1948-Contin ued

29 March The Technical Evaluation Group of the

Research and Development Board noted that an earth

satellite was feasible but recommended that none be

constructed until utility could be clearly established.

30 March The establishment of a Naval Air Reserve

Advisory Council was approved by the Secretary of the

Navy. The purpose of the Council, which was com-

posed of 50 aviation Reserve officers appointed from

civil life, was to make available to the Navy the experi-

ence and continuing advice of reservists who had held

key positions while on active duty during the war.

1 April HU-1, the first of its type in the U.S. Navy,

was established at NAS Lakehurst, N.J., Commander

Maurice A. Peters commanding.

21 April The Secretary of Defense issued a memo-

randum for the Secretaries within his Department,

attaching a paper defining the functions of the armed

forces and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Based on the poli-

cy embodied in the National Security Act, this was the

first functions paper drawn up by the services after

their reorganization and was commonly referred to as

the Key West agreement.

27 April In the first carrier launchings of planes of

this size and weight, two P2V-2 Neptunes, piloted by

Commander Thomas D. Davies and Lieutenant

Commander John P. Wheatley, made JATO takeoffs

from Coral Sea, off Norfolk, Va.

1 May Changes in aircraft marking specifications

made it mandatory for carrier squadrons to use distin-

guishing colors on propeller spinners and across the top

of the vertical fin and rudder. The colors insignia red,

insignia white, light blue, light yellow, light green, and

black outlined in white, were assigned to squadrons one

through six respectively of each carrier air group. The

changes also required that arresting hooks be painted in

alternate four-inch bands of black and white.

5 May The submarine Cusk (SS 348) launched a

Loon missile off the Naval Air Missile Test Center,

Point Mugu, Calif., guided it over a 46-mile course and

splashed it within 100 yards of its target, Begg Rock.

5 May VF-17A, equipped with 16 FH-1 Phantoms,

became the first carrier qualified jet squadron in the

U.S. Navy. In three days of operations aboard Saipan

(CVL 48), all squadron pilots plus Commander, Air

Group 17 were qualified with a minimum of eight

takeoffs and landings each.

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

171

8 May The Michelson Laboratory of the U.S. Naval

Ordnance Test Station, China Lake was dedicated. The

opening of this laboratory was a major step in the

transition of the station from a rocket test range to a

research and development activity specially equipped

to study the various aspects of rocketry and guided

missiles.

18 May A contract was issued to Goodyear Aircraft

Corporation for design of an ASW airship with an

envelope volume of 825,000 cubic feet, approximately

double that of the K class airship of World War II.

Through subsequent contractual action which was ini-

tiated in September, one ZPN airship was ordered.

25 May Two Support Wings were established and

placed under Commander, Fleet Logistic Support

Wings, to provide, subsequent to the merger of Navy

and Air Force air transport commands, such air logistic

support services over routes of sole Navy interest as

would be required for internal administration and the

fulfillment of the Navy's mission.

1 June The Naval Air Transport Service and the Air

Transport Service of the Air Force Air Transport

Command, were consolidated to form the Military Air

Transport Service (MATS) as a unified element of the

National Military Establishment under the command

and direction of the U. S. Air Force.

4 June To establish and maintain close relationships

between the operating forces and planning agencies,

arrangements were made for an Air Board to meet

quarterly, with DCNO (Air), the Chief of BuAer,

ComAirLant and ComAirPac as principal members.

4 June The Airborne Coordinating

renamed U.S. Naval Aviation Electronics

(NAESU).

Group was

Service Unit

11 June The Chief of Naval Operations issued stan-

dards for training aviators as helicopter pilots and pro-

vided that helicopter pilots previously trained by the

Coast Guard or VX-3 would retain their qualification.

18 June The Chief, Bureau of Aeronautics autho-

rized the Naval Air Missile Test Center to train, on a

noninterfering basis, the Air Force's First Experimental

Guided Missile Group in the operation of the Lark

guided missile.

22 June Flight training was opened to men between

the ages of 18 and 25, with at least two years of col-

lege, under a plan that was in essence a reactivation

of the Aviation Cadet program. Candidates were