#1: XM551 Photo~1965 Author: MarkHolloway, Location: Beatty, NevadaPosted: Fri Jan 15, 2010 3:42 pm ---- This is Pilot #12 of the M551 'Sheridan' tank after airdrop tests in 1965 at Fort Knox, Kentucky. (Likely XM-551.)
Thanks to Vic Pitts who was on the crew. BIGGER IMAGE
#2: Re: XM551 Photo~1965 Author: MarkHolloway, Location: Beatty, NevadaPosted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 5:15 pm ---- From left to right, SP/5 Andy Grizzle, some LTC from Ft. Bragg, myself SP/5 Vic Pitts, Pilot of C130 that dropped the XM551,LTC Fitzpatrick our project officer, SP/ 5"Red" Sowalsky, and SSG Dan Cisco. This picture was taken at Rolling Forks Tank Range at Knox, and where all air drops were done. The drops were done from 1500 feet and it was also on this range the first air drop failure happened with one of the first 5 production confirmatory test vehicles. When the vehicle rolled out of the C130, the 8 drop chutes just rolled off of the vehicle and she hit the ground engine first and the back half of the vehicle was in the ground, She had ammo on board as all were had, and she burned for about 2 or 3 days and it wasn't safe until EOD said so becauxe of the ammo. Tanker4
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