Encampment on Rogers Dry Lake

In the 1930s, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., was the Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range. Photographed is a tent camp on the edge of Rogers Dry Lake then. (Courtesy photo)

1st Wing at Rogers Dry Lake

Overhead view of the Army Air Corps 1st Wing bivouacked on Rogers Dry Lake, Calif. in 1936. (Courtesy photo)

Lockheed XP-80

The Lockheed XP-80 made its first flight on Jan. 8, 1944. In 1948, the Air Force changed the "P" designation (Pursuit) to "F" (Fighter). The P-80 Shooting Star was the first operational jet fighter, and as the F-80 saw combat in the Korean War. (Courtesy photo)

XP-86

The North American XP-86 made its first flight Oct. 1, 1947. In 1948, the Air Force changed the "P" designation (Pursuit) to "F" (Fighter), and when the aircraft was added to the inventory, it was named the Sabre. (Courtesy photo)

Captains Yeager and Ridley

Capts. Charles E. "Chuck" Yeager (left) and Jackie L. Ridley stand next to the cockpit of the X-1. (Courtesy photo)

Capt. Charles E. Yeager

Capt. Charles E. Yeager seated in the cockpit of the Bell X-1 supersonic research aircraft. He became the first man to fly faster than the speed of sound on Oct. 14, 1947. (Courtesy photo)