Radioplane Drones: First American Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Radioplane OQ-3 with its launcher, Wright Field, October 1945.

The OQ-2 Radioplane was the first mass-produced UAV or drone in the United States, manufactured by the Radioplane Company. A follow-on version, the OQ-3, became the most widely used target drone in US service, with over 9,400 being built during World War II.

The OQ-2 was originally a small radio controlled aircraft model designed by Walter Righter. The design, along with its engine design, was purchased by actor Reginald Denny, who had demonstrated another model to the US Army in 1940. Calling the new design the RP-2, he demonstrated several updated versions to the Army as the RP-2, RP-3 and RP-4 in 1939.

In 1940, the Army placed an order for 53 RP-4s (some sources refer to the RP-4 as OQ-1 but that designation was never assigned). This small order led to a much bigger 1941 order for the similar RP-5, which became the US Army OQ-2, the OQ meaning a "subscale target". The US Navy also bought the drone, designating it TDD-1, for Target Drone, Denny, 1. Thousands were built, manufactured at the Radioplane plant at the Van Nuys Airport in the Los Angeles metropolitan area.

The OQ-2 is a simple aircraft, powered by a two-cylinder two-cycle piston engine, providing 6 horsepower (4.5 kW) and driving two contra-rotating propellers. The RC control system was built by Bendix. Launching was by catapult only and recovered by parachute should it survive the target practice. The landing gear was used only on the OQ-2 versions as sold to the Army to cushion the landing by parachute. None of the drones including the improved variants shipped to the Navy had landing gear. The subsequent variants delivered to the Army did not have landing gear.

The OQ-2 led to a series of similar but improved variants, with the OQ-3 / TDD-2 and OQ-14 / TDD-3 produced in quantity. A number of other target drones were built by Radioplane (including licensed contractors) and competing companies during the war, most of which never got beyond prototype stage, which accounts for the gaps in the designation sequence between "OQ-3" and "OQ-14".

During the war Radioplane manufactured nearly fifteen thousand drones. The company was bought by Northrop in 1952.

After World War II ended, various experiment were made with Radioplane target drones. In one experiment in 1950, a derivative of the OQ-3 Radioplane drone was used to lay military communication wire.

 

A Radioplane TDD target drone is prepared for launching from the starboard catapult of the U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Biloxi (CL-80) during the Second World War, circa 1944.

Drone (TDD) onboard USS Quincy (CA-71) at Hawaii, March 27, 1945. Photographed by crew of USS Quincy (CA-71).

View of the fantail of the U.S. Navy light cruiser USS Biloxi (CL-80) during the Second World War. Two Vought OS2U Kingfisher aircraft are visible on the right, three Radioplane TDD target drones are visible in the center and on the catapult, circa 1944.

Seaman First Class Henry O. Stockwell starts motor to drone on board USS Astoria (CL-90). The drones were a target for anti-aircraft practice while Task Force 38 was on the way to Japan, 7-21 July 1945.

Seaman First Class Harold K. McNamara, Airman First Class Charles R. Haugh, and Airman Second Class Robert L. Williams with drone on board USS Astoria (CL-90). The drones were a target for anti-aircraft practice while Task Force 38 was on the way to Japan, 7-21 July 1945.

“Clay pigeons” for the U.S. Navy’s anti-aircraft gunners. As a part of the Navy’s extensive training aids program, radio-controlled “drones” or pilotless aircraft were used to train anti-aircraft gunners. These “aerial robots” can be made to simulate suicide, dive bomber, and torpedo plane attacks. TDD’s, the Naval designation for one type of drone, frequently were used while the fleet was on its way to and returning from attacks against the enemy. These controlled robots developed greater accuracy and were far more popular with the men than the towed target sleeve, the gunnery device which they replaced. Here a radio-controlled target drone (TDD-2) takes off from a ship’s catapult under a reduced charge. It was then flown over the task force to give all the anti-aircraft gunners of the fleet a warm-up for impending battles and to keep their skill at a high level.

A Radioplane TDD target drone is readied for launch from the U.S. Navy escort carrier USS Tripoli (CVE-64), circa 1945.

View of operations of a Radioplane TDD target drone for live firing at the U.S. Marine Corps Bombardier and Air Gunners School at Marine Corps Air Station El Centro, California, 1943-1944.

A Radioplane TDD target drone on a catapult aboard the U.S. Navy gunnery training ship USS Wyoming (AG-17) on 9 May 1945. The drone was called "Target Drone, Denny" (TDD) after the actor Reginald Denny (1891-1967), who helped perfect it.

A U.S. Navy Radioplane TDD target drone falling in flames, after being shot down by the escort carrier USS Makin Island (CVE-93) during gunnery practice off Wakanoura, Japan, 1 October 1945. Note that much of the drone's covering has burned away, exposing internal structure.

The U.S. Navy heavy cruiser USS Quincy (CA-71) launches a Radioplane TDD target drone in the Atlantic Ocean in 1952. Note the destroyers in the background.

The Radioplane OQ-2, fuselage without covering and the wing detached.

The Radioplane OQ-3, first flown in December 1943, was an improved derivative of the OQ-2. It had a sturdier steel-tube construction in the fuselage, an uprated O-15-3 engine driving a single propeller, no landing gear, and modified equipment. The OQ-3 could achieve a speed of 165 km/h (102 mph). The U.S. Navy variant was designated TDD-2, and Radioplane and Frankfort eventually built a total of about 9400 examples of this drone.

Radioplane OQ-3, Righter O-15-3, El Paso, Texas, 1941.

Radioplane OQ-3, Righter O-15-3, El Paso, Texas, 1941.

Radioplane OQ-3 launch.

In November 1943, Radioplane completed the OQ-7, a derivative of the OQ-3 for increased performance. It had a new mid-mounted and slightly swept-back wing, but was otherwise identical to the OQ-3. The top speed increased to 180 km/h (112 mph), but the OQ-7 was not produced, presumably because of the more extensively improved and higher-performing OQ-14.

Radioplane OQ-7, probably Righter O-15-3, probably El Paso, Texas, 1943.

Radioplane's model RP-8 was a significantly improved OQ-3/TDD-2 and was first flown in July 1944. It was of heavier construction and had a more powerful O-45-1 engine, rated at 16 kW (22 hp). Compared to the OQ-3, the RP-8A also had a longer fuselage, a shorter wingspan, and wings set flush with the fuselage. The improvements increased the top speed to 225 km/h (140 mph). The RP-8 was designated OQ-14 by the Army Air Force and TDD-3 by the Navy. A total of about 5200 RP-8A drones were built by Radioplane and Frankfort. The designation TDD-4 referred to a TDD-3 variant with a more powerful O-45-35 engine.

Radioplane RP-10, Walter Righter supervising the training of army personnel.

Radioplane RP-14 'Jake', 1944. In November 1944, Radioplane completed their model RP-14, which was evaluated by the USAAF as the OQ-6. The OQ-6 was more powerful than Radioplane's contemporary OQ-3, reaching a speed of 270 km/h (168 mph) with its 16 kW (22 hp) Righter O-45 four-cylinder engine. The model RP-15, first flown in January 1945 and most likely designated OQ-6A, had a 44 kW (60 hp) McCulloch O-90 engine, and could reach a speed of 313 km/h (195 mph).

An unidentified CAP (Civil Air Patrol) crewmember working on a Radioplane  OQ-2 near Rehoboth Beach.

Radioplane OQ-2 being readied for launch.

Launch of a Radioplane OQ-2.

Marilyn Monroe with an RP-5's propeller. Yank magazine photo (color version) of Marilyn Monroe as Norma Jeane Dougherty, 26 June 1945.

Having arrived in California, Norma Jeane managed to get a job at the Radioplane Co. as an assembler on the OQ-3 production line. On 26 June 1945, army photographer David Conover was sent to the factory by his commanding officer, one Captain Ronald Reagan (an acting buddy of Reginald Denny's), to photograph women war workers. The camera and the photographer loved Norma Jeane and he persuaded her to model for more photos that soon were circulating in Hollywood. A screen test, a change of name and a career very different from assembling robot planes quickly followed. The rest as they say, 'is history.'

Radioplane OQ-2A.

Original Radioplane OQ-2 on display in Dallas, Texas at AUVM, Aviation Unmanned Vehicle Museum.

Radioplane OQ-2A-FR at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Radioplane OQ-2A-FR at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.

Radioplane OQ-2 target drone, Planes of Fame Museum, Arizona.

Radioplane OQ-2 target drone, Hill AFB Museum, Utah.

Radioplane RP-5A (OQ-2A, OQ-2B, TDD-1).

Radioplane OQ-3, 1943. Wing area 19.24 sq. ft.; gross weight 97 lbs.; maximum speed 89 knots; power plant is a Model 0-15-3 8-hp, 2-cycle, 2-cylinder gasoline engine, driving a 30-inch diameter two-bladed propeller.