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‘The Battle of Palmdale:’ The Air Force’s most embarrassing dogfight

Bum

I survived. Suck it, Schrodinger.
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You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. And hundreds of the ones you do take.

In the mid-1950s, the U.S. Navy was testing a new, radar-guided air-to-air missile, the AIM-7 Sparrow, intended for use with the next generation of jet fighters. To test the new missiles properly, the Navy converted surplus propeller-driven fighter aircraft for use as radio-operated drones.

One of these missile tests took place at Point Mugu Naval Air Station, California, in August 1956. The Navy launched a bright red F6F-5K Hellcat target drone on its final mission. The Hellcat was en route to the testing area over the Pacific when it suddenly stopped responding to its radio commands. Via radar, the Navy test team helplessly watched the drone slowly make a left turn and head towards Los Angeles....

 
Totally needs to be a movie.
 
Wow. Two Air Force Scorpions fired 208 missiles.
I had no idea they had that kind or capability.
 
Wow. Two Air Force Scorpions fired 208 missiles.
I had no idea they had that kind or capability.
Apparently, each wing pod held 52 FFAR (fin folding aerial rockets).



Unfortunately for the Air Force, they were notoriously inaccurate.
 
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