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UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

planes, and the Secretary of the Navy resigned in

protest. The argument raged and the whole affair

seemed out of hand as it reached the fantastic situa-

tion in which one service was publicly deciding for

another not only how its mission should be carried

out but what was needed to do it. But the whole affair

came to a halt after Congressional hearings gave the

Navy a chance to be heard and when war in Korea

provided more immediate problems and a greater

national appreciation of the necessity for adequate

military forces in an era when survival of the free

world was at stake.

1946

2 January

FAW-17 was disestablished in Japan.

26 January The Naval Aviation Ordnance Test

Station was established at NAAS Chincoteague, Va.,

under the cognizance of the Bureau of Ordnance and

under the air station for administration and logistic

support. The establishing order also provided for the

transfer from Johnsville of all Bureau of Ordnance

guided missile test facilities and staff to operate at the

new location with a mission to perform tests and mod-

ifications as necessary to develop aviation ordnance

and guided missiles.

1 February A major reorganization of the Bureau of

Aeronautics aligned the technical divisions into two

groups according to function, one titled Research

Development and Engineering, and the other Material

and Services. An additional Assistant Chief was estab-

lished over each group and the former Assistant Chief,

whose staff divisions were also strengthened by the

reorganization, was given the title of Deputy and

Assistant Chief.

1 March Operation Frostbite-Midway with ele-

ments of Air Group 74 on board, and accompanied by

three destroyers, left Norfolk, Va., under command of

Rear Admiral John H. Cassady to conduct cold weath-

er tests in Davis Strait. In the period 7-22 March, these

units operated as a carrier task force off the coast of

Labrador and above the Arctic Circle, conducting flight

operations with World War II type aircraft and the

newer F8F Bearcat, the combination prop and jet FR-1

Fireball, and the HNS-1 helicopter.

2 March The Chief of Naval Operations established

an aircraft storage program whereby up to 6,000 air-

craft of types in operation were to be stored against

future needs and an additional 360 F6F-5s for future

conversion to drones.

5 March The Secretary of the Navy approved the

conversion of two submarine hulls into guided-missile

launching vessels. Cusk (SS 348) and Carbonero (SS

337) were later selected for this conversion.

7 March The Chief of Naval Operations directed that

Ground Controlled Approach equipment (GCA) be

adopted as the standard blind landing system for the

Navy.

11 March A modification of the class designation of

naval aircraft eliminated the VB and VT used for

bomber and torpedo aircraft and set up VA to identify

aircraft with a primary mission of attacking surface tar-

gets. This change was responsible for the subsequent

redesignation of most BT2D and BTM aircraft as AD

and AM.

12 March In a reorientation and consolidation of

Navy guided-missile developments, the Chief of Naval

Operations directed that Glomb, Gorgon II-C, and

Little Joe be discontinued; that Gargoyle, Gorgon II-A,

Gorgon III-A, and Dove be limited to test and

research vehicles; that the Loon be continued as a

launching test vehicle and a possible interim weapon;

that the Bat be completed; and that Kingfisher,

Bumblebee, and Lark be continued as high priority

missile developments.

15 March The Chief, Bureau of Aeronautics formally

proposed to the Commanding General, Army Air

Forces that a joint Army-Navy project be established

for development of an earth satellite.

25 March The XHJD-1, the first twin engine heli-

copter, made a hovering flight. Designed for the Navy

by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, this helicopter

was intended for experimental use in a flight develop-

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The FSF Bearcat, a popular post-war fighter 277123