Drone?

[Captfish]

So I was messing around online and came across this picture. I know a lot of kitties wound up being drones during the Korean war, are these Drones?


Then I came across this one that had a pilot? This one seem more experimental. Any thoughts?

[pokecheck]

It would be great in the training arena until you get shot down by your noonbie student.

[SgtPappy]

Yes, they're drones, likely laden with bombs.

In WWII, pilots would have to control drone B-24's to a certain point from which point on, the trailing a/c would remotely control the drone as the drone's pilot/co-pilot bailed out.

The F6F-5K was probably no different AFAIK.

[Cthulhu]

These could be the drones of GMU 90.

[pokecheck]

Yes, they're drones, likely laden with bombs.

In WWII, pilots would have to control drone B-24's to a certain point from which point on, the trailing a/c would remotely control the drone as the drone's pilot/co-pilot bailed out.

The F6F-5K was probably no different AFAIK.

Then why would they be painted high-visiblity orange?

[Cthulhu]

Then why would they be painted high-visiblity orange?

The drones actually were orange. Think about it as as a warning... This thing could blow your bellybutton up! Do some Google work on USS Boxer and GMU 90.

[SectorNine50]

I remember hearing about radio controlled aircraft before, but I do not remember their uses.  Were they actually used in WWII?

[2bighorn]

Then I came across this one that had a pilot?

Yeah, in those times the drones used for live fire practice had pilots. The bullets used would break on impact, planes were up armored a bit and air inlets had screens.

[glock89]

I remember hearing about radio controlled aircraft before, but I do not remember their uses.  Were they actually used in WWII?

they were never use in WWII i forget the guy who die but it did put the end to the project.

[pops949]

Back in the 60's I was in the Navy in a ulility Squad stationed at North Isl. in San Diego. (lived is socal and spent 4 years in SD).  Anyway I was surfing the web and found pictures of the planes I used to fly in.  I was a Drop Control Officer and my job was to fire up the drones and launch them.   We would fly out in the Pacific Missile range and let the ships or fighter try and shoot the drones down.  Of course we had flare on the wing tips so usually they only took off a wing tip.  The Ryan Firebee drone would fly about 550 knots and at about 50K.  The drone had a 100 foot chute so they landed in the water and were picked up by helos. 





And you guys thought you flew RC planes

[Rino]

they were never use in WWII i forget the guy who die but it did put the end to the project.

     Actually they did use radio controlled aircraft, and not just in Project Aphrodite <the one
in which Joe Kennedy died>.  The navy used a small twin engine radio controlled aircraft to
destroy a beached japanese freighter during 1944.

Found a link to the type:

http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/bq-4.html

[expat]

Rino
There's one at Pensacola museum..
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e97/expat0149/9b6c0986.jpg

[SectorNine50]

From what I understand, these drones were incredibly unreliable, is that correct?

[Rino]

     Thanks for the headsup expat.  I've been to Dayton 3 times, but never to the navy museum.

[Jester]

Here is a neat Post-War shot - a LANCASTER Mk.10DC Drone Carrier of the RCAF with early model FIREBEE Drones.



BTY Pops....Great pics. What was the designation for the P-2 NEPTUNE Drone Carrier? DP-2?