bullpup missiles, probably near Edwards AFB, 01 Jan 1961.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-4 FJ-4B Fury BuNo 143494, XF-14, Bullpup missiles, 01 Jan 1961.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

/1 L-r are pilots, LCdr. James W. Nance, Project Officer, LCdr. Harry S. Sellers, final Delivery Tactics Officer and LCdr. N. Jackson Gambrill, En Route Tactics Officer.

/2 Those of us that remember the o'dark thirty arrivals of the Slick Airways Red Label flights probably brought this one in more than once. N6937C, built as a cargo plane for Slick Airways, was one of the last Connies off Lockheed's assembly lines in 1959. The Airline History Museum at Kansas City restored N6937C to like new condition and today it flies again as a TWA Lockheed Super G Constellation (L-1049G).

/3 XF4D-1 124587 was used as an engine test bed by General Electric, testing the J79 and CJ805-3 engine intended for the Convair 880. 03 Oct 1953 - Piloted by Navy Lt-Cdr. James B. Verdin, XF4D-1, 124587 set a new world's air speed record of 752.944 mph over a three-kilometer course above the Salton Sea in California, breaking a record speed of 735.70 mph set by Michael J. Lithgow in a Supermarine Swift F Mk4 just nine days earlier at Castel Idris, Libya. Lt-Cdr. Verdin's record was beaten twenty-six days later by Frank Everest in a North American YF-100A at the Salton Sea in southern California. Everest's speed record was just 2.20 mph faster than Verdin's. 16 Apr 1958 - Piloted by Lt-Cdr. George Watkins, 138647 set an altitude record of 76,831 feet over Edwards AFB.