Remote Piloted Aerial Vehicles - The Radioplane Target Drone

Reginald Denny and Walter H. Righter

Radioplane in the Navy

TDD-1, USS New York. Sep., 1943

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TDD-1
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/oq-14.html

Following the success of the RP-4, the prototype RP-5 was completed in June 1941, and tested by the USAAF as the A-2 powered aerial target. In that same month, the designation A-2 was changed to OQ-2... The OQ-2B was identical to the OQ-2A, except that the wing ribs had holes for a slightly lighter structure. The Navy's TDD-1 was an OQ-2 without the landing gear.

Navy Radioplane OQ-2 drones named as 'TDD's, Feb. 26, 1943

Document : Denny Family Archives

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TDD-1, USS New York. Sep., 1943

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Gun crew, USS New York. Sep., 1943

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Gun crew, USS New York. Sep., 1943

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TDD-1, Shock Cord Launcher

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Reginald Denny notes: "A very short catapult was used buy the US Navy for launching from 63 foot AVR boats. These boats could achieve speeds up to almost forty miles per hour. So, running into the wind at this speed required only moderate catapult assist."

Drones were usually retrieved from the ocean by another AVR or sometimes smaller pick up boats. Catapult launch and parachute landing systems made the use of these drones practical because no large smooth area was necessary for operation.

63' AVR boat

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Fran Righter Tucker adds: When Reg Jr. and I were reminiscing about going to Newport Beach and Balboa Island for vacations in the summer when we were kidlets, we remembered riding along Newport Road in Santa Ana, CA past acres and acres of sugar beet farms and the old dirigible hangers. I remember being in them with my Dad on one of our trips to the beach. Reg told me that the local navy drone group operated from a very small section within or adjoining one of these hangers.

During WW-2 the drones were kept and maintained there. Even without freeways, it was a relatively short drive from there to Newport Beach. The drones were trucked to Newport Harbor and loaded aboard 63 foot AVR boats from which they were launched for naval target practice from ships off of San Clemente Island. Later the navy relocated the drone base to Point Mugu, or Port Hueneme, CA

TDD-2
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/oq-14.html

The 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

TDD-2, USS Wyoming, May 9, 1945

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TDD-2, USS Wyoming, May 9, 1945

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TDD-2, USS Miami, Mch 2, 1945

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TDD-2 TDD-2, USS Miami, Mch 2, 1945

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With the next 8 images positive identification of the motor and tell tale carburettor mounded on top (O-45-1) is difficult hence the Ed. is unsure whether the drones are TDD-2s or TDD-3s

TDD-2 / TDD-3?

National Geographic - Click Image to Enlarge

TDD-2 / TDD-3?, Preparation for launch

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TDD-2 / TDD-3?, Shot down, Oct.1, 1945

"Small Target Drone Aircraft Falling in flames, after being shot down by USS Makin Island (CVE-93) during gunnery practice off Wakanoura, Japan, 1 October 1945."

Source: www.history.navy.mil - Click Image to Enlarge

TDD-2 / TDD-3?, Shot down, Oct.1, 1945

"Small Target Drone Aircraft Falling in flames, after being shot down by USS Makin Island (CVE-93) during gunnery practice off Wakanoura, Japan, 1 October 1945."

Source: www.history.navy.mil - Click Image to Enlarge

TDD-2 / TDD-3? USS Wisconsin, Mch. 15, 1945

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TDD-2 / TDD-3? USS Wisconsin, Mch. 15, 1945

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TDD-2 / TDD-3? USS Wisconsin, Mch. 15, 1945

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TDD-2 / TDD-3? USS Cape Gloucester, Jun. 8, 1945

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TDD-3 / TDD-4
http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/oq-14.html

The RP-8 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. The designation TDD-4 referred to a TDD-3 variant with a more powerful O-45-35 engine.

TDD-3, launch

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TDD-3, recovery

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TDD-3, USNAS Whitbey, Washington, c.1945

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TDD-3, USNAS Whitbey, Washington, c.1945

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