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<-- 1975 1976 Aircraft Photo Gallery. Last updated 01 May, 2008 1977 -->
• Jan 1 -- NAF has 28 aviation officers, 4 other officers, 435 enlisted and 57 aircraft consisting of 1 NA-4E, 1 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 3 TA-4J, 2 NA-6A, 2 A-6E, 3 A-7C, 1 A-7E, 2 F-4B, 2 OV-10A, 2 UH-1N, 2 C-131F, 1 T-39D, 3 U-3A, 5 QT-33A, 5 T-38 & 21 QF-86H. VX-5 has 40 aviation officers, 6 other officers, 220 enlisted and 16 aircraft consisting of 3 A-7C, 3 A-7E, 1 AH-1J, 1 TA-4J, 2 A-4M, 4 A-6E, 1 US-2A & 1 US-2B. The Aero Club has 1 T-34B, 2 Cessna 150, 2 Cessna 177 & 1 Cessna 210.
• Feb 18 -- The night attack weapons system, a modified air-to-surface Maverick missile designed to enhance the performance of night tactical and strike aircraft, scored a direct hit on a moving M-48 tank.
• May 21 -- U.S. Navy CWO4 Charles D. Alderman, U.S. Navy EM-1 Ralph E. Loux, Jr and Civil Service employee Mr. Joseph A. Holman lost their lives in a Fuel-Air Explosive (FAE) accident on one of the Ranges.
• July 1 -- NAF has 24 aviation officers, 4 other officers, 355 enlisted and 54 aircraft consisting of 1 NA-4E, 1 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 3 TA-4J, 2 NA-6A, 2 A-6E, 3 A-7C, 1 NA-7C, 3 A-7E, 2 OV-10A, 2 UH-1N, 2 C-131F, 1 T-39D, 3 U-3A, 5 QT-33A, 5 QT-38A & 17 QF-86H. VX-5 has 32 aviation officers, 5 other officers, 221 enlisted and 17 aircraft consisting of 2 A-7C, 3 A-7E, 1 AH-1J, 1 TA-4J, 3 A-4M, 5 A-6E, 1 C-1A & 1 US-2B. The Aero Club has 1 T-34B, 2 Cessna 150, 2 Cessna 177 & 1 Cessna 210.
• Aug 30 -- VX-5 A-6E Intruder BuNo 152593 was struck from below by VX-5 A-7E Corsair BuNo 159299 during a night approach and both crashed inside the fence near Inyokern Rd. Both crew ejected.
 • Oct 1 -- NAVWPNCEN has 34 aviation officers, 17 other officers, 373 enlisted and 49 aircraft consisting of 1 NA-4E, 1 A-4E, 1 A-4F, 3 TA-4J, 2 NA-6A, 2 A-6E, 2 A-7C, 1 NA-7C, 3 A-7E, 2 OV-10A, 2 UH-1N, 2 C-131F, 1 T-39D, 3 U-3A, 2 QT-33A, 2 QT-38A 5 T-38A & 14 QF-86H. VX-5 has 31 aviation officers, 4 other officers, 227 enlisted and 15 aircraft consisting of 2 A-7C, 4 A-7E, 2 A-4M, 4 A-6E, 1 TA-4J, 1 AH-1H & 1 C-1A. The Aero Club has 1 T-34B, 2 Cessna 150 & 2 Cessna 177.
• Dec 01 -- NAF, China Lake, CA., was disestablished after more than 30 years as a separate command, and became part of the Naval Weapons Center.

VX-4 F-14A Tomcat BuNo 158618, XE-30, over Armitage Field, circa 1976.

Photo from Larry McCarley.

A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 149969, in tow, hangar #3, China Lake, 04 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

L-r: QF-86H drone s/n 53-1409, QF-86H s/n BuNo 53-13??, PMTC QT-33A drone BuNo 156016 and QT-33A drone BuNo 156005, China Lake, 04 Jan 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 hangar, VX-5 Intruders & Corsair upper left, China Lake, 04 January 1976.

NAF Blue Canoe s/n's 57-5891, 58-2111 & 58-2123 at left, VX-5 Tracker BuNo 136544, XE-21, center & QT-33A drone BuNo 156004 at right. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Line shack at left, VX-4 Phantom, VX-5 Intruders & Corsair at center, VX-5 hangar at right, China Lake, 04 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

VX-5 hangar, VX-5 Intruders & Corsair at left, China Lake, 04 January 1976.

NAF Blue Canoe s/n's 57-5891, 58-2111 & 58-2123 at lower right and VX-5 Tracker BuNo 136544, XE-21, center right. Official U.S. Navy photo.

NAF operations, hangar 3, China Lake, 14 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Jet Mech, China Lake, 04 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Jet Mechs, hangar #3, China Lake, 04 January 1976

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Bubble Chaser servicing a strut, hangar #3, China Lake, 04 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

1st QT-38A Talon drone prototype s/n 59-1598, China Lake, 27 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

1st QT-38A Talon drone prototype s/n 59-1598, China Lake, 27 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

1st QT-38A Talon drone prototype s/n 59-1598 and DT-38A controller s/n 59-1596, NOLO touch & go, China Lake, 27 January 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-6C Intruder BuNo 155647, TRAM cupola with LLTV & FLIR sensors mounted in the forward OSP, China Lake, ca. Mar 1976.

Photo from Thomas Tye.

VX-5 A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159471, XE-15, Andrews AFB, March 1976.

Photo by Rob Mignard via W. Mutza.

A-4 Skyhawk canopy, K-2, China Lake, 01 April 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4 Skyhawk canopy, K-2, China Lake, 01 April 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

QF-86H Sabre s/n 53-1314 and HARM missile, NAF China Lake 20 Apr 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo, Duncan Curtis collection.

NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, FAE ordnance, A-7C BuNo 156734 in the background, 21 April 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, FAE ordnance, A-6A BuNo 149936 in the background, 21 April 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, FAE ordnance close-up, 21 April 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148613, FAE ordnance close-up, 21 April 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

B-29 Superfortress 44-62070, "FIFI", Barstow, CA, circa 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

B-29 Superfortress 44-62070, "FIFI", Barstow, CA, 16 June 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

B-29 Superfortress 44-62070, "FIFI", Barstow, CA, 15 June 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

PMTC A-6A BuNo 149486. #57, 13JUL76.

Photo by Joe Cupido.

Former China Lake A-7A Corsair II BuNo 152656, PMTC-63,14 July 1976.

photo by Joe Cupido, G. Verver collection.

VX-5 A-6A Intruder, BuNo 151812, XE-17, over the snow capped Sierras, 23 Jul 1976.

Official Navy photo by PHC Robert Ziesler, USN Ret.

VX-5 A-6A Intruder, BuNo 151812, XE-17, over the snow capped Sierras, 23 Jul 1976.

Official Navy photo by PHC Robert Ziesler, USN Ret.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, Walleye IIR, China Lake, 24 August 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, Walleye IIR, China Lake, 24 August 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

TA-4F Skyhawk BuNo 154332, Walleye IIR close-up, China Lake, 24 August 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

F-5F Tiger II, s/n 61-0889 with AIM-9J Sidewinder & AGM-65 Maverick missiles and auxiliary fuel tanks over China Lake, Edwards AFB, Sept. 1976.

889 was transferred to the U.S. Navy

USAF photo museum archive.

T-38A Talon BuNo 59-1596, bicentennial paint scheme, NAF China Lake, 30 October 1976

Photo by Clay Jansson via Tailhook Association.

USAF F-15 Eagle in flight with AIM-9L Sidewinders, 18 October 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

T-39D Sabreliner BuNo 150992, NAF China Lake, 30 October 1976.

Photographed by Clay Jansson, Tailhook Assoc. collection courtesy of Mahlon Miller.

C-1A Trader BuNo 136782, VX-5, XE-76, bicentennial paint scheme, NAF China Lake, 30 October 1976.

Photographed by Clay Jansson, Tailhook Assoc. collection courtesy of Mahlon Miller.

C-1A Trader BuNo 136782, VX-5, XE-76, bicentennial paint scheme, McClellan AFB, October 1976.

Photographed by Peter Mancus, Tailhook Assoc. collection courtesy of Mahlon Miller.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 52-2094, China Lake, November 1976.

Photo by T.R. Waddington.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 53-1351, east side of the drone hangar, China Lake, November 1976.

Photographer unknown.

QT-38A Talon drone s/n 58-1195, west side of hangar #3, China Lake, November 1976.

Photographer unknown.

QF-86H Sabre drone s/n 52-2122, PMTC-33, 12 November 1976.

Photo by B. Knowles, jr.

A-7E Corsair II, BuNo 156883, FLIR, over the Sierras, 02 Dec 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

AIM-9M Sidewinder simulator, 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Fuel Air Explosive Surface Launcher, China Lake, 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

Fuel Air Explosive Surface Launcher, China Lake, 1976.

Official U.S. Navy photo.

A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 159485, Smart Hawk, landing at China Lake, 01 January 1977.

Official U.S. Navy photo.