Below is a timeline describing the evolution of aeronautical design at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and it's antecedents, including the evolution of the basic organizational structure of the research facilities, as well as descriptions of some of the projects developed wholly or in part by WADC/WADD.  The portion of the timeline that covers the "WADC/WADD era" is marked by dates in white on a gray background.  Links from some projects lead to a more in depth description of the project and WADC/WADD's contribution as well as a bibliography of full-image reports available regarding the research for the project in question.  The Air Force publication Birthplace, Home and Future of Aerospace... The Evolution of Aeronautical Development at the Aeronautical Systems Center was used as a source for much of this chronology.

5/24/1917		Aircraft Engineering Division created within the Aviation Section of the Army Signal Corps, by combining the former engineering department with the Inspection Department of the Signal Corps' Aeronautical Division
8/2/1917		Equipment Division established within the Army Signal Corps
8/27/1917		Engine and Plane Design sections of the Equipment Division placed under the division's Production Department
10/13/1917		Engine and Plane Design sections transferred to the new Aircraft Engineering Department
5/24/1918		The Aviation Section of the Signal Corps disestablished, with its engineering and procurement functions taken over by the Bureau of Aircraft Production (BAP) and the Division of Military Aeronautics (DMA) of the newly created Air Service
8/31/1918		Aircraft Engineering Division created within the BAP by combining the former Engineering and Production Engineering Departments
1/1/1919		Technical Division constituted by consolidating the Airplane Engineering Department (BAP), the Technical Section (DMA) and the Testing Squadron of Wilbur Wright Field
3/13/1919	Image Source: Birthplace	The Technical Division is redesignated the Engineering Division
10/12/1926	Image Source: Birthplace	Materiel Division created by combining the Engineering Division with the Supply Division, the Industrial War Plans Section and the Materiel Disposal Section of the former Air Service (redesignated the Army Air Corps, on 7/2/1926)
10/2/1939		Chief of Materiel Division moved to Washington D. C., while the assistant chief position remained at Wright Field.
3/9/1942		Supply and maintenance  functions moved from Materiel Division to Air Service Command.  Materiel Division was redesignated the Materiel Command
3/16/1942		Wright Field functions renamed Materiel Center
4/1/1943		Headquarters of the Materiel Command moved from D.C. back to Wright Field and absorbed Materiel Center.
8/31/1944		Materiel and Air Service Commands merged to form Air Technical Service Command (ASTC)
3/6/1946		Air Technical Service Command was redesignated Air Materiel Command (AMC)
1/1950		Research and Development responsibilities separated from the Air Materiel Command, and given to newly established Air Research and Development Command (ARDC)
4/2/1951		ARDC established the Air Development Force (Provisional) at Wright Field
6/7/1951	Image Source: Birthplace	Air Development Force (Provisional) renamed the Wright Air Development Center (WADC)
4/1952	Image Source: Birthplace	Developed by WADC, the YB-52 made it's inaugural flight.  B-52's remain in service to this day.
1955	Image Source: Birthplace	WADC developed experimental X-13 Ryan aircraft demonstrated vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) technology
1955	Image Source: Birthplace	The first C-130A, developed by WADC, was produced. C-130's remain in service to this day
1/17/1955	Image Source: Birthplace	NACA officials informed by the Air Force that Air Force Project 1226 would be officially designated the X-15
1950's	Image Source: Birthplace	The XB-45 Tornado, developed at WADC, was the first operational U. S. jet bomber
1950's	Image Source: Birthplace	The F-80 Shooting Star, developed at WADC, was the first U. S. operational jet fighter
1950's	Image Source: Birthplace	The F-86A Sabre, the first U. S. swept wing fighter, developed at WADC, saw action in the Korean War
1950's	Image Source: Birthplace	The F-94, the first operational all-weather jet, developed at WADC
1950's	Image Source: Birthplace	Neil Armstrong experiences zero-g in a KC-135.  WADC/WADD performed research using cargo planes flying in parabolic patterns in order to allow astronauts to experience zero-g for a few seconds at a time.
1956		WADC developed X-2 experimental rocket plane exceeded Mach 3
12/1957	Image Source: Birthplace	Work began on the X-20 Dyna Soar, an orbital vehicle capable of maneuverable re-entry and conventional landing
12/15/1959	Image Source: Birthplace	WADC merged with ARDC's Directorate of Systems Management into the Wright Air Development Division (WADD)
4/1/1961	Image Source: Birthplace	Air Force Systems Command (AFSC) succeeded ARDC, and WADD merged with the Aeronautical Systems Center of Air Materiel Command to form the Aeronautical Systems Division (ASD)
11/1961	Image Source: Birthplace	Developed jointly by WADC/WADD, the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the Navy, the experimental X-15 hypersonic and extreme altitude aircraft attained a speed of 4,093 miles per hour
8/1963	Image Source: Birthplace	The X-15 reached an altitude of 354,200 feet
10/3/1967	Image Source: Birthplace	The X-15 attained a speed of Mach 6.70 (4,520 mph) at 102,700 feet, a winged vehicle speed record which would stand until the return of the Space Shuttle Columbia from its first orbital flight in 1981.
7/1/1992	Image Source: Birthplace	Air Force Headquarters merged Air Force Systems Command and Air Force Logistics Command into Air Force Materiel Command.  Aeronautical Systems Division was redesignated Aeronautical Systems Center (ASC)