User:LanceBarber/Sandbox


 * A wiki-user "sandbox" test article and may contain unreferenced facts and or personal work; not for public consumption or reference.

List of United Air Force tacitical air support squadrons
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VX-3
VX-3 (XC) Helicopter Development: Established at NAS New York on 1 July 1946 and moved to NAS Lakehurst. It apparently didn't take long to sort things out because the first VX-3 was disestablished on 1 April 1948. Its personnel and aircraft were assigned to one of two utility helicopter squadrons HU-1 (UP) and HU-2 (UR) located on the west coast and east coast respectively.

VX-3 (XC/JC) was reincarnated in November 1948 at NAS Atlantic City to accomplish development and evaluation of jet fighter tactics and procedures. It was formed by merging VF-1L and VA-1L of Light Carrier Air Group 1L. VX-3 was relocated to NAS Oceana, Virginia before NAS Atlantic City was decommissioned in July 1958. It was disestablished on 1 March 1960.

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Experimental Squadron Three, also known as Helicopter Development Squadron Three, was established at NAS NewYork 01 July 1946 to study and  evaluate the adaptability of helicopters to Navy requirements. Besides developing operational procedures and conducting experiments with helicopters, VX-3 was responsible for training Navy helicopter pilots at the air station. After two years of increased helicopter activity in the fleet, it became apparent that VX-3 was becoming more involved in fleet operations and less  in development. On April 1, 1948, VX-3 was disestablished and two new squadrons were established, designated Helicopter Utility Squadrons HU-1 and HU-2. Personnel from VX-3 formed the nucleus of the two new squadrons. Their primary mission was search and rescue,and providing utility services for the fleet. HU-2, based at NAS Lakehurst, N.J., was also tasked with training helicopter pilots and aircrew. NAS New York This does not jive with OFFICIAL US Navy sources, and my personal opinon is that they have mixed up VX-2 with VX-3. Disestablished ref
 * NOTE** On certain web pages VX-3 has also been listed as being one of the VX squadrons that helped to develop the F-8 Crusader along with being the first navy squadron to operate the Crusader, together with the F4D-1 Skyray and F11F-1 Tiger, from an aircraft carrier deck.

Air Development Squadron Three was established in November 1948 and tasked with evaluating new and existing naval aircraft, equipment and methods and also developing tactics and procedures for these.

Given this assignment, it is not surprising that VX-3 was one of the first units to receive the F8U-1 in December 1956, and was the first to operate the type in April 1957, from USS F. D. Roosevelt. VX-3 was the first unit to qualify for carrier operations but several aircraft were lost in accidents, in several cases killing their pilots.

VX-3 also wrote Crusader history on June 6, 1957, when Capt. Dosé and LCdr. Miller flew a distance of 2200 miles from the USS Bon Homme Richard off the west coast to the USS Saratoga on the east coast in a record 3 hours and 28 minutes.

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Heliocopter Squadrons

The first squadron to receive the F8U-1 was VX-3, which received its first planes in December of 1956.

ABM-4 Gorgon
ABM-4 Gorgon, orginally 51T6, is a Russian long-range interceptor anti-ballistic missile. The Gorgon, current NATO reporting name, was built in the 1970s by the Soviet Union.

Missile data

 * ABM-4 Gorgon(formerly NATO SH-11)
 * Alternate Name: 51T6
 * Country: Russia, Soviet Union
 * Warhead: Nuclear
 * Range: 350 km
 * Basing: Land
 * Type: Anti-ballistic missile (ABM)
 * Stages: 3
 * Number built: 32 known
 * System: A-135

Background
The Gorgon is a Soviet-built anti-ballistic missile (ABM) to protect Moscow during the Cold War era. The missile is the outcome of missile advancement of it predecessors, the ABM-1 Galosh and the ABM-3 Gazelle. It is based on the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system (A-135 System).

Development
In 1978, a two-tier defense parimeter system was established: (1) long-range exoatmospheric interceptors and (2) short-range endoatmospheric interceptors. The sytem was to put an ABM warehead on the long-range 51T6 interceptor missile. The Gorgon will be developed and manufactured by the Fakel Machine Building Design Bureau.

Combining the ABM-1 and -3 Systems with the -4 System, the Russian government finally accepted the tests of A-35 and A-135 Systems by the end of 1989. At the same time, the Soviet Union decided to modernize the system, again, with new combat performances. With further development and testing which lasted until 1994, the Gorgons were placed on full combat status.

Warehead
The exoatmospheric tier tests of the A-135 System, the ABM-4 detonated a 1-megaton nuclear warhead just outside the Earth’s atmosphere. THis would destroy incoming ballistic missiles descending upon Moscow. In the event of any attack the plan was the Gorgons to serve as a first line of defense, with the short-range Gazelles interceptors would provide a second layer of protection.

Boosters
The Gorgon missile was designed and constructed with three liquid-fueled boosters with a range of approximately 350 kilometers. The design was to harden the missile against radiation efects, whether from incoming re-entry vehicles or other Gorgon and Gazelle interceptor missiles. It was hopefull that the Gorgon with its long-range capability, would have a limited anti-satellite capability against targets in low earth orbit.

2000 to current
In 2002, Anatoliy Sokolov, then commander of Russia’s space defense army, confirmed U.S. suspicions that the Gorgon and Gazelle ABMs had become obsolete. In 2004, TASS New Agency reported that Russia conducted a successful test of an upgraded version of its A-135 System. (No known name.) The test was said to have been done at the Sary Shagan Missile Range, located in Kazakhstan.

In early 1998, Russia announced that, in the interest of safety, it had removed the original nuclear warheads from its Gorgon interceptors replaced them with conventional high explosive warheads. Many had warned that if the Gazelle’s 1-megaton nuclear warhead was actually detonated above Moscow, its electromagnetic pulse would create havoc below, severely damaging all non-hardened electronic equipment. For instance, a blast at an altitude of 50 miles would affect a 500-mile radius, while a blast at 100 miles would affect a 900-mile radius. It is unclear, however, whether all of the Gorgons currently carry conventional warheads, or if some are still armed with 1-megaton nuclear warheads.(7)

In recent years, many in the U.S. and elsewhere have pointed out that, while the Gorgon and Gazelle interceptors might be effective against a single warhead attack, they would be quickly overwhelmed in the event of a multi-warhead strike.(8) Others have claimed that the interceptor missiles would have a difficult time distinguishing between warheads and other objects, a factor that severely limits the effectiveness of System A-135 in the present age of sophisticated decoys and countermeasures.(9)

ABM Treaty
By 1988, a total of 32 Gorgon interceptors had been deployed in four underground launch sites around Moscow containing eight interceptors each.(3) Including the 68 short-range Gazelle (SH-08/ABM-3) interceptors, System A-135 was technically compliant with the 1972 ABM Treaty, which allowed a total of 100 missiles. However, a loophole in the treaty allowed the Soviet missiles to protect both the capital city as well as nearby ICBM bases, thus maximizing System A-135’s functionality. Had the U.S. gone ahead with a similar system, for instance, it would have had to choose between defending either Washington, DC, or the ICBM silos in North Dakota: not both.

Footnotes 1.NATO originally referred to the 51T6 as the SH-11 due to its testing at the Sary-Shagan proving ground in Kazakhstan. The missile was later renamed the ABM-4 “Gorgon” by U.S. intelligence. For further explanation, see: Steven J. Zaloga, “Moscow’s ABM Shield Continues to Crumble,” Jane’s Intelligence Review, 1 February 1999, p. 10.

VC-10
VC-10 Composite Squadron Challengers is an inactive Navy aircraft squadron. Originally known as the Mallards in 1943, but when assigned the F-8 Crusader the Squadron pilots unofficially used the name "Challengers". It was formally as the Chalallengers from 1961 thru 1993.

History
VC-10 began 25 October 1943 as Utility Squadron SIXTEEN or VU-16 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. On 16 August 1946, VU-16 was redesignated as Utility Squadron TEN (VU-10) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Then on, 1 July 1965, VU-10 was redesignated as Fleet Composite Squadron TEN (VC-10) at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Finally on 1 July 1 1993, VC-10 was decommissioned at Guantanamo Bay.

The Commander of VC-10, on the USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), was Captain Edward J. Huxtable Jr. CVE-73 was a Casablanca class escort carrier. She was sunk in the second of two Battle of Samars.

First cruise
VC-10 was commissioned 23 September 1943 at Sand Point Naval Air Station Seattle, Washington. The Commissioning Officer was Lt. Cdr. G. L. Richard Lt. Cdr. E. J. Huxtable took command of the VC-10 on 29 September 1943. Planes and material allowance for the squadron was drawn at Sand Point.

On 5 April 1944, VC-10 was assigned to and landed on the USS GAMBIER BAY, for an eleven day shakedown cruise. The primary assignment of the unit was placed on deck load strikes, bombing and strafing of a towed target, navigation, fighter director training, radar training, and torpedo tactics. The squadron had 195 men and 31 pilots.

Patches
•1961-1969, VC-10's patch displays a Crusader's Cross on a shield (also, VU-10). •1969-1993, VC-10's patch displaysa Black Celtic Fighting Lion superimposed on a red, white and blue background

Aircraft assigned

 * Martin JM-1 (B-26 Marauder - 1943
 * Grumman F8F Bearcat - 1947
 * Grumman F9F Cougar - 1954.
 * North American FJ Fury (FJ-3) - 1953
 * Chance Vought F-8 Crusader - 1961.
 * Grumman S-2 Tracker (US-2) - 1966.
 * Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (TF-4F) - March 1975.
 * Douglas A-4 Skyhawk (TA-4J) - July 1975.

Pico-Satellite Solar Cell (PSSC)
The PSSC test bed, by Aerospace Corp, is a rectangular-shape box about 5 inches by 5 inches by 10 inches. PSSC weighs approximate 8 pounds (3.7 kg). The unit has its own solid rocket booster; plus communications capabilities, a GPS unit, and solar cells. PSSC was put into orbit by STS-135 on 20 July 2011. PSSC will be deployed into a low orbit apporximately 360 km, and it will use multiple onboard cameras (megapixel) to take the last shots of Shuttle Atlantis in orbit. The picosat will orbit for three to nine months. PSSC has both NASA and DoD duties.
 * [http://www.space.com/12354-final-space-shuttle-satellite-deployment-picosat.html Space.com: Space Shuttle Releases Final Satellite Into Orbit by Clara Moskowitz, 20 July 2011

List of islands in Colorado

 * Name            Water             County  USGS Topo Map Location
 * Deer Island     Lake Granby       Grand   8284
 * Elephant Island Lake Granby       Grand   8284
 * Fishhook Island Dillion Rservoir  Summit  9029
 * Gull Island     Lake Granby       Grand   8291
 * Hadfield Island S Platte River    Logan   3957
 * Harvey Island   Lake Granby       Grand   8323
 * Rainbow Island  Lake Granby       Grand   8330
 * Scout Island    S Platte River    Weld    4590
 * Sentinel Island Dillion Reservoir Summit  9052
 * Shelter Island  Lake Granby       Grand   8317
 * Silver Dollar Island Dillion Reservoir Summit 9022
 * The Island      Cheeseman Lake    Douglas 6883


 * Source: colorado.hometownlocator.com : List of islands in Colorado


 * more
 * Beecher Island, Arikaree River Yuma Co Battle of Beecher Island Republican River with Beecher Island highlighted.png

Nelson Aircraft
Since the early 1930s, Nelson and Bowlus had been wanted to build low-powered engines to provide auxiliary power for launching sailplanes. The target drone engines, like the low-power Righter two-stroke cycle engine used during WWII were attractive to them as a point of departure. The Righter engine company had been sold to Radioplane Corporation in May 1945 and later became Northrop-Ventura.

The first Nelson-Bowlus engine was the Nelson Bumblebee, a pod-and-boom fuselage two-seat powered sailplane [NX1955]. The Bumblebee in 1945-46 was built with a Righter 16-hp 4-cylinder engine. Nelson Aircraft then developed their own 25-28 hp 4-cylinder, two-stroke cycle (H-44 and H-49) engines. These engines were used for a limited production version of the BB-1 Bumblebee called the BB-1 Dragonfly.

Ted Nelson received a CAA/FAA Type Certificate GTC-19 on 21v April 1947 as the Nelson Auxiliary Power Glider BB-1 with either the H-44 or H-49. This Certficate covered the Dragonfly production. But in 1949, the company changed to the Nelson Specialty Corporation in San Leandro, California and developed the Hummingbird, another two-seat powered sailplane [N68959]. The Humingbird had a cconventional fuselage with a retractable Nelson H-59 pusher engine {above and behind the cockpit). The Humingbird project never proceeded to production, although the new Nelson Aircraft Company still marketed it in 1968.

During the middle 1950s, Barmotive Products, Inc. of San Leandro, California began producing the Nelson H-59 and H-63 engines described below. Ted Nelson remained with Baromotives as a special consultant. Around 1959, Baromotives returned to the earlier Nelson Specialty Corp. making Ted Nelson as their president.

On 15 July 1966, the Nelson H-63 engine received a Type Certificate 4E1. The company was transferred to Charles R. Rhoades, as president, and who operated it as the Nelson Aircraft Company; followed by arelocation to Pennsylvania. Then on 14 February 1996, the TC 4E1 was transferred to Naples, Florida, where the Rhoades firm continues the present company.

Order of Battle First Army

 * Source: OAFH

First Arm - Gen. John J Purshing
 * I Corps: Maj Gen Hunter Liggett
 * Headquarters Observation Group
 * 2nd Balloon Company
 * 5th Balloon Company
 * 82nd Division - Maj Gen William P Burnham
 * 50th Aero Squadron (split duty)
 * 42nd Balloon Company (split duty)
 * 90th Division - May Gen Henry T Allen
 * 50th Aero Squadron (split duty)
 * 42nd Balloon Company (split duty
 * 5th Division - Maj Gen John E McMahon
 * 12th Aero Squadron
 * 1st Balloon Company
 * 2nd Division - Maj Gen John A Lejeune
 * 1st Aero Squadron
 * 1st Balloon Company
 * 78th Division (Corps Reserve) - Maj Gen James H McRae
 * IV Corps - Maj Gen Joseph T Dickman
 * Headquarters Observation Group
 * 69th Balloon Company
 * 89th Division - Maj Gen William M Wright
 * 135th Aero Squadron
 * 43rd Ballon Company
 * 42nd Division - Maj Gen Charles T Menoher
 * 90th Aero Squadron
 * 3rd Balloon Company
 * 1st Division - Maj Gen Chales P Summerall
 * 8th Aero Squadron
 * 9th Balloon Company
 * 3rd Division (Corps Reserve) - Maj Gen Beaumont B Buck
 * V Corps - Maj Gen George H Cameron
 * Headquarters Observation Group
 * 99th Aero Squadron
 * 7th Balloon Company
 * 26th Division - Maj Gen Clarence R Edwards
 * 88th Aero Squadron
 * 104th Aero Squadron
 * 6th Balloon Company
 * 15th Colonial Division (French)
 * 8th Balloon Company
 * 4th Division - Maj Gen John L Hines
 * 8th Brigade
 * 4th Field Artillery Brigade
 * remainder of Div in reserve
 * 12th Balloon Company
 * US Army Reserve
 * 35th Division - Maj Gen Peter E Traub
 * 80th Division - Maj Gen Adelbert Cronkhite
 * 91st Division - Maj Gen William H Johnston

Note: List of American Balloon Squadrons