Vol. 18, No. 1 of the China Foundation CHINA LAKE ARMED FORCES DAY 1963 THE UNEXPECTED SHOW By Anthony L. Tambini ll Commander, USN - Ret. (Webmasters note: Aircraft involved was BuNo 149969) Air Shows fail to bring out the crowds. In the high desert of China Lake, 150 miles north of Los Angeles, people would come from every direction to see the airplanes. Forces Day was a cause for celebration. Almost any reason could be a cause for celebration in this place where quarter movies and the bowling alley the major attractions, although the bars at the clubs would most likely be first on the list of things to do for a good percentage of the population. It was a typically beautiful day in May, a perfect day for families to get together and stroll among the static displays of all of the different kinds of airplanes that we flew from the naval air facility. There would be displays, demonstrations, and a flyover of every major type of airplane in our inventory. In addition to the Projects Department, where various newly designed and developing weapons and weapon systems were in various stages of testing, other important support functions of the naval air facility were to be featured. Our "Redbirds" would be first in the order of appearance. These were F9F-6 Cougars that had been converted to "drones" or NOLO (No Live Operator) targets for the air-to-air missiles and surface-to—air missiles being developed or undergoing testing at the Naval Ordnance Test Station. Accompanied by their T-28 Trojan controller aircraft and a pair of FJ-3 Fury chase planes. this colorful group always pleased the crowds. After the drones, our collection of Projects birds was scheduled for individual flybys. Later. our skydiving club would make a series of jumps for the crowd. Sitting on the flight line was a shiny, new MD—5. the first of a new breed of Skyhawks with a more powerful J-52 engine mounted behind modified intakes high on the fuselage. This airplane would later be renamed the A—4E in conformance with the Secretary Of Defense's decree that the Air Force and Navy adapt the same nomenclature system—the Air Force's. Fresh from the factory. it would be the last of the Projects Department airplanes to participate in our Armed Forces Day show. , OCR Text: Vol. 18, No. 1 of the China Foundation CHINA LAKE ARMED FORCES DAY 1963 THE UNEXPECTED SHOW By Anthony L. Tambini ll Commander, USN - Ret. (Webmasters note: Aircraft involved was BuNo 149969) Air Shows fail to bring out the crowds. In the high desert of China Lake, 150 miles north of Los Angeles, people would come from every direction to see the airplanes. Forces Day was a cause for celebration. Almost any reason could be a cause for celebration in this place where quarter movies and the bowling alley the major attractions, although the bars at the clubs would most likely be first on the list of things to do for a good percentage of the population. It was a typically beautiful day in May, a perfect day for families to get together and stroll among the static displays of all of the different kinds of airplanes that we flew from the naval air facility. There would be displays, demonstrations, and a flyover of every major type of airplane in our inventory. In addition to the Projects Department, where various newly designed and developing weapons and weapon systems were in various stages of testing, other important support functions of the naval air facility were to be featured. Our "Redbirds" would be first in the order of appearance. These were F9F-6 Cougars that had been converted to "drones" or NOLO (No Live Operator) targets for the air-to-air missiles and surface-to—air missiles being developed or undergoing testing at the Naval Ordnance Test Station. Accompanied by their T-28 Trojan controller aircraft and a pair of FJ-3 Fury chase planes. this colorful group always pleased the crowds. After the drones, our collection of Projects birds was scheduled for individual flybys. Later. our skydiving club would make a series of jumps for the crowd. Sitting on the flight line was a shiny, new MD—5. the first of a new breed of Skyhawks with a more powerful J-52 engine mounted behind modified intakes high on the fuselage. This airplane would later be renamed the A—4E in conformance with the Secretary Of Defense's decree that the Air Force and Navy adapt the same nomenclature system—the Air Force's. Fresh from the factory. it would be the last of the Projects Department airplanes to participate in our Armed Forces Day show. , China Lake Museum,China Laker - Newsletter,China Laker 2010s,China Laker 2012,Vol+18+No+1+Winter+2012.pdf,Vol+18+No+1+Winter+2012.pdf Page 1, Vol+18+No+1+Winter+2012.pdf Page 1