Grumman E-1 Tracer

The Grumman E-1 Tracer, called the WF before 1962, was the first purpose-built airborne early warning aircraft used by the United States Navy, and a derivative of the C-1 Trader. Before it, modified attack aircraft such as the AD-3W Skyraider and TBM-3W Avenger filled the role. Grumman first proposed the idea in 1951 as a variant of the S-2 Tracker, but that project was cancelled late in 1952; a new design built around a Hazeltine radar followed in 1955, and the prototype made its first flight on 17 December 1956. The type entered service in 1960 and Grumman built 88 E-1B production aircraft. It served from 1960 to 1977 as an interim type, replaced by the E-2 Hawkeye from the mid-1960s.