NATC (Naval Air Test Center)
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Point of Contact = Squadron Duty Officer (SDO). See FAQ/Research/Contact link under [SA] in the menu. |
 NAS Patuxent River, MD |
 NAS Patuxent River, MD |
 NAS Patuxent River, MD |
 Strike Aircraft Test NATC Patuxent River, MD Patch from Bud Southworth |
 NATC Patuxent River, MD |
 Service Test NATC Patuxent River, MD |
 Weapon System Test NATC Patuxent River, MD Patch from Robert Zafran |
 ASW Naval Air Center Patuxent River, MD |
 NAWC Patuxent River, MD |
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Heritage-Patches 1942: Patuxent River Naval Air Station was born of an effort to centralize widely dispersed air testing facilities established during the pre-World War II years. 01APR43: Rear Admiral John S. McCain, then chief of the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics, called Patuxent "the most needed station in the Navy" during the commissioning ceremony. By mid-August 1943, Flight Test, Radio Test, Aircraft Armament and the Aircraft Experimental and Development squadrons were in place at Patuxent River. By the end of 1944, the station had formed the Service Test, Electronics Test, Flight Test and Tactical Test divisions. |
Sources David Weber J. Grohsmeyer Bud Southworth Gary Verver Robert Zafran |
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Commanding Officers Assumed Command - - - - - - Name June 1942- - - - - - Cdr Edward Rounds, USNR, civilian head of Flight Test Section in charge f Pax River until Cdr Rassieur arrived on 21 Sep. 1942 21 September 1942- - Cdr William T. Rassieur - also commanding officer for all of the Test Divisions 11 January 1944- - - Capt. Aaron P. Storrs - also commanding officer for all of the Test Divisions 15 July 1946 - - - - Capt. Aurelius B. Vosseller 11 August 1948 - - - Capt. Thomas A. Turner 27 July 1950 - - - - Capt. Charles L. Lee 28 July 1952 - - - - Capt. Jessee S. McClure 28 September 1954- - Capt. Thomas B. Neblett 12 June 1957 - - - - Capt. Thomas W. South 23 October 1958- - - Capt. William P. Woods 31 January 1961- - - Capt. James E. Vose Jr. 8 February 1963- - - Capt. Roland W. Schumann Jr. 17 June 1965 - - - - Capt. Charles L. Lambing 28 October 1966- - - Capt. Vernon P. O'Neill 29 October 1968- - - Capt. Leonard G. Graning Jr. 28 October 1970- - - Capt. William Carrier Jr. 18 August 1972 - - - Capt. Thomas J. Kilcline 01 May 1974- - - - - Capt. Edward V. Laney Jr. 18 June 1976 - - - - Capt. Charles R. Gillespie Jr. 28 July 1978 - - - - Capt. Verle W. Klein 18 April 1980- - - - Capt. Thomas N. Flanary II 28 May 1982- - - - - Capt. Robert I. Heisner Jr. 20 August 1984 - - - Capt. John M. Welch 26 June 1986 - - - - Capt. Stuart J. Fitrell 28 June 1989 - - - - Capt. Donald A. Wright 30 June 1992 - - - - Capt. Roger D. Hill 18 January 1995- - - Capt. Elmer L. Standridge 01 August 1997 - - - Capt. Paul E. Roberts 27 July 2000 - - - - Capt. Patrick J. Hovatter 30 July 2002 - - - - Capt. Dane E. Swanson |
Awards No info yet. |
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Base Tail ID No info yet. |
Hosted Units No info yet |
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NATC 19?? - - - - - - - - Douglas AD-4 Skyraider/Able Dog 19?? - - - - - - - - Douglas AD-5N (NA-1G) & AD-5W (EA-1E) Skyraider/Able Dog 196? - - - - - - - - Douglas A3D-2 (A-3B) & A3D-2 (NA-3B) Skywarrior/Whale 19 May 1967- - - - - Douglas XA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk * 1 April 1955 - - - - Douglas YA4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk * 23 July 1956 - - - - Douglas A4D-1 (A-4A) Skyhawk * 26 March 1957- - - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 22 November 1959 - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * 8 November 1963- - - Douglas YA4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 15 August 1962 - - - Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * 1 February 1972- - - Douglas NA-4F Skyhawk 25 April 1967- - - - Douglas A-4F Skyhawk 3 November 1970- - - Douglas A-4M Skyhawk 6 November 1965- - - Douglas A4D-5T (TA-4E) Skyhawk 22 November 1976 - - Douglas NTA-4F Skyhawk 3 March 1966 - - - - Douglas TA-4F Skyhawk 17 August 1973 - - - Douglas TA-4J Skyhawk O and R 21 January 1959- - - Douglas A4D-2 (A-4B) Skyhawk * 6 December 1960- - - Douglas A4D-2N (A-4C) Skyhawk * 31 October 1966- - - Douglas A4D-5 (A-4E) Skyhawk * * November 30, 1962 A4D-1 designation was changed to A-4A A4D-2 designation was changed to A-4B A4D-2N designation was changed to A-4C A4D-5 designation was changed to A-4E For A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to this unit see lower in this page: |
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Events April 1, 1943: Commissioning Day, June 16, 1945 The Naval Air Test Center was established as a separate entity, organizationally dividing the test and support functions. 1948 Formalized classroom instruction started with the establishment of a Test Pilot Training Division. The first U.S. all jet-powered airplane, the XP-59A was flight tested at Pax River in 1944. The FR-1 Fireball, a carrier-based fighter which combined a conventional engine and a General Electric jet engine, and the FH-1 Phantom, the first Navy all-jet airplane to operate from a carrier, were tested at Patuxent in 1945. The first U.S. test of the adaptability of jet aircraft shipboard operations was conducted by the Naval Air Test Center in 1946 when Lieutenant Commander James Davidson flew an FD-1 aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt. In 1947 Commander Turner F. Caldwell piloted a Douglas Skystreak D-558-1 to a world's speed record - 640.663 miles per hour. Nov. 7, 1949: Captain W.V. Davis, director of the Flight Test Division, became the first Navy pilot to exceed the speed of sound. Test pilots were exposed to ejection seats in 1949, barrier engagements in 1951, and a simulated angled deck on the USS Midway in 1952. 1950s: Several airborne early warning squadrons operated from Patuxent. Among them were VW-2, VW-11, VW-13 and VW-15. They patrolled the Atlantic Ocean along the DEW (Distant Early Warning) line. NATC's increased responsibility for development as well as pure testing was acknowledged as early as 1951. Rapidly advancing technology forced changes in test techniques and in the organizational structure. In 1953: the Tactical Test Division was merged with the Service Test Division. The U.S. Naval Test Pilot School was established in 1958. The Weapons Systems Test Division was established in 1960 through the consolidation of the Armament Test and Electronics Test divisions. October 1, 1955: Pax River Test Pilot LT Gordon L. "Gordo" Gray set the world 500Km closed course speed record of 695.163mph flying A4D-1 BuNo 137820. September 7, 1956: Lt. John O. Long was killed when A4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137816, Florida 816, lost power in the break for runway 9 and crashed into the river 600 yards off the approach end of runway 13. He was observed to enter the break with gear down and drop tanks at a normal speed for his configuration at an estimated altitude of 1,500 feet. He was observed on the downwind leg in a position to turn base leg for runway 9 at about 1,000 feet. The airplane then commenced a wings nearly level, slightly nose high, descent at a steep angle, turned 50-60 degrees left and struck the water in a wings level, nose high attitude with a high sink rate. The airplane hit, bounced once and sank almost immediately. USN accident report. Photo 1, photo 2, photo 3, photo 4.
January 29, 1959: LCdr. William Joseph Nichols' A4D-2 BuNo 142087 was presumed to have crashed in the Chesapeake Bay after a takeoff from NAS Patuxent. Search planes sighted an oil slick, a fuel tank and a pilot's helmet in the bay about 1.5 miles from the station. November 23, 1959: LCdr. John Lamar Switzer, 34, ejected and was killed yesterday when his A4D Skyhawk (BuNo 145080) crashed into Chesapeake Bay. He apparently ejected while the plane was making an approach for a landing at NAS Patuxent. He was picked up by a fishing boat and was dead on arrival at the base hospital. Switzer and another pilot were bringing two A4D's back from CA where they had undergone tests and evaluation. The Evening Capital, Annapolis, MD., Monday, November 23, 1959. In the 1960's a buildup of fleet antisubmarine warfare squadrons was taking place at Patuxent. Patrol Squadron 8, 24, 44, 49, and 56 formed Fleet Air Patuxent and later Fleet Air Wing Five. A VP training squadron, Patrol Squadron 30, was established in 1962. December 6, 1960: Maj. George Augustus Bacas (USMC) exited with minor injuries when NATC A4D-2N BuNo 145072 (Studio 072) landed 2,600' from the approach end of runway 24 at 130 KIAS (beyond the emergency chain gear) in a gusting 13-20 knot 90 deg. crosswind at idle power. During rollout a right crosswind lifted the right wing and the pilot attempted to abort the landing and couldn't because of the spool-up lag inherent in the J-65. The a/c departed the runway to the left, crossed the terrain to and crossed a 50' wide concrete section of runway 13-31, spanned an excavated area 25' wide by 2' deep, landed on an island of concrete in the center of runway 13-31, spanned another excavated area 25' wide by 2' deep, striking the far edge with the landing gear, travelled another 225' and struck a 6' earth embankment shearing the landing gear, became airborne for about 140' and finally came to rest about 2,400' from the point of departure from runway 24. Subsequent engine tests resulted in the following average spool-up times: Idle to 80% 8.0 seconds. Idle to 100% 13.1 seconds. US Navy accident report photo 1, photo 2, photo 3 July 10, 1963: Lt. Grant Augustine III, 32, (Navy Air Test Center at Patuxent, MD) ejected safely yesterday from his A-4E Skyhawk (BuNo 149649) after it developed engine trouble and crashed in a Richmond County soybean field. The Bee, Danville, VA, Thursday, July 11, 1963. Lt. Grant Augustine III, 32, (Navy Air Test Center at Patuxent, MD) ejected safely yesterday and landed some 10 miles from his A-4E Skyhawk after it developed engine trouble and crashed in a Richmond County soybean field scattering fragments and burning fuel along its path. The Skyhawk bounced across a side road, tore a swath in some trees beyond and tore out power lines when it hit within a quarter mile of about a dozen rural homes on VA 619 about a half mile E of Emmerton, VA., Thursday, July 11, 1963. October 23, 1964: Cdr. Loran Craney, 42, NAS Patuxent River, MD, ejected safely Friday when his A-4C Skyhawks (BuNo 145070) engine froze up on a cross-country flight & crashed into a mountaintop south of Williamsburg, KY, on the Tennessee-Kentucky line. Mount Vernon Register-News, Mount Vernon, IL, Saturday, October 24, 1964. October 26, 1964: Lt. Roy Seaman, 29, was killed when his A-4C (sic) Skyhawk (BuNo 142887) crashed in a marshy area, not far from the Blackwater Migratory Bird Refuge. The A-4C was reported missing soon after taking off at 9 a.m. Wednesday on a routine training flight. The wreckage was spotted Thursday by Thomas Spillman, at state forestry employee, from a fire tower at Church Creek, some 20 miles from Cambridge. The Salisbury Times, Friday, October 30, 1964. Forty U.S. Army Engineers from Ft. Belvoir, VA, have floated a 20 ton crane up the Blackwater River, about eight miles south of Cambridge, in an effort to reach a Navy bomber that crashed October 28. The crane will be used to dig a channel some 80 feet across the marsh to the site of the crash. Cumberland Evening Times, Wednesday, 18 November, 1964. November 28, 1964: Cdr. T.M. Kastner based at NAS Patuxent River ejected safely from his disabled aircraft (BuNo 149650) Saturday and splashed down into waist-deep water of the Rappahannock River not far upstream from where his Navy jet aircraft had plunged into the water near Weems, VA. A young woman on a pier heard the splash and looked up to see the pilot, about 50 yards away, gathering in his parachute. All she could say was "Good morning" and Kastner casually replied "Good morning." Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Monday, 30 November 1964, Bluefield, WV. 1968: Oceanographic Development Squadron Eight, then known as the Oceanographic Air Survey Unit, was home ported in Patuxent River in 1968 from a detachment left behind by Naval Air Transport Squadron One when that unit moved to Norfolk, VA. 1967 - 1968: Three divisions of the test center, Flight Test, Service Test and Weapons Systems Test, gave up assets to enable the Technical Support Division to form in 1967. Automation of NATC's data processing brought the Computer Services Division on line in 1968. December 31, 1969: Lt. S.D. Griggs, 30, ejected safely from his A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 151130) over Solomons Island when the engine failed on takeoff Wednesday. He was departing from NATC Patuxent on a cross country flight to NAS New York. Lt. Griggs parachuted from 800 feet and was picked up by the Pax River SAR helicopter The Skyhawk crashed in an open field. The Daily Times, Salisbury, MD, Thursday, January 1, 1970. 1970s: In the 1970s, the ASW squadrons began leaving Patuxent for NAS Brunswick, Me., and NAS Jacksonville, Fla. VP-30 was the last to go in 1975. Helping offset the squadron departures, Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One moved to Pax River from Key West, Fla., in 1973 and the Naval Aviation Logistics Center was formed in 1977.
October 23, 1974: Maj. P.J. Vermaire, 34, (USAF) was killed Wednesday afternoon when his Navy A-4 (BuNo 148614) plunged into the Chesapeake Bay off Deal Island while on a routine training mission. Fisherman retrieved his body from the water moments after the crash. The Daily Times, Salisbury, MD, Thursday, October 24, 1974. 1975: A sweeping reorganization took place in 1975, preparing NATC for its role as the Naval Air Systems Command's principal site for development testing. Under the plan, Flight Test, Service Test and Weapons Systems Test divisions were disestablished and new directorates were formed to evaluate aircraft by type and mission. The "new" NATC was comprised of Strike Aircraft, Antisubmarine Aircraft, Rotary Wing Aircraft and Systems Engineering Test directorates. The Computer Services and Technical Support directorates and the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School remained intact. April 24, 1976: Lt. George Chalke ejected safely after his A-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 154175) apparently malfunctioned just six minutes into a routine training flight Sunday and exploded, crashed and burned in a field near Drawbridge, MD. The Daily Times, Salisbury, MD, Monday, April 26, 1976. Lt. George P. Chalke ejected safely Sunday before his A-4 Skyhawk crashed and burned in Dorchester County during a post-maintenance check flight. Chalke landed in a tree and was picked up by a helicopter crew. Cumberland News, Monday, 26 April 1976. Late 1970s:A major upgrading of test facilities began in the late 1970s with some of the largest construction appropriations in the history of the base. Reflecting changes spurred by this technological growth, the 1980s saw the Computer Services Directorate become the Computer Sciences Directorate, the Technical Support Directorate become the Range Directorate, and the Antisubmarine Aircraft Test Directorate become the Force Warfare Aircraft Test Directorate. September 30, 1981: Lt. John B. Patterson and civilian photographer Randy Hepp of McDonnell Aircraft Co ejected safely from their TA-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 156896) when a wing was torn off by a bomb rack jettisoned from a FA-18 Hornet over Chesapeake Bay, MD. Newspaper Archive, October 13, 1981 and November 8, 1981. NATC Sys. Eng. Tst. Dir. was destroyed at Patuxent River when aircraft was struck by jettisoned Ver. and crashed at sea, 30 September 1981. Crew ejected. Naval Safety Center via Jim Winchester. Lt. John B. Patterson and civilian photographer Randy Hepp of McDonnell Aircraft Co ejected safely from their TA-4J BuNo 156896 when a wing was torn off by a bomb rack jettisoned from a FA-18 Hornet over Chesapeake Bay, MD. The State, October 1, 1981 and October 13, 1981. 1991: In 1991, the Navy began consolidating its technical capabilities to improve its products and services, resulting in the creation of four large, warfare centers. Two Naval Air Warfare Centers were established to integrate sites and capabilities to improve services to the fleet and sponsors. One of these, the Naval Air Warfare Center (NAWC), located in Washington, D.C., has integrated sites and capabilities to improve services to the fleet and sponsors. NAWC streamlined its resources into two divisions: the Aircraft Division located at Patuxent River and the Weapons Division, at China Lake, Calif. January 1, 1992: The standup of the NAWC Aircraft Division at Pax River took place on January 1, 1992. Thus began its role as the Navy's full spectrum research, development, test and evaluation (RDT&E), engineering, and fleet support center for air platforms. The NAWC Aircraft Division integrated the Naval Air Test Center along with the Naval Air Development Center, Warminster, Pa.; Naval Air Engineering Center, Lakehurst, N.J.; Naval Air Propulsion Center, Trenton, N.J.; and the Naval Avionics Center, Indianapolis, Ind. August 4, 1994: I ferried the last Pax River A-4, TA-4J BuNo 153524, from the Test Pilot school to the storage facility at Davis Monthan. End of an era. John Patterson |
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Photos Circa 1956: NATC Pax River Strike Test YA4D-1 Skyhawk BuNo 137823 parked on the ramp during an open house. 1956: Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 137823 parked on the ramp during an open house. Unknown via W. Mutza. Circa 1956-1957: NATC Patuxent River Electronice Test Division Skyhawk BuNo 137824 on display at an open house. Unknown via Tailhook Association. Circa 1958: BuNo 142089 on display at an open house with the Douglas refueling store on the centerline. Duane Kasulka from Mike Wilson collection. Circa 1959-62: left side view of Patuxent River Flight Test Skyhawk BuNo 142678, in tension on the catapult. Official U.S. Navy. SEP58: SEP58 NAN photo of a tandem air to air refueling. SEP58 NAN photo. 1961: right side view of Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 142170, WST-170, assigned to Weapons System Test parked on the ramp. U.S. Navy. Circa 1960-62: Right front view of Naval Air Test Center, Weapons Systems Test, Skyhawk BuNo 147826, #826, parked on the ramp. Lionel Paul. APR 1963: NATC Patuxent River Weapons Division Skyhawk BuNo 147826 on display at an open house. Unknown, Mike Wilson collection. 1965: right front view of Naval Air Test Center Flight Test Skyhawk BuNo 142834, #837, parked on the ramp with eighteen 250 pound bombs during an open house. Jim Burridge. Circa 1965: BuNo 152102 Prototype TA-4E Skyhawk in the Pax River hangar. Mike Wilson. Circa 1965: BuNo 152103 prototype TA-4E Skyhawk and Naval Air Test Center RA-5 Vigilante, modex 823, in the Pax River hangar. Mike Wilson. 1965-66: NATC Patuxent River System Test Division Skyhawk BuNo 149652 in flight with drop tanks and a buddy store. Mike Wilson? JAN66: Skyhawk at NAS Anacostia for the inauguration of Presiden J.F. Kennedy. NAS Anacostia shut down her runways in 1962 to fixed wing a/c. NAN photo. 30 MAR 1966: left front view of Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 151118, #118, on the cat with a SHRIKE missile on #1 and an MBER on #3. Mike Wilson Collection. 22 APR 1966: BuNo 142120 Weapons test Skyhawk on the catapult at NATC Patuxent River. Verver Collection. 22 APR 1966: BuNo 142120 Weapons test Skyhawk being catapulted with Briteye flares at NATC Patuxent River. Verver Collection. 22 AUG 1966: Head on view of Skyhawk BuNo 137818 at Pax River. U.S. Navy. SEP66: SEP66 NAN photo of a NATC A-4E Skyhawk loaded with pyrotechnics. NAN Photo. Circa 1966: NAN photo of a nose wheel door mounted camera, afixed to a TA-4F. NAN photo. 22AUG66: BuNo 151130 A-4E at NATC. Circa 1967: right front view of Naval Air Test Center Skyhawk BuNo 137813 assigned to Strike Test. Note that it still carries the Navy/Marine Reserve lettering on the aft fuselage. Nick Williams. MAY 1967: left side in flight view of Patuxent River Strike Division Skyhawk BuNo 154174 over NAS Patuxent. U.S. Navy. 15 July 1967: left side view of Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 151064 parked on the ramp, p/c is J.E. Strausbaugh. R. Besecker 29 August 1967: NATC Patuxent River A-4E Skyhawk BuNo 151130 "Diamond Jim" with a MER and six Snakeyes on the center line and a Mk-81 Snakeye in each outboard station and drop tanks from TA-4F 152848. U.S. Navy. 1968 -1986: NATC 619, BuNo 154619, on the ramp. U.S. Navy. Circa 1968: NATC Patuxent River Flight Test TA-4F Skyhawks BuNo 152103 and 152102 parked on the ramp. Photographer unknown. 03 AUG 1968: right side view of Naval Air Test Center, Flight Test, Skyhawk BuNo 145031 parked on the ramp during an open house. Lionel Paul. 20 MAY 1968: Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 151118 and Walleye TV guided bomb undergoing cat tests. 12 AUG 1968: Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 151118 and Walleye TV guided bomb undergoing cat tests. Oct 1969: Patuxent River Weapons Division Skyhawk BuNo 151064 at left behind unknown A-7 Corsair II. Naval Aviation News. 21 NOV 1969: prototype NA-4E Skyhawk BuNo 148614 assigned to the NATC Patuxent River Weapons Division parked on the flight line next to TV-2 BuNo 137956. Dick Hill via Tailhook Association. Circa 1960-62: right front view of Naval Air Test Center, Weapons Systems Test, Skyhawk BuNo 147826, #826, parked on the ramp. Lionel Paul. Circa 1971: G. Verver, NPC KN-19425. NATC Patuxent River A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158153 in-flight with drop tanks and buddy store. 1971: BuNo 151118, NATC 1118, parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. circa 1972: NATC Patuxent River A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158148, NATC-148, USS Independence, CVA-62, circa 1972. Photos from Charles Allen. #1 #2 #3 20 MAR 1973:BuNo 158425 marked with "Black Sheep", but really serving with PAX River. Per contributor, this a/c was being used for testing by the French Navy for use on their aircraft carrier. Stephen Miller. Date Unknown, perhaps 20MAR73: Believed to be at PAX River. VMA-214 Black Sheep A-4M BuNo 148425 at NAS Patuxent River as French Navy test aircraft for use on their aircraft carrier, 20 March 1973. R. Esposito. 12 NOV 1973: Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 151990, #06, parked on the flight line in a hi vis paint scheme. Jim Sullivan via Tailhook Association. AUG 1974: Prototype NA-4F Skyhawk assigned to the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, MD on display at an open house. Verver Collection. MAR 1975: Patuxent River Strike Division Skyhawk BuNo 154180 parked on the ramp. Tailhook. 1975: NATC Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 158148, #148, parked on the flight line and painted in the black white paint scheme. From W. Muza. 1976: Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 158426, parked on the line during an open house. From W. Muza. 1976: Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 154619, parked on the ramp. From W. Muza. Blues at Pax. BuNo 152103 Flight Test TA-4J from NATC Pax River at NAS Weymouth. Pax River UC-880 tanker BuNo 161572 refueling a TA-4. 1971-73: NATC Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 156896, #323. U.S. Navy. Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 152103 parked on the ramp during an open house. Jim Burridge. 26 JUL 1969: BuNo 154175 over the runway at NATC Patuxent River. Stephen Miller. NATC A-4M BuNo 158148, 7T-304, undated. From W. Munzenmaier. 20MAR73: A-4M at "PAX" for test flights by the French to evaluate possible purchase. 18 AUG 1973: left side view of NATC Flight Test Patuxent River TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 152103 , parked on the ramp at NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts. Photo by I. Ward. 19 SEP 1973: left side view of NATC Flight Test Patuxent River TA-4J Skyhawk BuNo 152103, parked on the ramp at NAS South Weymouth, Massachusetts. Photo by R. W. Harrison. 03AUG74: NA-4F, an A-4E converted to the A-4F configuration on the production line, at an openhouse at PAX. Photo courtesy of Gary Verver. 03 AUG 1974: BuNo 152101 started life as an A-4E, was converted to the "F" configuration, and served as a test platform for the "Foxtrot" config before it went on to serve with the NWFS at Miramar. Stephen Miller. 20 SEP 1975: NATC Pax River NA-4F BuNo 152101, 20 SEP 1975. Photographer unknown from G. Verver collection. 20 SEP 1975: Left rear view of NATC Pax River A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158426, NATC-426, on the ramp, NAS Patuxent River, 20 September 1975. Copyright R.W. Harrison. 1975: BuNo 158425, A-4M parked on the flight-line. Gary Verver Collection. BuNo 158148, PAX NATC SD-304, on the ramp. 1976: NATC BuNo 158148, A-4M, parked on the ramp with Marines id. Gary Verver Collection. 14 MAY 1979: BuNo 158425, NATC 425, on the ramp. Stephen Miller. Circa 1980: right side air to air view of Patuxent Riiver Skyhawk BuNo 158425, #301, refueling from the USAF KC-10A tanker prototype s/n 79-0433, N110KC. Harry Gann. BuNo: 158425. A-4M, parked on the line. Gary Verver Collection. Circa 1980: close-up right side air to air view of Patuxent Riiver Skyhawk BuNo 158425, #301, refueling from the USAF KC-10A tanker prototype s/n 79-0433, N110KC. Harry Gann. 1981: 1981: Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 158425, 7T-301, parked on the line during an open house. Jim Burridge. FEB81: BuNo 154619, TA-4J, 7T322 parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. JUN81: BuNo 154619, TA-4J, 7T322 parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. OCT 1981: NATC Pax River TA-4F BuNo 153524, 7T-321, OCT 1981 at Dobbins AFB. Photographer unknown, from Gary Verver Collection. 02 MAY 1981: BuNo 158425 7T-301 taxi at NATC. Stephen Miller. 1982: BuNo 154619 TA-4J 7T-322 parked with canopy up. Gary Verver Collection. 01 JUN 1983: An air-to-air right side view of a TA-4 Skyhawk (BuNo 152868, NTPS-06) aircraft, top, a TA-7 Corsair II (BuNo 154544, NTPS-01) aircraft, right, a T-2 Buckeye (BuNo 157032, #20) aircraft, bottom, and a T-38 Talon (BuNo 158200, NTPS-12) aircraft in flight near the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland. Photo by JOCS Kirby, from Gary Verver. 1983: A-4M, BuNo 158430 7T- 303 in the snow. Gary Verver Collection. 03 OCT 1983: Naval Air Test Center BuNo 160264, the last Skyhawk built, starting to taxi at Patuxent River. Stephen Miller. APR 1983: Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 152847, 7T-320. Mike Wilson Collection. MAY 1984: NATC Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 160264, 7T-302, parked on the ramp with a centerline tank. Verver Collection. AUG85: right front view of NATC Pax River Skyhawk BuNo 158148, SD-304, assigned to CAPT Dunton, parked on the flight line and painted in the gray/hi-vis scheme. 1985: NATC TA-4J BuNo 152847, 7T-320 parked on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. 01 AUG 1985: Patrick Air Force Base, FL. 1987: NATC Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 160264, 7T-302, parked on the ramp with a centerline tank. M. Wilson. BuNo 160264, Pic1 and Pic2. Gary Verver Collection. JUL 1987: Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 158148, SD-304, parked on the flight line in a hi-vis paint scheme. Verver Collection. JUL89: Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 153524, parked on the ramp. Verver Collection. JUL 1990: NATC Patuxent River Skyhawk BuNo 158425 parked on the flight line. Verver Collection. NA-4M Skyhawk BuNo 155049 (Salty Dog 300) spent its entire operational life involved in test and evaluation work. It was built as a A-4F, then converted to a prototype A-4M the same year, and immediately instrumented for A-4M development flight test and structural demonstration requirements. After conversion, its first flight was on 14 May 1970. This A-4M aircraft commenced flight testing at Patuxent River in February 1971 as the Board of Inspection and Survey (BIS) Trials aircraft. Flight testing continued until its retirement to Patuxent River Naval Air Museum in November 1990. Over the years, this particular aircraft was involved in many tests and evaluations. Primarily, it was instrumented and utilized as the test aircraft for the Pratt & Whitney J-52-P-408 turbojet engine Component Improvement Program. Photo Courtesy Patuxent River Naval Air Museum. Photographed by Joe Gherrity, Museum Photographer. BuNo 155049, 7T-300, NA-4M on the ramp. Gary Verver Collection. DEC 1991: A-4M Skyhawk BuNo 158180 in the hangar at NAS Alameda December 1991, unsure of the custodian as the records indicate it was SOC between June and September 1991 and was last assigned to NATC Strike at Patuxent. Copyright photo by Joe Cupido. Off-Duty Photos No info yet. |
A-4 Skyhawk aircraft assigned to NATC:
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