Edwards Air Force Base, North Base, North Base Road, Boron, Kern County, CA

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Edwards Air Force Base, North Base, North Base Road, Boron, Kern County, CA

description

Summary

Significance: North Base originated as a remote, secret facility to test the United States' first jet-propelled military aircraft, the Bell XP-59A Airacomet. During World War II, facilities grew to accommodate more than 400 personnel and four active hangars. After the war, North Base remained a test facility which supported the testing and development of advanced aircraft. Such planes as the Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing, XP-80 Shooting Star, North American F-86 Sabre, North American Aviation XB-45 Tornado, Douglas XB-43 Versatile II, Convair XB-46, North American Aviation F-100 Super Sabre, McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, Lockheed XFV-1 Pogo, Lockheed U-2, and many others.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N709
Survey number: HAER CA-170
Building/structure dates: 1942 Initial Construction
Building/structure dates: 1943-1945 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1947 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1953 Subsequent Work
Building/structure dates: 1967-1970 Subsequent Work

World War II was a period of rapid technological advancement in the field of aircraft, and these advancements have continued to shape the development of aircraft in the years since. There were significant advances in aircraft design, such as the use of swept wings and the development of more advanced aircraft materials, such as aluminum alloys and plastic composites. These advances allowed for the construction of stronger, lighter aircraft that was capable of higher speeds and greater maneuverability. Biplanes, which have two main wings stacked one above the other, were largely obsolete by the time World War II began in 1939. They had been largely replaced by monoplanes, which have a single main wing, by the start of World War II. The main advantage of monoplanes is that they are typically faster and more maneuverable than biplanes due to their streamlined design. In addition, monoplanes are able to carry a greater load for their size, making them more suitable for use as bombers and transport aircraft. However, biplanes were not completely abandoned during World War II. Some biplane designs, such as the British Hawker Hurricane and the Soviet Polikarpov I-153, saw limited use as fighters. In addition, biplanes were used in a number of other roles, including training, observation, and light transports. One of the major developments in aircraft technology during World War II was the use of jet engines, which allowed for faster and more powerful aircraft. The first jet aircraft, the German Heinkel He 178, made its first flight in 1939. However, it was not until after the war that jet aircraft became widespread. During World War II, a number of aircraft were produced in large quantities to meet the demands of the war. Here are some examples of some of the most massively produced aircraft of World War II: The Soviet Union's Ilyushin Il-2 was a ground attack aircraft that was produced in tremendous numbers, with more than 36,000 being built. It was heavily armed and armored, making it a formidable opponent on the battlefield. The German Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a mainstay of the German air force and was produced in large numbers, with more than 35,000 being built. It was used as a fighter, interceptor, and ground attack aircraft, and saw action on many fronts during the war. The American Republic P-47 Thunderbolt was a heavily armed and armored fighter that was produced in large quantities, with more than 15,000 being built. It was used extensively in Europe and the Pacific and was known for its durability and long range. The British Supermarine Spitfire was a highly regarded fighter that was produced in large numbers, with more than 20,000 being built. It saw action in many theaters of the war and was known for its agility and handling.

date_range

Date

1969 - 1980
person

Contributors

Historic American Engineering Record, creator
U.S. Department of the Air Force, Owner
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
place

Location

create

Source

Library of Congress
copyright

Copyright info

No known restrictions on images made by the U.S. Government; images copied from other sources may be restricted. http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/res/114_habs.html

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