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<-- 1972 1973 Photo Gallery. Last updated 20 November, 2009 1974 -->
• Jan 1 -- NAF has 25 aviation officers, 5 other officers, 557 enlisted and 45 aircraft consisting of 1 NA-4E, 3 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 3 TA-4J, 1 NA-6A, 3 A-6A, 1 A-7A, 1 A-7C, 2 A-7E,  2 F-4J, 6 F-86H, 1 F-4B, 2 HH-1K, 1 OV-10A, 2 YOV-10D, 1 C-131F, 1 C-117D, 1 T-39D, 3 U-3A, 4 QT-33A, 1 T-33B, 7 QF-9J & 1 NTF-9J. VX-5 has 31 aviation officers, 4 other officers, 210 enlisted and 14 aircraft consisting of 1 TA-4J, 2 A-4F, 1 A-7B, 3 A-7C, 3 A-7E, 2 US-2A, 1 AH-1J & 1 A-4M. The VX-5 Oceana Det. has 2 A-6A, 1 A-6C & 1 A-6E. The Aero Club has 1 T-34B, 2 AA1 & 1 C172.
• 10 April -- NAF pilots set a record of 21,000 flight hours without a chargeable accident since December of 1970. This was the highest number of accident-free flight hours since NAF was established.
• July 1 -- NAF has 25 aviation officers, 6 other officers, 560 enlisted and 49 aircraft consisting of 1 NA-4E, 3 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 3 TA-4J, 1 NA-6A, 3 A-6A, 1 A-7A, 1 A-7C, 1 A-7E,  2 F-4J, 6 F-86H, 2 F-4B, 2 HH-1K, 1 OV-10A, 1 YOV-10D, 1 C-131F, 1 C-117D, 1 T-39D, 3 U-3A, 8 QT-33A, 1 T-33B & 5 QF-9J. VX-5 has 30 aviation officers, 5 other officers, 185 enlisted and 15 aircraft consisting of 1 TA-4J, 2 A-4F, 1 A-7B, 5 A-7C, 2 A-7E, 2 US-2A, 1 AH-1J & 1 A-4M. The VX-5 Oceana Det. has 2 A-6A & 1 A-6E. The Aero Club has 1 T-34B, 2 AA1 & 1 American Traveler.

A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154172, GP 5.0" FFAR, hot line, China Lake, 01 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154172, GP 5.0" FFAR, hot line, China Lake, 01 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154172, GP 5.0" FFAR, hot line, China Lake, 01 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4F Skyhawk, BuNo 154172, with GP 5.0 FFAR & looks like a Tiara warhead, pilot may be Kip Banta, China Lake, 01 Feb. 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair II, BuNo 156766, XE-01, Walleye II, ER-6, ERDL, China Lake, 01 Feb 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair II BuNo 156766, XE-01, Walleye II, ER-6, ERDL, 01 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair II BuNo 156766, XE-01, Walleye II, ER-6, ERDL, 01 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF F-86H Sabre s/n 52-1996 catches fire after being struck with 20mm's at the WSL, China Lake, 07 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF F-86H Sabre s/n 52-1996, after live fire test, China Lake, 07 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF F-86H Sabre s/n 52-1996, after self destruct test, China Lake, 07 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VA-145 Intruder BuNo 155714, NE-504, Pave Knife, China Lake, 13 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-4B Phantom II BuNo 148393, GPU-2A Gun Pod, hangar #3, China Lake, 14 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, hangar #3, China Lake, circa 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, KNOZY, HARM Seeker nose, China Lake, circa 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, KNOZY, HARM Seeker nose, China Lake, circa 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, KNOZY, firing a HARM missile, China Lake, circa 1973.

This is a HARM shoot I did in 1973 as anti-radiation project officer at NWC. I had fired #4 thru eleven of the first that were developed by China Lake engineers. Note & photo from Denny Sapp.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, Walleye II, ER-7, drop, 16 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149937, TRAM pod, LLTV & FLIR sensors are mounted in the optical sensor unit, China Lake, 28 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149937, NA-14 FLIR pod, China Lake, 28 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149937, China Lake, 28 February 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair II, BuNo unknown, Walleye II ERDL pod, China Lake, 06 March 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-7E Corsair II, BuNo unknown, Walleye II ERDL pod, China Lake, 06 March 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

HMM-163 CH-46S, BuNo 156435, YP-10, MICRAD/NIRAD, China Lake, 16 Mar 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NEA-6A Intruder BuNo 149935, NAS Lakehurst, 19 March 1973.

Photo by S. Miller.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, Bigeye loader, China Lake, 05 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, Bigeye loader, China Lake, 05 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, Bigeye loader, China Lake, 05 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

ADJ-2 Robert Burch and ADJ-1 Fred Mansfield work on a jet engine in the power plants shop, China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

AMS-1 Larry Peck operates a lathe in the airframes shop, China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

AO-3 Charles Souza and AO-3 Rodney Patterson attach a tail fin to a bomb in the weapons shop, China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

AZAN Steve Mendenhall fills out the obligatory paperwork in the QC shop, China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

AT-2 W.B. Angle checks relays in electronic gear in the Electronics shop, China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

ADJ-3 Denny Callaway removes the wing locks on an A-7 Corsair II on the Hot Line as NWC Lt. Eric Vanderpohl looks on, China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

ADR-3 D-R Jones and ADJ-1 Charles Malear operate a tow tug, NAF China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

ACAN Jeffery Peterson gives landing instructions to a NAF pilot, China Lake, April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

A-4F Skyhawk pilot Ens. Frank Santoni is greeted by Capt. R.S. Moore, NAF CO, and A-4 plane captain, ADRN Kenneth Bush, China Lake, 10 April 1973.

Ens. Santoni's flight in BuNo 154172 was the last increment of a 21,000 hour accident free safety record that began in Dec. 1970.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

Ens. Frank Santoni wields a saber to cut the celebratory cake as Capt. R.S. Moore, NAF CO, and Lt. T.D. Ware look on, 10 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo via Charles Souza.

P-3A Orion, BuNo unknown, Harpoon RTV, China Lake, 10 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

HH-1K Huey BuNo 157184, airborne north of hangar 3, China Lake, 13 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VAQ-129 EA-6B Prowler BuNo 158040, TR-04, jamming pod, China Lake, 13 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

OV-10A Bronco BuNo 152879, Davis gun, China Lake, 17 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

OV-10A Bronco BuNo 152879, Davis gun, China Lake, 17 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 155615, YAGM-53A Condor and data link pod, China Lake, 18 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 155615, YAGM-53A Condor and data link pod, China Lake, 18 April 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149969, Bulldog missiles, hangar #3, China Lake, 01 May 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 53-1413, #34, China Lake, May 1973.

#34 was transferred from Point Mugu in late 1972 and although the tail code has been changed to China Lake, VX-4 is still visible above the NAVY designation.

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

U-3A Blue Canoe s/n 58-2111, alongside hangar #2, China Lake, May 1973.

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

C-117D Skytrain BuNo 17156, China Lake, May 1973.

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

VX-5 US-2A Tracker BuNo 136616, XE-22, China Lake, May 1972.

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

C-131F Samaritan BuNo 141028, China Lake, May 1973.

Photographer unknown.

C-131F Samaritan BuNo 141028, China Lake, May 1973.

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

QF-9J Cougar drone BuNo 141203, China Lake, May 1973.

Photographer unknown.

QF-9J Cougar drone BuNo 144312, China Lake, circa 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NWC F-4J Phantom BuNo 153812, on the ramp next to hangar #2, May 1973.

Photographer unknown.

VX-5 AH-1J Sea Cobra BuNo 157759, XE-10, China Lake, May 1973.

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

Former China Lake A-4C Skyhawk BuNo 147680, NADC Johnsville, PA, May 1973.

Photo Michel Klaver collection.

C-117D Skytrain BuNo 17156, NAWS, May 1973.

Photo © John Stewart with his permission.

VX-5 AH-1J Sea Cobra BuNo 157759, XE-10, China Lake, 18 May 1973.

Photo by H. R. Muir.

QF-9J Cougar drone BuNo 144272, China Lake, May 1973.

Photographer unknown.

QF-9J Cougar drone BuNo 144272, China Lake, 19 May 1973.

Photographer unknown.

HH-1K Huey BuNo 157193, IR, China Lake, hangars #2 and #3 in the background, 30 May 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

HH-1K Huey BuNo 157193, IR, China Lake, line shack in the background, 30 May 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 155615, Condor, China Lake, 07 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 155615, YAGM-53A Condor and data link pod, China Lake, 07 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 155615, YAGM-53A Condor and data link pod, China Lake, 07 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 154332, IR pod, China Lake, 08 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 154332, IR pod, China Lake, 08 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154172, SUU-53 cold cloud pod, hangar #3, China Lake, 12 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154172, SUU-53 cold cloud pod, hangar #3, China Lake, 12 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156734, Mk-81's over the Sierras, 15 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156734, Mk-81's over the Sierras, 15 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156734, Mk-81's over Ridgecrest, 15 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-9L Sidewinder missile intercept of a QF-9 Cougar drone, 1 of 4, 27 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-9L Sidewinder missile intercept of a QF-9 Cougar drone, 2 of 4, 27 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-9L Sidewinder missile intercept of a QF-9 Cougar drone, 3 of 4, 27 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-9L Sidewinder missile intercept of a QF-9 Cougar drone, 4 of 4, 27 June 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missile ready for a vertical launch, China Lake, 01 July 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848 HARM nose, China Lake, circa July 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-4 F-18A Tomcat BuNo 158618, XF-30, hangar #3, NAF China Lake, about July 1973.

Photo © The Will Blunt/Global Air Images collection.

A-6A Corsair II BuNo 152656, firing a HARM missile, 02 August 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, HARM missile, China Lake, 31 August 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

USAF T-38A Talon s/n 59-1595, China Lake, 04 September 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Lt. Jack Macidull in HH-1K Huey BuNo 157194 recovering a BQM drone, China Lake, circa 1973.

Photo from Denny Sapp.

HH-1K Huey BuNo 157193, MAD FAE takeoff, China Lake, 26 September 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 A-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154179, XE-14, NAS Fallon, September 1973.

R.E. Kling photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149936, loading a AGM-53 Condor, China Lake, 02 Oct. 1973. L-r AO1 F. Jenkins, AOAN C. Hall, AO2 C. Souza, AO2 L. Phillips.

Official U.S. Navy photo from Charlie Souza.

　

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149936, AGM-53A Condor, China Lake, 02 Oct. 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo from Charlie Souza.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, weather modification jet seeder pod, China Lake, 04 October 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, weather modification jet seeder pod, China Lake, 04 October 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 152848, weather modification jet seeder pod, China Lake, 04 October 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6A Intruder BuNo 149936, weather mod. jet seeder pod close-up, China Lake, 04 October 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

SNORT AV-8A Harrier SIIIS-3 ejection seat system tested under 250 knots in a nose down attitude, China Lake, 12 October 1973.

Naval Aviation News photo.

SNORT AV-8A Harrier SIIIS-3 ejection seat system ejects a dummy during 435 knot tests, China Lake, circa 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

DT-38A Talon, BuNo 59-1604, China Lake, Nov. '73.

Photo White via S. VanAken.

U.S. Army F-51D Mustang s/n 68-15795, 106mm recoilless rifle, K-2, China Lake, 06 November 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Army F-51D Mustang s/n 68-15795, 106mm recoilless rifle, K-2, China Lake, 06 November 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-7C Corsair II BuNo 156739, HARM Baseline I, hangar #3, China Lake, 19 November 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-14 Tomcat, BuNo unknown, Agile missile close-up, China Lake, 06 December 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

YOV-10D Bronco BuNo 155395, turreted FLIR sensor and turreted M-197 20-mm, 12 December 1973.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Mike Lab. in the foreground with Armitage Field in the background, Admin at right, circa 1973.

Photographer unknown.

NOTS Technical Research Library, circa 1973.

Photographer unknown.