N.A.W.S. China Lake Gate Gaurdians & China Lake Museum

Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is located 150 miles north of Los Angeles in the Western Mojave Desert region of California. The military air base located on the dry lake next to the city of Ridgecrest, was established in 1943 for the research, development and testing of weapons for the United States Navy.

The China Lake Museum was created to showcase the history of N.A.W.S. China Lake. The original museum, the U.S. Naval Museum of Armament and Technology was located on the military base, where access was limited and a visitor pass required. In March 2018, the museum was relocated to the adjoining city of Ridgecrest, where public access is easier. On the day of my visit, only ‘Phase 1’ of the new museum had been completed with three aircraft on display. In the near future, a new ‘Phase 2’ building will be constructed, with the remaining displays and aircraft moved to the new location.

Click on a Photo to activate the link. All photographs open in a new window.

N.A.W.S. China Lake Gate Gaurdian Exhibits

Date of visits: February 2017, November 2018, May 2019.
The aircraft exhibited outside the entrance to N.A.W.S. China Lake are located in the city of Ridgecrest, at the junction of West Inyokern Road and North China Lake Blvd.

XF4D-1 Skyray (124587)
Copyright © VCM-Photography