A History of the Radio-Controlled Aerial Gunnery Targets of WWII

[Tom Fey]

A 56-minute history of the WWII Radioplane sub-scale radio controlled aerial gunnery targets of WWII presenting the technology, hardware, engines, period film clips, and engine runs of these aircraft.
View: https://youtu.be/gBA5Le72aVA

 

[fannum]

Trivia: WWI aviator and screen actor Reginald Denny was a pioneer of radio control model planes, and owned a hobby shop in Hollywood through the 1950s.
Our San Diego based model plane clubs would fly exhibitions in Disneyland, which had a chain link enclosed large circular cage in Tomorrowland. We'd visit him at his shop, and once former employee Marilyn Monroe dropped by while we were there.
Quite a subject to brag about for adolescent boys.

 

[VMTB143]

I have some footage from the Escort Carriers Block Island, Gilbert Island, Cape Gloucester and Vella Gulf on my YT channel...and more to come. Samples:


View: https://youtu.be/eHRIjL3-HGE?feature=shared


View: https://youtu.be/7gg9YO5uTnM?feature=shared

 

[Tom Fey]

That is high quality film, so thanks for that. Both videos show the Radioplane TDD-2 in action. The TDD-1 had contra-rotating propellers. The TDD-3 has a bigger engine with the carburetor on the top of the engine. Thanks.

 

[fannum]

I have some footage from the Escort Carriers Block Island, Gilbert Island, Cape Gloucester and Vella Gulf on my YT channel...and more to come. Samples:

Great video, and thank you.
I knew a lot about the drone program of all sizes, and actually built a single seat home built using a 72hp, 2 cycle McCulloch drone engine.
I didn't realize that carriers used their catapults to launch them ... sure makes sense!
I saw a film clip long ago that showed a drone making a low pass over the carrier deck, cutting the engine and popping the chute, and dropping onto the deck!
Finally, these sure point out how much skill and expended ordnance it took to hit, let alone bring down, an attacking aircraft using visual gun sights.

McCulloch O-100

Radioplane
OQ-19 / KD2R

 

[Tom Fey]

I found your high-quality color film after I published the video. Always the way it happens. I have seen period film of the 6 horsepower OQ-2 being looped at low altitude. That was a surprise!

 

[VMTB143]

Hey fannum, I built and flew a Bensen gyrocopter using a McCulloch 100-1 4318A 72 HP 4 cylinder 2 stroke drone engine. I wonder what target drone that was used on? Ultimately it seized on me and I had to dead-stick the landing.

I have additional footage of what you are speaking of...a drone parachuting onto the carrier deck. I think it is slated for later release this year.

 

[VMTB143]

Tom and fannum, thanks for checking the YT channel out!

 

[fannum]

Hey fannum, I built and flew a Bensen gyrocopter using a McCulloch 100-1 4318A 72 HP 4 cylinder 2 stroke drone engine. I wonder what target drone that was used on? Ultimately it seized on me and I had to dead-stick the landing.

I have additional footage of what you are speaking of...a drone parachuting onto the carrier deck. I think it is slated for later release this year.

O-100s were cheap, cheap in surplus stores, though they deteriorated quickly if not properly pickled and exposed to humidity. They were throwaway units, not intended to be rebuilt.
If you changed the bearings to "Axe" units, used proper oil and mix ratio, they easily lasted hundreds of hours. Also, proper cooling was important and many Bensens masked the forward cylinders, causing seizure.
We drilled the heads for dual plugs, and went to points and coil ignition as we felt the McCulloch magneto was shaky. Also, we carved a larger prop to slow the engine down a thousand RPM.
Our plane was registered in late '50s as N1024B in Texas, and destroyed by vandals while stored in West Virginia in the '70s.
The target drone is the OQ-19/KD2R pictured, I believe later called the BTT.