Navy snatched the world speed record from the Army Air Forces last week with a pair of surprising 640 mph. and 650 mph. performances by the Douglas built, jet-powered D-558 transonic research plane. Both records were set over the same three kilometer (1.86 mi.) course at Muroc Dry Lake where Col. Albert Boyd set the former record of 623.7 in a Lockheed P-80R last June. Commander Turner Caldwell, Jr., flew the crimson D-558 in the first record breaking runs that were originally scheduled as a dress rehearsal for the final attempt. Cald-well hit a maximum of 653.4 mph. on one of his four legs and avenged 640.7 mph. in a 77 degree temperature. Marine Major Marion Carl followed several days later with a scorching 650.6 average to crack the AAF record by 27 mph. Carl's flight was made at a temperature of 94 degrees and reached mach .83, equalling the mach number reached by the British Closter Meteor when it held the record at 616 mph.
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