1947-Continued

Col. Carl set speed record USMC 11986

6 September A V-2 rocket was successfully

launched from the flight deck of Midway in the first

firing of a large bombardment rocket from a ship at

sea. While the missile behaved abnormally after take-

off, the feasibility of the operation was demonstrated

and considerable experience was gained.

17 September James V. Forrestal, Secretary of the

Navy, took the oath of office as first Secretary of

Defense. The following day the National Security Act

of 1947 became effective and the Departments of the

Army, Navy and Air Force were constituted as integral

parts of the National Military Establishment.

30 September The Research and Development

Board was formally set up in the National Military

Establishment as Dr. Vannevar Bush took office as

Chairman. This board, which superseded the Joint

Research and Development Board, functioned in areas

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

169

dealing with research and development coordination,

planning and direction. At its first meeting, 19

December, the credentials of all members were

accepted by the Board, one of two Navy members

being the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Air).

1 November The U.S. Naval Parachute Unit moved

from NAS Lakehurst, N.J., to NAS EI Centro, Calif. Its

mission was research, development and testing of

parachutes, parachute recovery systems and ejectable

seat capsules.

28 November Norton Sound was assigned to the

Operational Development Force for use as an experi-

mental rocket-firing ship. Necessary alterations were

performed at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Pa.,

beginning the following March.

"

t

The Viking research rocket, fired from Norton Sound, May 1950,

reached an altitude of 106 miles 415261