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A beautifully restored Radioplane OQ-2A

Photo: National Model Aviation Museum - Click Image to Enlarge

The Radioplane Co. RP-5A / OQ-2A / TDD-1 started rolling off the production line at the San Fernando Valley Airport in June 1941. The OQ-2A was catapult-launched and was recovered under a 24-foot diameter parachute. Conventional landing gear cushioned the landing impact. After launch, gunnery target missions were flown by a ground controller using a "beep" box, so called because of the tones transmitted to the target's control system. Radioplane Co. produced a total of 14,891 drones for the USAAF and USN from 1941 through 1945.

Radioplane RP-5A / OQ-2A / TDD-1
http://www.wmof.com/rp5a.htm

The US Army called it the OQ-2A and OQ-2B, while the US Navy called it the TDD-1 which stood for "Target Drone Denny". No matter what they were called, the RP-5A, OQ-2, TDD-1 were very effective antiaircraft training target drones.

The craft's small engine drove two coaxial, contra-rotating propellers. A skilled operator could duplicate fighter attack tactics for training gunners in all anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) weapons calibers up to 40mm. Up to the introduction of these small target drones, the antiaircraft gunnery crews target practice was limited to shooting at towed target sleeves which had numerous drawbacks: (1) they flew only in straight lines, (2) they didn't look like airplanes, (3) during a target run, the crews could not tell whether or not the sleeve had been hit, and (4) the danger of hitting the tow aircraft was always there.

The forerunners of modern target drones and RPVs, these midget radio control aircraft gave the antiaircraft gunnery crews just what they needed for target practice. First of all, these were targets that looked like aircraft, sounded like aircraft, and flew like full size aircraft. They could even simulate attack maneuvers!

Reginal Denny Jr. writes: (10/02) ...you mention the target drones were used for AAA practice up to 40mm guns. I witnessed many coast artillery target practices with 90mm AAA guns.

90mm AAA gun

OQ-2, Righter 2-GS-17, Ken Case

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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OQ-2, Righter 2-GS-17

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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OQ-2, Righter 2-GS-17

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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OQ-2, Righter 2-GS-17

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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OQ-2, Righter 2-GS-17, Walter Righter

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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A beautifully restored Radioplane OQ-2A

Photo: National Model Aviation Museum - Click Image to Enlarge

OQ-2A, 3View

Photo: http://technosport.narod.ru - Click Image to Enlarge

Radioplane OQ-2A production line, Van Nuys, CA, c.1942

Photo: Botzum, Richard A., 50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft, Northrop Corp., 1985

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OQ-2A, an artist's impression

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Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

OQ-2A, Righter O-15-1, 1942

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

OQ-2A, Righter O-15-1, museum exhibit

Location : most probably Ft. Bliss, El Paso, Texas

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

OQ-2A Launch (detail)

Photo: Luca Mariotti - Click Image to Enlarge

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OQ-2A

Western Museum of Flight - Click to Enlarge Image

OQ-2A #248

Western Museum of Flight - Click to Enlarge Image

OQ-2A #248

Western Museum of Flight - Click to Enlarge Image

Radioplane Co. Tie/Lapel Pin