d/d 28jun57, General Electric (jun57-jun59)  w/o 23jun59

Note: The initial assembly of 56-742 was finished on January 31st, 1957 and accepted by the US Air Force on June 27th, 1957. One day later (June 28th) it was delivered directly to the General Electric test-site at Edwards Air Force Base. With this testgroup it was used to perform accelerated service tests as well as other J79 development tests. After two years it was lost in a tragic accident.

Accident Reports:

23 June 1959 (F-104A)
Crashed near Edwards AFB, California at the Rogers Dry Lake area. Sadly the civilian General Electric testpilot, Marvin M. "Whitey" Van Salter was killed.
The aircraft departed Edwards AFB at 0927 hours on an engine evaluation flight. Three open nozzle afterburner lights were conducted at 6,000’ over Rogers Dry Lake, the last at 180 KIAS. The pilot then entered normal traffic pattern and landing for Runway 22. The pilot did one go around with 1,000 pounds fuel remaining. Aircraft was then observed to fly a normal traffic pattern up to the final approach phase. Wings level on the final approach, the aircraft was seen to roll left then enter a shallow dive and crash on Rogers Dry Lake on an approx 190 degrees magnetic heading  5,000’ short and 3,000’ left of the runway overrun. Time of flight was 47 minutes. The pilot Marvin van Salter ejected but was too low for the escape equipment to function and he did not survive. The aircraft had been bailed to General Electric. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
Lateron we received information from General Electric which stated that the airplane was making a normal landing at Edwards AFB after a J79 development flight. When the civilian General Electric testpilot, Marvin M. "Whitey" Van Salter, deployed the flaps, the interconnect cable sheared and caused an asymmetric flap condition. The airplane rolled, and Van Salter ejected with his downward ejection seat, but was too low to the ground and was killed. The airplane was completely destroyed.

This photo shows the overall General Electric J79 testteam in front of F-104A 56-742 taken at Edwards Air Force Base. It looks like it was taken in 1959 when the aircraft already had received the typical yellow General Electric stroke on its fin. We are wondering if someone recognizes the people on this beautiful photo. (Photo David Markley collection - General Electric).

Footnote: We want to thank David Markley for sharing all the General Electric related material which he got from his late father Craig Markley. Craig Markley worked for General Electric between September 1957 and November 1963. He was Aircraft Crew Chief, Director of work performed on Flight Test Aircraft. He was nterface with test engineering for scheduling of modification on the instrumentation, engine, aircraft and flight envelope. Testing of the engine in both the test cell and airframe. Assist the project engineer and instrumentation engineer with the design and fabrication of instrumentation components and wiring for data acquisition. He did the necessary paperwork to conform with GE and USAF requirements. Order and supervise the replacement of parts to maintain the aircraft in a flying status. To brief USAF pilots in the emergency procedures and problem symptoms of the J-79-GE-3 jet engine.
We also thank Jason Chapman (historian at GE's Flight Test Center) for providing valuable historical information.