US Navy/Interstate TDR-1 assault drone

[Searay]

Has anyone ever found scale plans of the Interstate TDR-1 assault drone?

This was a precursor of both guided missiles and contemporary UCAVs that was used in combat on a limited scale in 1944. It could be remotely steered into a target from its TBM Avenger control ship or it could be armed with bombs or other ordnance which could be delivered and the drone returned to base.

[Jemiba]

You probably know this photo on
http://www.airwarfareforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=6604&highlight=interstate.
It gives a relatively good profile, with some basic dmensional data, at least a provisional
drawing should be possible.

[Andreas Parsch]

This was a precursor of both guided missiles and contemporary UCAVs that was used in combat on a limited scale in 1944. It could be remotely steered into a target from its TBM Avenger control ship or it could be armed with bombs or other ordnance which could be delivered and the drone returned to base.

Return-to-base was only an option for unarmed training flights (on these, a pilot sat in a simple cockpit of the TDR-1, to take over the drone should the remote control fail). On combat missions, the landing was dropped after take-off (to reduce weight and drag, presumably), and the TDR-1 was expended.

[Searay]

Thanks. I've seen that photo (going in either direction!) My library is fairly good on missiles, less so on aircraft, so I was hoping there might be a scale plan out there in some obscure book I hadn't seen yet. This is for an upcoming book on the history of UAVs, and I'm currently preparing the references for the illustrator. I have a good selection of photos of the TDR-1 and TDN-1. Here's a few that might be of interest. The head-on shot is a TDR-1 during the 1943 stateside training. The other two show training with the TDN-1 and an interesting shot of one of the armament options on the TDN-1.

(I'm new to this forum so I hope the photos post properly!)

[Searay]

Here's another attempt to post the pictures mentioned above

[overscan]

My library doesn't really extend to before the 1950s but there are others who might have something.

[overscan]

http://stagone.org/

Nice article has broken images - so here's a fixed copy as PDF.

[pometablava]

A superb article can be found at Le Fana de l'Aviation Nº286 September 1993 by Alain Pelletier Pg 27 to 30 with lots of pics that can complement that from Searay. BTW Thanks a lot for sharing it Searay!

[lark]

More info in:

*The Aeroplane Spotter - January 25,1947
and in
*Aviation History - January 2004

[overscan]

I can probably locate the Fana article this weekend, but unless it has a 3 view I'm guessing it won't be useful.

[pometablava]

There are no 3 views on it, Paul

[Searay]

Many thanks to all concerned for the many leads on articles. I have a US Navy Proceedings article also. I had the StagOne material, but the .pdf was a big help as the internet version is missing most of its images. I would swear there was an article in Tail-hook many moons ago, but if so, I haven't been able to find it.

I actually have enough detail on the program for the purposes of the book. It is an overview of UAV history from 1917 to 2007 for the Osprey New Vanguard series, and there's only so much stuff you can cram into a 13,000 word book. I was interested in the drawing as I am working on the references for the color plates. If there are no available drawings, I'll do up a set based on photos.

Anybody have decent drawings of the QH-50 DASH drone from the 1960s?

[pometablava]

UAV history from 1917 to 2007 for the Osprey New Vanguard serie

Wow, nice addition to my library

Anybody have decent drawings of the QH-50 DASH drone from the 1960s?

Pg 67 World Encyclopedia of civil and military helicopters by Giorgio Apostolo with drawings from Amedeo Gigli. 1984. Mondadore Editore SpA Milano

[overscan]

http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/specs/intersta/tdr-1.htm

I am now 88 yrs. old, and I was the Chief Liaison Engineer for the TDR-1 production plant in DeKalb, Illinois, from 1942 to 1944. I worked for Interstate in Los Angeles on this project prior to volunteering to move to DeKalb. From the time of the release of all Interstate employees on this project in 1944, until 2003, I had been unable to find any information on this aircraft. My son and I traveled in Feb. 2004 to Pensacola, Fl, to see what I think is the only intact TDR-1 in existence, at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. I would be interested in communicating with other people who have an interest in the history of this aircraft. I would also be interested in obtaining a copy of the manufacturing/use/repair paperback manual such as is in the library of the museum.

Perhaps the manual would contain a drawing?

[overscan]

I've got the Aviation History article, but again no drawings only photos.