Project Valour IT – Naval Aviation History Factoid: 18 Nov

18 Nov 1934: A contract was issued to the Northrop Corporation for the XBT-1, a two-seat Scout and l,000-pound dive bomber. This aircraft was the initial prototype in the sequence that led to the SBD Dauntless series of dive bombers introduced to the fleet in 1938 and used throughout World War II.

18 Nov 1942: The Chief of Naval Operations authorized use of the abbreviation, “RADAR”, in unclassified correspondence and conversation and directed that the phrase, Radio Detection and Ranging Equipment, be used in lieu of terms such as Radio Ranging Equipment, Radio Detection Equipment, Radio Echo Equipment, or Pulse Radio Equipment.  And one year later, the Lincoln Labs announced that an airborne intercept radar was feasible and not long after, Project Argus (later Affirm) was started to accomplish that goal and deploy the capability.

18 Nov 1952: The feasibility of using a helicopter as an aerial minesweeper was demonstrated in the first of a series of tests conducted by VX-1 pilots flying an HRP-1 helicopter off Panama City, Fla.

Valour-IT:

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Valour ITFlyer (Updated)