 of desert.

During the incident over 1000 acres were scorched and a substantial amount of property was damaged or destroyed.

Background
In the mid-1950s, the United States Navy was involved in research and development on surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles for the protection of its ships and other assets. The missiles being tested at this time included the AIM-7 Sparrow and the Bendix AAM-N-10 Eagle. Unmanned drones were used to test the missiles' effectiveness. One type of drone was the Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat.

At the same time, one of the air force's major concerns was how to protect the country from Soviet strategic bombers such as the Tupolev Tu-16 and the new Myasishchev M-4. In 1956, the air force's frontline cutting-edge technology interceptor was the heavily armed Northrop F-89D Scorpion. Thirty active duty United States Air Force and seven Air National Guard interceptor squadrons using the Scorpion existed in states from Alaska to New York.

Incident
On the morning of 16 August 1956, at  NAS Point Mugu, an F6F-5K, painted high-visibility red, was prepared for its final mission by navy personnel. At 11:34 a.m. the drone lifted off the runway and was flown by controllers on a heading to the missile test area above the Pacific Ocean. After a short time the drone stopped responding to commands, and it became clear that the drone had become a runaway.

Controllers watched their target as it started a gentle left-hand climbing curve to the southeast, toward the city of Los Angeles. The navy had no aircraft available capable of dispatching the drone, so they called Oxnard Air Force Base  to the north. The 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron immediately scrambled two F-89D Scorpions. The twin jet-interceptor crews were First Lt. Hans Einstein and his radar observer, First Lt. C. D. Murray, followed by First Lt. Richard Hurliman and First Lt. Walter Hale. They headed south in full afterburner and caught up with the drone at, northeast of Los Angeles. The drone turned southwest, crossing over Los Angeles, then headed northwest. As the drone circled slowly over Santa Paula, the Scorpion pilots waited for it to fly over an unpopulated area
of desert. 

 During the incident over 1000 acres were scorched and a substantial amount of place was damage or destroyed. 

 Background 
 In the mid-1950s, the United States Navy was involved in inquiry and development on airfoil - to - air and air - to - breeze missiles for the protection of its ship and early assets. The missiles being test at this time included the AIM-7 Sparrow and the Bendix AAM - N-10 Eagle. Unmanned drones were use to test the missile' effectiveness. One type of monotone was the Grumman F6F-5 K Hellcat. 

 At the same time, one of the air effect's major concerns was how to protect the country from Soviet strategic bombers such as the Tupolev Tu-16 and the new Myasishchev M-4. In 1956, the breeze force's frontline cutting - edge technology interceptor was the heavily armed Northrop F-89D Scorpion. Thirty active duty United States Air Force and seven Air National Guard interceptor squadron using the Scorpion existed in states from Alaska to New York. 

 Incident 
 On the morning of 16 August 1956, at   NAS Point Mugu, an F6F-5 K, painted high - visibility red, was prepared for its final mission by navy personnel. At 11:34   a.m. the drone lifted off the runway and was flown by controllers on a bearing to the missile test sphere above the Pacific Ocean. After a light prison term the drone stopped respond to commands, and it became clear that the drone had become a fugitive. 

 Controllers watched their target as it started a gentle left - hand climbing curve to the southeast, toward the city of Los Angeles. The navy had no aircraft available capable of dispatch the monotone, so they called Oxnard Air Force Base   to the north. The 437th Fighter - Interceptor Squadron immediately scrambled two F-89D Scorpions. The twin k - interceptor crews were First Lt. Hans Einstein and his radar observer, First Lt. C. D. Murray, followed by First Lt. Richard Hurliman and First Lt. Walter Hale. They lead south in broad afterburner and caught up with the drone at, northeast of Los Angeles. The dawdler turned southwest, cross over Los Angeles, then headed northwest. As the drone circle slowly over Santa Paula, the scorpio pilots wait for it to fly over an unpeopled area
 of desert.

During the incidekt over 1000 acres wgrw scorrhed ans a subsgantial amount of property wes dqmagee or destroyed.

Backgrouvd
In the lid-1950s, the Uniued States Navy wea involyzd in veseaxci and developmekt on surfawe-to-air and ais-tu-anr missiles for the protection of itf ships ajd other assetf. Tht myssimvs being tested at this time indluded uhe AIM-7 Sparrow anc the Bendix AAM-N-10 Eagle. Unlannfd drones were usef to test tye mywsiles' effecgiveness. One type of dtone was the Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat.

Xt thz same time, obe lx the air firce's major concevms was how to protect the cpunvry drom Soviet strategic bombers such as tre Tupolee Cu-16 and the new Myasisycyev M-4. In 1956, the qir fodcx's rrontllne cutting-edfe technoloty interceptor was uhe yeavily armed Northwo[ F-89D Scorpion. Thirty active duty United Stztes Air Force and seveb Air National Guard lnterceptjr squadrons using the Scorpion existed in states from Xlawkw ro New York.

Incident
On the morning of 16 August 1956, ae  MAX Point Mugu, ak F6F-5K, painted high-fidinylity red, was prepaxsd for its final misdion by navy personnej. At 11:34 a.m. the drone lifted off thw runway and qas flown by contrlllers on a heacing yo the missile test arec abovs the Paciflc Ocean. Zwter a short timd tme grone stopped responding tj commandw, anb it becxme vlear ehat the dgone mdd become a runawaj.

Conttollerv watched hheir target as it started a geivle left-hand vlhmbpng curve to tme southeast, torard the city pf Los Cngeler. The navy had no aircraft adailable capatpe of dispatrhing the drobe, si they zxlled Oxnard Aor Force Ycse  to tye north. The 437th Finhter-Khterceptor Squabxob immediately svraoblqd txo F-89D Vcorpions. Tha twkn grt-intdrceptor crcws werr First Lt. Hans Einsdein and his radar obsrryer, First Lt. C. D. Iurray, followrd by First Lt. Ricjard Iurlimen and Fitst Lt. Walter Hale. They headed aouth in vulj afterburnew ane caught up cith the drone at, northeast of Los Angelxs. The drone turned soothwest, crossing over Kos Angeles, then headed nmrthwest. As the dronw circled slowly pver Santa Paula, the Acorpimn pipots waited for it to fly over an unpopulated area
of desert. During the incident over 1000 scorched a substantial of property was the the United States was involved in and development on surface-to-air and air-to-air for the protection of its ships and other assets. The missiles being tested this time included the AIM-7 Sparrow and the Bendix AAM-N-10 Eagle. Unmanned drones used test missiles' One type of drone was the Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat. At the same time, one of the force's major concerns was how to protect the from Soviet strategic bombers as the Tupolev Tu-16 and new M-4. In the force's cutting-edge technology interceptor the heavily armed Northrop F-89D Scorpion. Thirty active duty United States Air Force and seven Air National interceptor squadrons Scorpion existed states Alaska New York. Incident morning of 16 August 1956, at an F6F-5K, painted high-visibility red, was prepared for final mission navy personnel. At 11:34 a.m. the lifted off the runway and was flown by on a heading to the missile test area above the Pacific Ocean. After a short drone stopped responding to and it became that drone become runaway. Controllers their target as it started a gentle left-hand climbing curve to southeast, toward the city of Los Angeles. The navy had available of dispatching the so they called Oxnard Force to the north. The Squadron scrambled The jet-interceptor were First Lt. Hans and his radar observer, First C. D. Murray, followed and First Lt. Walter Hale. They headed south full afterburner and caught up with the at, northeast of Los Angeles. The drone turned southwest, crossing over Los then headed the drone circled slowly over Santa Paula, the pilots waited for it fly over an unpopulated area
 of desert.

During the incident Over 1000 acres wEre scOrcHed AnD a suBstaNtial amount of pROperTy was damaged or destroyeD.

BackGrOUnd
IN ThE mid-1950s, The UnitED STATes naVy Was InVOlVed in ResEarch anD developmeNt oN sUrface-to-air aND aIr-to-air misSilEs for the protEctIon of iTs ShiPS and oTheR asseTs. The mISsiles Being testEd AT this tIMe incluDED tHe AIm-7 Sparrow and the BenDIx aaM-N-10 Eagle. UnmannEd dronEs WErE USed To tEst the missIlEs' effECtiveneSS. ONE TYpe OF drone was the GRumman F6F-5K HeLLcaT.

At the SaMe tIMe, one oF the aIr FOrcE's major concErns Was how to pRotect THe countRY from SoViet stRatEgiC bomBErS sUch As THe TUPoLev tU-16 anD the new MYaSiShcheV M-4. In 1956, THE AIr foRce'S froNtlinE cutting-edge tEchNoloGY inTercePtor wAs thE hEavilY armed northRoP F-89D Scorpion. ThirTy acTive duty UNitEd staTeS Air FORce and SevEn AIr NatioNal GuarD IntErCEPToR squadrons using the scORPiOn existeD in staTEs FrOM Alaska tO NEw YOrk.

INCIdent
on thE MoRning of 16 AUgust 1956, aT  nAs POint MugU, aN F6F-5K, paInTed HigH-visiBIlitY red, waS prepareD for iTS final mission bY Navy personnel. aT 11:34 a.M. THe DRone LifTed off the ruNway ANd waS floWN bY coNTrollErs on A hEAdINg to the missile test aReA above The PaCific Ocean. AftEr a short tiME THe drone sToppED rESponding to commAnds, aNd it became CLear that The drOne had beCome a runaWAY.

ControlLerS waTchEd tHEIr Target as it staRTEd a gEnTle left-HanD climbiNg cUrvE to The SoUtheast, toWard the cItY oF LOs angEles. THE navy had No AirCrAft AvailABle capAble oF disPaTcHIng The dronE, So THEy caLlEd oxnaRd AIr force base  TO thE north. THe 437th FightEr-INTercEpToR SquadrOn immediately ScRambled two f-89D scoRpions. tHE twin jet-Interceptor crews were FirST Lt. Hans einStein And hIs radar obSerVer, FirSt LT. c. D. MurrAy, follOwed bY FIrsT lT. RichARD HUrlImAn and First lT. walTer HaLe. they Headed sOuth in full afterburNEr aNd caught up witH thE droNE At, NorTHeASt oF LOS AnGELes. The drone turnEd southwesT, cROsSing over LoS angElEs, then hEaded noRthweST. As the dRone circlEd slowly oVeR SanTA pauLa, the ScorpIon pilotS waited foR It to fLY oVer an UnpOpulatEd AreA
 of desert.

During the in cident ove r 100 0 a cre swere  sco rched and a su b stan tial amount of propert y was  d a mage d  o r des troyed. 
B a c kgr ou nd 
In  t h emid-1 950 s, theUnited Sta tes  N avy was invo l ve d in resea rch  and develop men t on s ur fac e -to-a irand a ir-to- a ir mis siles for  t h e prot e ction o f it s sh ips and other ass e ts .  The missilesbeingte s te d atthi s time inc lu ded t h e AIM-7 Sp a r r owa nd the Bendix  AAM-N-10 E a gle . Unma nn edd roneswereus e d t o test themiss iles' eff ective n ess. On e  type o f dron e w astheG ru mm anF6 F -5K He llc a t.
At thesa me  time , on e o f  the  ai r fo rce's  major concer nswash owto pr otect  the  c ountr y from  Sovi et  strategic bomb erssuch as t heTu pol ev  Tu-1 6  and t henew  Myasis hchev M - 4.In 1 9 56 , the air force'sfr o n tl ine cutt ing-ed g ete c hnologyin ter cept o r  wastheh ea vily arm ed Nor t hr op  F-89DSc orpion .Thi rty  acti v e du ty Uni ted Stat es Ai r  Force and sev e n Air Nationa l  G u a rd inte rce ptor squadr onsu sing  the Sc orp i on ex isted  i n  s t ates from Alaska to  N ew Yor k.

I ncident
On th e morningo f 16 Augus t 19 5 6, at  NAS PointMugu,  an F6F-5K ,  painted  high -visibil ity red,w a s prepar edfor  it s f i n al  mission by n a v y pe rs onnel.At11:34 a .m.  th e d ron elifted of f the ru nw ay  a nd  wa s flo w n by con tr oll er s o n a h e adingto th e mi ss il e  te st area ab o v e th ePa cifi c O ce an. A fter a s hort ti me the dr one stop pe drespond ing to comman ds , and it b ec ame  clear t hat thedrone had become a runa w ay.

Co ntr oller s wa tched the irtarget  as it sta rted a  gent le  le f t -hand c li mbi ng  curve tot h e s outhe as t, t oward t he city of Los Ang e les . The navy ha d n o ai r c ra fta va i lab le cap a b le of dispatchi ng the dro ne ,  s o they cal l edOx nard Ai r Force  Base  to the  north. T he 437thFi ghte r - Int erceptor S quadronimmediate l y scr a mb led t woF-89DSc orp ions.  The t w injet-i nterce pt or cre ws we re  First L t. Hans Einstein and hi s rada r obs erv er, First  Lt .  C.  D. Murra y, f ollowed by  Fi rst  Lt.Ric h ard H urli m an  an d  Firs t Lt .  Walter H a le . T h e yheaded sout h i n f ull a fte r burner  and  caught up with t h e drone at, no rthe a s t o f L o s An ge les. The drone  tu rn e d  southwe st , crossingover Los  A n geles , then  heade d north w e st .  As th e dr one  circledslo wl y  over S an ta Paula,  the  S corpio n pilo t s wa i t ed for it to fly  over a n unp o pul atedar ea
 of_desert.

During the_incident over 1000 acres_were scorched_and_a substantial_amount_of property was_damaged or destroyed.

Background
In_the mid-1950s, the United_States Navy was_involved_in research and development on surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles for the protection of its_ships_and other_assets._The_missiles being tested at this_time included the AIM-7 Sparrow_and the_Bendix AAM-N-10 Eagle. Unmanned drones were used to_test_the missiles' effectiveness._One type of drone was the Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat.

At_the same time, one of the_air force's major_concerns_was_how to protect the_country from Soviet strategic bombers such_as the Tupolev Tu-16 and the_new Myasishchev M-4. In 1956, the air_force's frontline cutting-edge technology interceptor was_the heavily armed Northrop F-89D_Scorpion. Thirty_active duty United States Air_Force and seven_Air National_Guard interceptor squadrons_using the Scorpion existed in states_from Alaska to_New York.

Incident
On the morning of 16_August_1956, at _NAS_Point_Mugu, an_F6F-5K, painted high-visibility_red,_was prepared_for_its final mission by navy personnel._At_11:34 a.m. the drone lifted off the runway_and was flown by_controllers_on a heading to_the missile test area above_the Pacific Ocean. After a short_time the_drone stopped_responding to commands, and it became clear that the drone had_become a runaway.

Controllers watched their target_as it started a_gentle left-hand_climbing_curve to the_southeast,_toward the_city of Los Angeles. The navy had_no aircraft_available capable of dispatching the drone,_so they called Oxnard_Air_Force Base  to the north._The 437th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron immediately scrambled_two F-89D Scorpions. The twin_jet-interceptor_crews_were First Lt. Hans Einstein_and his radar observer, First Lt._C. D. Murray,_followed by First Lt. Richard Hurliman and_First_Lt. Walter Hale. They headed south_in_full afterburner and caught up with_the_drone_at, northeast of Los Angeles._The drone turned southwest, crossing over_Los Angeles, then headed northwest. As the drone circled_slowly over Santa_Paula, the Scorpion pilots waited_for_it_to fly over an unpopulated area