IIT the desired characteristics, Meantime, forming of the Test Aircraft Unit stopped pending selection of the sampling aircraft. Late in February 1952, General Glantzberg flew to Washington to push for a decision, And on 28 February 1952, the General wired the staff at Kirtland that they would use the F-8),G single place fighterbomber which would also serve as an escort-fighter or an interceptorfighter. Theaircraft, with an ejection seat, anti-G suit provisions, windshield defroster system, automatic fuel transfer and in-flight refueling system, had been first accepted by the Air Force in June 1951, and was considereda first-line combat aircraft, Task Group 132.4 then initiated plans.forin-flight refueling for the F-8,G aircraft, along with plans for instruments and navigational aids to be installed on them, The Air Materiel Command modified the 16 F-8)¢ aircraft to a sampling configuration after Wright Air Development Center provided one aircraft as a prototype. On 18 May 1952, all but two of the aircraft flew from Bergstrom Air Force Base to the Mobile Air Materiel Area where they were to have F-5 autopilots installed, along with ARA-9 ultra high frequency homing devices, and radiac instruments, Wright Air Development Center delivered the prototype airplane to Mobile on 23 May 1952, and the final aircraft, just finished sampling during Operation TUMBLER/SNAPPER, arrived in Mobile the next day, . By early July 1952, modifications were completed, except for a few items not available to be installed at Mobile. were delayed by negotiations for a contract, 65 AFWLHO The sampling tanks Throughout this period SWEH-2-003); gh