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<-- 1971

1972 Aircraft Photo Gallery. Last updated 27 February, 2008

 1973 -->
• Jan 1 -- NAF has 25 aviation officers, 5 other officers, 492 enlisted and 47 aircraft consisting of 2 A-4C, 1 NA-4E, 3 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 2 TA-4J, 1 TA-4F, 1 NA-6A, 4 A-6A, 1 A-7A, 2 A-7C, 1 F-8H, 1 F-4J, 2 F-4B, 2 HH-1K, 2 OV-10A, 1 C-131F, 2 C-117D, 1 T-39D, 3 U-3A, 4 QT-33A, 1 T-33B, 8 QF-9J & 1 NTF-9J. VX-5 has 28 aviation officers, 4 other officers, 213 enlisted and 13 aircraft consisting of 1 TA-4J, 2 A-4F, 1 A-7B, 6 A-7E, 1 US-2A, 1 AH-1J & 1 A-4M. The VX-5 Oceana Det has 3 A-6A. The Aero Club has 1 T-34B.
 • Jun. 26 -- two USN F-4J's BuNo 158379 and BuNo 158364 collided over Coso Range on the north end of the China Lake Naval Weapons Center. Both crews were able the eject safely.
• July 1 -- NAF has 24 aviation officers, 4 other officers, 450 enlisted and 48 aircraft consisting of 2 A-4C, 1 NA-4E, 3 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 2 TA-4J, 1 TA-4F, 1 NA-6A, 3 A-6A, 1 A-7A, 1 A-7C, 1 A-7E,  2 F-4J, 2 F-86H, 2 F-4B, 2 HH-1K, 2 OV-10A, 1 C-131F, 1 C-117D, 1 T-39D, 3 U-3A, 5 QT-33A, 1 T-33B, 8 QF-9J & 1 NTF-9J. VX-5 has 24 aviation officers, 11 other officers, 218 enlisted and 10 aircraft consisting of 1 TA-4J, 2 A-4F, 1 A-7B, 3 A-7C, 1 US-2A, 1 AH-1J & 1 A-4M. The VX-5 Oceana Det has 4 A-6E. The Aero Club has 1 T-34B.
• Dec. 13 -- Civil Service employees Mr. Walter E. LaDassor (Explosives Branch) and Mr. Richard Plauson (Explosives Branch) lost their lives in an industrial explosives accident in a remote area of NWC.

CBU-55 FAE Cluster bomb, January 1972.

Naval Aviation News photo.

A-7A Corsair II BuNo 152656, Walleye II ER-3, 03 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

U-3A Blue Canoe s/n 57-5891, Saturn Aviation, possibly Tehachapi, CA, January 1972.

Photographer unknown via C.T. Robbins.

USAF F-4D Phantom s/n 66-0824, Walleye seek-bang, China Lake, 06 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 152072, Bulldog ordnance, LTCOL Bennie W. "Bulldog" Summers, China Lake, 12 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 152072, LTCOL Bennie W. "Bulldog" Summers, China Lake, 12 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 152072, Bulldog ordnance & test set, China Lake, 12 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, ARBS, China Lake, 19 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, ARBS close-up, China Lake, 19 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, ARBS cockpit, China Lake, 19 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149969, China Lake, 19 January 1972

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-8D Crusader BuNo 147057, Sidewinder AIM-9L missiles, China Lake, 21 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-4B Phantom BuNo 151435, Sidewinder missile, China Lake, 21 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF A-7D Corsair, TRAM, 28 January 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo152862, XE-12, Jan 1972.

photo ©Scott Van Aken

AIM-9 Sidewinder Chaparral test, G-2 range, China Lake, 01 February 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-4B Phantom II BuNo 152435, AIM-9L Sidewinder, China Lake, 02 February 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 152072, Bulldog missile, China Lake, 07 Februray 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

RF-84F Thunderflash s/n 53-7530, China Lake, 08 February 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

QF-9J Cougar BuNo 141649, China Lake, 08 February 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, FAE ordnance, China Lake, 08 February 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, FAE ordnance, China Lake, 08 February 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 148437, China Lake, February 1972.

photographer unknown.

VX-5 A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156770, XE-6, HOBO ordnance, USS Midway, 01 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FAE ordnance, USS Midway, 01 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159471, XE-15, FAE ordnance, USS Midway, 01 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159471, XE-15, FAE ordnance, USS Midway, 01 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159471, XE-15, FAE ordnance, USS Midway, 01 March 1972.

VA-127 A-4F Skyhawk NJ-733 in the background.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VA-82 A-7E Corsair II & SHRIKE missiles, China Lake, 14 March 1972.

Official U.S.N. Photo.

VA-82 A-7E Corsair II & SHRIKE missiles, China Lake, 14 March 1972.

Official U.S.N. Photo.

VA-82 A-7E Corsair II & SHRIKE missiles, China Lake, 14 March 1972.

Official U.S.N. Photo.

U.S. Army OV-1C Mohawk, probably s/n 68-15940, FAE ordnance, China Lake, 16 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149953, Condor, China Lake, 16 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7 Corsair II, Ratails, China Lake, 16 March 1972.

Left to right: unknown, Bill Porter, Charlie Hall, unknown, Elvy Hopkins, Woody Cartier, Bob Atkins, unknown, CAPT John Clinton, unknown, unknown and Robert E. Trimble.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Cold Cloud SUU-53/A, China Lake, circa 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, cold cloud SUU-53/A, 17 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, cold cloud SUU-53/A, 17 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, cold cloud SUU-53/A firing close-up, 17 March 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 152862, XE-12, McChord AFB, 11 April 1972.

Larsen/Remington photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, ARBS, China Lake, 11 April 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

P-3B Orion & Harpoon missile, China Lake, 26 April 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

P-3B Orion & Harpoon missile, China Lake, 26 April 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 F4U-4 Corsair BuNo 097259, XE-00, personal mount of Capt. "Tex" Birdwell, China Lake, circa 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 CO reunion, China Lake, circa 1972

L-r: former VX-5 CO Capt. H. N. O'Connor, Range Head Duane Mack, Bob Whiting Range Patrol, former VX-5 CO CAPT Boyd Muncie, A. Chappelle Motorola Corp. and VX-5 CO CAPT "Tex" Birdwell.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149953, EAGM-53A CONDOR closeup, China Lake, 03 May 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149953, EAGM-53A CONDOR closeup, China Lake, 03 May 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149953, EAGM-53A CONDOR, China Lake, 03 May 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149953, EAGM-53A CONDOR, China Lake, 03 May 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AGM-53 Condor missile is tested against a trailer mounted radar, China Lake, circa 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo, #1 of 4.

AGM-53 Condor missile is tested against a trailer mounted radar, China Lake, circa 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo, #2 of 4.

AGM-53 Condor missile is tested against a trailer mounted radar, China Lake, circa 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo, #3 of 4.

AGM-53 Condor missile is tested against a trailer mounted radar, China Lake, circa 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo, #4 of 4.

VX-5 A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156805, XE-03, Walleye FA, USS Kitty Hawk, 17 May 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

FA close-up, USS Kitty Hawk, 17 May 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Former VT-25 F11F Tigers afire on the China Lake Aircraft Survivability Range, 7 June 1972.

L-r in forground F11F BuNo 141835 3J-633, BuNo 141841, BuNo 141842 3J-627 and BuNo 141912 3J-621. Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4A Skyhawk BuNo 137814, China Lake traffic circle, 08 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149936, AGILE missiles, China Lake, 09 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-4J Phantom II BuNo 153812, AGILE missiles, 09 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7 Corsair II, BuNo unknown, Walleye II DL, China Lake, 20 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NMC P-2A Orion BuNo 150529, LIR pod, China Lake, 23 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NMC P-2A Orion BuNo 150529, LIR pod, China Lake, 23 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149937, Harpoon missile, China Lake, 27 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149937, Harpoon missile, China Lake, 27 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Army Ch-47C Chinook s/n 68-15859, ALE-29A chaff dispenser, China Lake, 28 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Army Ch-47C Chinook s/n 68-15859, ALE-29A chaff dispenser, China Lake, 28 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7B Corsair II BuNo 154366, XE-11, FAE HS ordnance, China Lake, 29 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7B Corsair II BuNo 154366, XE-11, FAE HS ordnance close-up, China Lake, 29 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155xxx, GPU-2/A gun pod, China Lake, 29 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155xxx, GPU-2/A gun pod, China Lake, 29 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155xxx, GPU-2/A gun pod close-up, China Lake, 29 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

OV-10A Bronco BuNo 155xxx, GPU-2/A gun pod close-up, China Lake, 29 June 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Army Ch-47C Chinook s/n 68-15859, ALE-29A chaff dispenser, Graduation Level Red Tail project, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Army Ch-47C Chinook s/n 68-15859, ALE-29A chaff dispenser, Graduation Level Red Tail project, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Army Ch-47C Chinook s/n 68-15859, ALE-29A chaff dispenser, Graduation Level Red Tail project, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Machine Shop, Armitage Field, China Lake, 05 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7A Corsair II in flight, 13 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154177, XE-13, FAE ordnance, China Lake, 18 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, HARM seeker nose, China Lake, 20 July 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, ARBS, China Lake, 01 August 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, ARBS instrument panel, China Lake, 01 August 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, ARBS right console, China Lake, 01 August 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

CH-53 Sea Stallion, MAD-FAE drop, 01 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 F4U-4 Corsair BuNo 097259, XE-00, personal mount of Capt. "Tex" Birdwell, circa 1972.

photographer unknown, G. Verver collection.

QF-86H Sabre drone 53-1314, PMTC-35, Point Mugu, September 1972.

G. Verver collection.

Aero Spacelines Super Guppy B-377SG, N1038V, arriving at China Lake, 06 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Aero Spacelines Super Guppy B-377SG, N1038V, unloading a USAF A-7 Corsair, China Lake, 06 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Aero Spacelines Super Guppy B-377SG, N1038V, taxiing for take-off, China Lake, 06 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Aero Spacelines Super Guppy B-377SG, N1038V, take-off, China Lake, 06 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, FAE ordnance, China Lake, 12 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, FAE ordnance, China Lake, 12 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, FAE ordnance, China Lake, 12 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, FAE ordnance close-up, China Lake, 12 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, ZUNI thermal launchers, China Lake, 12 September 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 TA-4F Skyhawk, BuNo152862, XE-12, Point Mugu, October 1972.

Photo by H. R. Muir via C. T. Robbins.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149655, NAS Alameda, October 1972.

Photo by Lionel Paul via W. Mutza.

QT-33A Shooting Star drone BuNo 155948, China Lake, 20 October 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156770, XE-06, October 1972.

photographer unknown.

A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 147781, LGB, China Lake, 01 November 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VMA-513 AV-8A Harrier BuNo 158391, IR paint, China Lake, 10 November 1972.

Official U.S.Navy photo.

AIM-7 Sparrow missile flyover facility, China Lake, 10 November 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-7 Sparrow missile flyover equipment, China Lake, 10 November 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-7 Sparrow missile flyover equipment, China Lake, 10 November 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-4 Phantom II AIM-7 Sparrow missile flyover, China Lake, 10 November 1972.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

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