Naval Air Facility China Lake, CA
• AIRCRAFT •
AWARDS • CO's
• EVENTS •
HANDLE • HERITAGE
• HOME PORTS •
PATCH • PHOTO ALBUMS
This page is posthumously dedicated to
Lieutenant Douglas Stuart Mayfield, United States Navy.
Please read about him below.
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- Dec 1978
Patch from E. Mares |
1 Jul 1967 - 22 Jan 1992
Patch from G. Verver |
22 Jan 1992 -
Patch from G. Verver |
Patch from G. Verver |
Naval Air Facility (NAF)
China Lake was an independent tenant command of Naval Ordinance Test Station
(NOTS) China Lake. NAF usually had one or more of each aircraft type in the
United States Navy inventory excluding some Helo's and recon aircraft. NAF
Pilots, Plane Captains, maintenance personnel etc. supported the various
aircraft assigned to the Civilian Project Teams. Pilots were assigned to the
various projects and flew the planes that supported those projects. Plane
Captains usually had a half dozen or so different pilots flying their plane
never knowing who would fly until the flight schedule came out in the morning.
NAF China Lake line personnel also supported NALF San Clemente. The other
independent tenant command of NOTS was VX-5.
The Squadron Duty Officer (SDO) is the
squadron contact point who communicates with former squadron members about
squadron information, sea stories, squadron pictures, scuttlebutt, and gathers
information about squadron buddies. Please contact the
Squadron SDO as listed on this link. Sharing your stories, photos etc.
is essential to the success of the Skyhawk Association and we invite you to
JOIN with us in preserving the Skyhawk legacy.
Squadron Patches:
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Handle:
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Aircraft:
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Heritage:
NOTS Chronology:
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08 Nov 1943 Naval Ordnance Test Station (NOTS) at China Lake
established
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30 May 1945 Armitage Field dedicated
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June 1950 NOTS Inyokern at China Lake
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March 1955 NOTS China Lake
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01 July 1961 the administrative command of San Clemente Island
was assigned to NOTS, China Lake
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1967 NOTS China Lake and the NOTS Pasadena Annex were
separated
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01 July 1967 NOTS China Lake and the Naval Ordnance
Laboratory, Corona, were combined to form the Naval Weapons Center (NWC)
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31 Oct. 1977 The Department of Defense directed a
significant relocation of the essential mission of the National Parachute Test
Range at El Centro, California. The Range had been responsible for RDT&E for
parachute systems and for providing common airfield support to aviation units.
With today's change, the RDT&E mission was moved to the Naval Weapons Center
at China Lake, California. The airfield support mission remained at El Centro
with the existing Naval Air Facility there.
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22 January 1992 NWC was disestablished
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1992 NAWS was established
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1992 reorganization that resulted in the Naval Air Warfare
Center Weapons Division (NAWCDWD)
NAF Chronology:
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__/__/____ established as an independent tenant command of
NOTS
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Dec 1 1976 NAF, China Lake, California was disestablished
after more than 30 years, as a separate command, and became part of the Naval
Weapons Center.
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May 8, 1995 Naval Weapons Test Squadron China Lake (Dust
Devils) sited at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, was established
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Naval Weapons Test Squadron China Lake NWTS CO
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Commanding Officers:
| 1963 |
Capt. Jack W. Hough |
| 1966 |
Capt. Robert R. Yount |
| 1967, 1968 |
Capt. Rodney F. Schall |
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Home Ports:
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Photograph Albums:
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Events:
| November 8, 1943: |
By the order of the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, Naval Station
China Lake is established.
Operations begun at C-range on air-to-ground firings. |
| 1944: |
Opening of temporary G-1 and G-2 ranges.
Construction begun on permanent Station facilities.
Opening of B-1 and B-2 ranges for air-to-ground firings.
Operations begun at China Lake Pilot Plant. |
| 1945: |
Opening of K-2 range used in rocket terminal-ballistics studies.
Transfer of operations from California Institute of. Technology to Station
personnel.
Opening of LB range for high-altitude bomb tests.
Work on explosives begun at Salt Wells Pilot Plant. |
| 1946: |
Dedication of Armitage Field at the Naval Air Facility. |
| 1947: |
Opening of B-4 range for air-to-ground firings against moving targets.
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| 1948: |
Dedication of the Variable-Angle Launcher used for research and
development at NOTS.
Dedication of the Variable-Angle Launcher used for testing underwater
ordnance items at Morris Dam.
Activation of Station Advisory Board. |
| 1950: |
First antitank aircraft rockets of project RAM shipped to Korea. |
| 1951: |
Opening of T-range for rocket proof firing.
Opening of K-3 range for crosswind firing of rockets. |
| 1952: |
Aircraft Fire-Control System Mk 16 released to the Fleet.
Opening of Randsburg Wash Test Activities for fuze testing.
The 2.75-inch FFAR (Mighty Mouse) declared operational. |
| 1953: |
Opening of Supersonic Naval Ordnance Research Track (SNORT) for captive
testing of ordnance items. |
| 1954: |
Opening of G-4 range for high-speed terminal-ballistics studies. |
| 1955: |
Opening of permanent G-1 range for guided-missile free-flight-testing.
Opening of permanent G-2 range for rocket free-flight testing. |
| 1956: |
The Sidewinder guided-missile system declared operational.
Aug 21 -- An F8U-1 Crusader, piloted by Commander R. W. Windsor, captured
the Thompson Trophy with a new national speed record of 1015.428 m.p.h. over
the 15-kilometer course at NOTS, China Lake, Calif. This production model
carrier fighter, equipped during its record performance with full armament
of 20 mm cannon and dummy ammunition, was the first operationally equipped
jet plane in history to fly faster than 1,000 m.p.h.
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| 1957: |
Development completed of the Zuni 5.0 inch rocket.
Dedication of the Station's new All Faith Chapel. |
| 1958: |
The RAT antisubmarine weapon system declared operational.
Aug 19 -- In its first successful flight a Tartar surface-to-air missile,
fired at the NOTS, China Lake, intercepted an F6F drone.
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| 1959: |
Development completed of the variable-thrust rocket engine.
The Skyline facility, for testing large solid-propellant motors, completed
at China Lake Propulsion Laboratory.
Zuni rocket put into mass production.
Polaris static-test facility, Skytop, completed at China Lake Propulsion
Laboratory.
RAPEC (rocket-assisted personnel-ejection catapult) released to the fleet.
Aug 3 -- The first flight test of the antisubmarine missile Subroc was
successfully completed by a launch from a shore installation at NOTS China
Lake.
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| 1960: |
Hangar No. 3 completed at the Naval Air Facility.
BuWeps and OpTEvFor evaluations of the ASROC antisubmarine weapon system
successfully completed.
First successful Polaris firing after underwater launching. |
| 1961: |
The Propulsion Applied Research Laboratory, first of its type in the
nation, established.
Administrative command of San Clemente Island assumed.
Sixteen Cyclops silver iodide generators dropped into Hurricane Esther,
destroying one-third of the cloud wall.
Dedication of Skytop II, one of the Navy's largest vertical nozzle-down
facilities.
Aug 28 -- NOTS, China Lake reported on tests of Snakeye I mechanical
retardation devices which were being developed to permit low altitude
bombing with the MK 80 family of low drag bombs. Four designs of retarders
(two made by Douglas and two by NOTS) had been tested in flight, on the
Station's rocket powered test sled, or in the wind tunnel. One of Douglas'
designs had shown sufficient promise that a contract had been issued for a
number of experimental and prototype units. |
| 1962: |
Five hundred Capehart housing units completed.
First successful flight test of a hybrid propulsion system in this country. |
| 1963: |
Jan 29 -- A Walleye television glide bomb, released from a YA-4B, made a
direct impact on its target in the first demonstration of its automatic
homing feature.
Balloon carries NOTS astronomer to 82,000 feet altitude in Stargazer
gondola.
President John F. Kennedy, first President to visit Station, sees Naval
aerial weaponry demonstration, June 7.
Gemini space capsule undergoes seat ejection tests.
HIPEG-"fastest gun"-firing 12,000 rounds per minute, in final checkout.
Marines leave after 18 years of sentry and range guard duty.
PROJECT "STORMFURY" NOTS-developed silver iodide generators show effect on
storm clouds and Hurricane Beulah.
Ozonesonde in record balloon ascent, 142,000 feet.
SHRIKE air-to-surface anti-radar missile in final development stages.
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| 1970: |
Sep 25 -- A Condor, television-guided air-to-surface missile, was
launched by an A-6A at a standoff distance from its target. The aircraft was
56 miles from the target when the missile made a direct impact.
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| 1976: |
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
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| 1978: |
Aug 3 -- The Naval Air Systems Command reported a major advance in the
technology of escape systems. During the summer, the NWC at China Lake
successfully tested a vertical-seeking ejection seat. While carrying a dummy
crew member, the seat was fired downward from a suspended test module. It
traveled downward less than 45 feet before reversing direction and traveling
upward; it then parachuted safely to the ground. These tests demonstrated
that the vertical-seeking seat would make it possible to safely eject upside
down, within 50 feet of the surface, thus greatly increasing the safety
envelope of ejection seats.
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AWARDS:
| Award |
Inclusive Dates: |
No info yet
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Additional information provided by:
| Tom Herold |
| Bob Krall |
| Mike Mayfield |
| Gary Verver |
DEDICATION:
This Skyhawk Association Naval Air Facility China Lake website page is
posthumously dedicated to:
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Lieutenant Douglas Stuart Mayfield, United States Navy
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Doug Mayfield was a native of Sacramento,
California where he was graduated from high school in 1950. After high school
Doug enlisted in the United States Navy. A year later Seaman Apprentice Doug
Mayfield received a fleet appointment to the
United States Naval Academy and was graduated with the
1956
Naval Academy class.
Following his June 1956 graduation from Annapolis ENS
Mayfield chose Naval Aviation and reported to
Pensacola, FL for flight
training in August 1956 after which he reported to
Corpus Christi, TX for jet training in July 1957.
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After being designated a Naval Aviator,
Lieutenant Junior Grade Doug Mayfield served a fleet tour with
FAWTUPAC/VF(AW)-3
in Coronado, CA from 1958 - 1959.
VF(AW)-3
F4D-1 and squadron officers photo provided by Mike Mayfield.
Standing Left to Right: 1) LT Doug Mayfield;
2) unknown; 3) unknown ... |
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LTJG Mayfield then served a fleet tour with the
VA-113 Stingers
in Miramar, CA in 1960. |
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LT Mayfield then served a August 21,
1961 to October 1, 1962 tour with the VA-134
Scorpions in Jacksonville, FL.
April 1962 USS Constellation (CVA 62)
VA-134 Scorpions shakedown cruise squadron
officers photo provided by Bob Krall. |
LT Mayfield next attended the
United States Navy Postgraduate School at
Monterey, California where he was awarded his Bachelor of Science Degree in
Aeronautical Engineering. LT Mayfield reported to NAF China Lake on 29 June
1964 from the Postgraduate School.
LT Mayfield was assigned duties as a China Lake Project
Pilot. At China Lake Lt. Mayfield was elected to a two-year term to the
Commissioned Officers Mess Advisory Group. He was also a member of the Community
Council. His fellow officers held Mayfield in high esteem - - - "His ability as
a Project Pilot was hard to equal. He was an outstanding aviator and officer," a
fellow pilot said.
 LT
Douglas Stuart Mayfield died Friday, 11 June 1965, when his A-4C Skyhawk (BuNo
148524) crashed while on a photo chase mission over the Naval Air Facility "B"
Range. The mission was to film a Walleye test from release to impact using a
camera mounted on one of the external racks. This accident was captured on film
by ground cameras that also were filming the test. Several China Lake plane
captains and project team members viewed the ground camera film and relate the
accident: Within seconds of the Walleye striking the intended radar trailer
target, Lt. Mayfield's Skyhawk was struck in the starboard wing by debris (a
wheel) from the target. The Skyhawk pitched slightly nose up and yawed left and
almost immediately the starboard wing broke off. The wounded Skyhawk rolled 360
degrees in the direction of the missing wing and impacted the ground. The entire
accident took about 4 to 5 seconds from debris becoming visible in the flight
path to the ensuing fireball and large scorch mark on the "B" Range desert
surface. When the smoke and dust cleared the only recognizable wreckage was the
wing that broke off. Doug was 33 years old and was survived by his wife and
three children, a son and two daughters. His father, mother, three brothers and
a sister also survived Lt. Mayfield.
BuNo 148524 came off of the El Segundo
assembly line in July 1961 and was delivered to the VA-43 Challengers in Oceana,
VA 11 July 1961 which retained custody until 30 November 1963. 524 spent the
next year in the Naval storage facility in Litchfield Park AZ from 16 January
1964 to 13 Nov. 1964. NAF China Lake acquired 524 on 30 Nov 1964 and had custody
until its destruction 11 Jun 1965. Prior to it's reassignment to NAF China Lake
148524 reportedly had an in-flight accident with some trees and was being flight
ferried to O&R when it was involved in a landing accident at Litchfield Park. It
is possible that 524 was the VA-43 Skyhawk that was involved in the following
accident recounted by John Gabbard... "Seems the pilot (I want to say a LtCdr.
but don't know for sure) was on a low-level training flight over Georgia, looked
down at his knee board to check for his next point of reference and when he
looked up "all I saw was green", his words. There were pine needles a foot or
more thick in the intakes, the leading edges were demolished with various pieces
of pine tree buried in the wing leading edges, some as large as your forearm. A
real mess which was shipped over to Norfolk for O&R. Don't remember if we got
that one back."
Although the rebuilt low flight hour Skyhawk
looked "new" when delivered to China Lake, it quickly became a hangar queen as
Line Maintenance would not sign the Skyhawk off because of endemic wing cell
fuel leaks. After countless de-fueling's, rivet replacements, wing sealant
applications it was sent to O&R Alameda which abated, but didn't eliminate the
problem. O&R logged a test hop on 21 May 1965 and on 25 May 1965 BuNo 148524
returned to NAF for the last time. Despite the repairs some JP (fuel) continued
to seep from the wing.
Chaplains Robert W. O'Dell, Mark E. Fite, and
Edward F. Kane officiated the Memorial Service at the All Faith Chapel in China
Lake on June 14, 1965. Funeral services were held June 19, 1965 at the Nauman
Funeral home Sacramento, California.
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