1976-Contin ued

18 February 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 dur-

ing a test conducted at the Naval Weapons Center,

China Lake, Calif.

2 March Two VS-22 Lockheed S-3A Viking aircraft

landed aboard Saratoga off the coast of Italy, com-

pleting the first Atlantic crossing by S-3A Vikings. The

S-3A Vikings departed NAS Cecil Field, Fla., and

made stops at NAS Bermuda, NAS Lajes, Azores, and

NS Rota, Spain, before landing on Saratoga. Their

flight across the Atlantic proved that rapid augmenta-

tion of S-3A Viking carrier antisubmarine assets was

possible from long distances.

20 May Bell Helicopter's AH -1 T made its first flight.

The following week the AH-IT flew to 120 knots and

did mild sideslips, climbs and descents.

UNITED STATES NAVAL AVIATION 1910-1995

315

26 May A contract for a new Navy multi-engine air-

craft trainer to be designated T-44A was awarded to

Beech Aircraft. The aircraft would replace the TS-2A.

28 May Helicopter crews from HS-4 aboard Ranger;

detachments from HC-3 on Camden (AOE 2), Mars

(AFS 1) and White Plains (AFS 4); and helicopters

from NAS Cubi Point, R.P., assisted in the Philippine

disaster relief efforts in the flood ravaged areas of

Central Luzon. Over 1,900 people were evacuated;

more than 370,000 pounds of disaster relief supplies

and 9,340 gallons of fuel were provided by Navy and

Air Force helicopters.

29 May Tarawa was commissioned at Ingalls

Shipbuilding Division of Litton Industries in

Pascagoula, Miss. Tarawa was the first of five in a

class of amphibious assault ships to join the fleet.

5 June The Navy launched the first fully guided

Tomahawk cruise missile over the White Sands Missile

Range in New Mexico. The missile was airborne for 61

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CH-46 helicoptel:' from HMM-163 operating from Tarawa K-114732