Lancaster in Los Angeles County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
D-558 Skyrocket
Photographed by Craig Baker
1. D-558 Skyrocket Marker
D-558-II Skyrocket, sister aircraft of the first aircraft to fly faster than twice the speed of sound, established many aeronautical advances in the skies over the Antelope Valley.
Three of these aircraft were manufactured by the Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc. for the U.S. Navy and the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.
The men and women of NASA (NACA), the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Air Force Flight Test Center, and Douglas Aircraft dedicate this Skyrocket to the youth of Antelope Valley.
Erected 1963.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Air & Space.
Location. 34° 40.676′ N, 118° 11.173′ W. Marker is in Lancaster, California, in Los Angeles County. It can be reached from the intersection of West Ave K and 30th Street West. Located on the campus of Antelope Valley College. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3041 W Ave K, Lancaster CA 93536, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles, in the High Desert, and in the Transverse Ranges. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Creosote (approx. 0.6 miles away); F/A-18 Hornet (approx. 1.8 miles away); Captain Iven Carl "Kinch" Kincheloe, Jr. (approx. 2.6 miles away); Lancaster Incorporation Headquarters (approx. 2.6 miles away); William H. Dana (approx. 2.7 miles away); Fitz Fulton (approx. 2.8 miles away); Captain Glen W. Edwards, USAF
this page online
Regarding D-558 Skyrocket. The first flight to reach Mach 2, twice the speed of sound, took place on Nov. 20, 1953. Like so many other aerospace milestones, it happened in the skies above the Antelope Valley at Edwards Air Force Base, with storied test pilot Scott Crossfield at the controls of the Skyrocket.
Launched from the B-29 over the western Antelope Valley, Crossfield carefully followed the planned flight profile to get the maximum speed. He reached Mach 2.005, 1,291 mph, at 62,000 feet, setting the speed record.
The three D-558-2 airplanes continued as research workhorses for nearly four more years until the project was ended in 1957.
The airplane displayed at Antelope Valley College, NACA 145, flew 87 missions.
The record-setting airplane, NACA 144, is displayed at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC, and the third airplane is at the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino.
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 25, 2023
2. D-558 Skyrocket and Marker
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 25, 2023
3. D-558 Skyrocket
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 25, 2023
4. D-558 Skyrocket
Photographed by Craig Baker, February 28, 2026
5. D-558 Skyrocket
Placed in storage near the Automotive shop during campus construction in 2026.
courtesy NASA
6. D-558 Skyrocket
At Edwards Air Force Base, 20 miles northeast of the college.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 25, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 537 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on February 25, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 5. submitted on February 28, 2026, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 6. submitted on March 13, 2023, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.
