Radioplane OQ-2
First mass-produced US drone, used as a target during World War II.
The Radioplane OQ-2 holds the distinction of being the first drone in the United States to be built in large numbers. Its manufacturer, the Radioplane Company, produced the aircraft as a subscale target for the US Army and Navy. A later version, the OQ-3, became the most common target drone in American service, with over 9,400 units built during World War II.
The design began as a radio-controlled model aircraft created by Walter Righter. Actor Reginald Denny bought both the design and its engine, having already demonstrated a different model to the US Army in 1940. He called the new version the RP-2 and showed several updated iterations—the RP-2, RP-3, and RP-4—to the Army in 1939. In 1940, the Army ordered 53 RP-4s (sometimes mistakenly called OQ-1, though that designation was never official). That small order led to a much larger 1941 contract for the similar RP-5, which the Army designated OQ-2 (the "OQ" standing for "subscale target"). The Navy also bought the drone, calling it the TDD-1 (Target Drone, Denny, 1). Thousands were built at the Radioplane plant at Van Nuys Airport near Los Angeles.
It was at that factory on June 26, 1945, that Army photographer David Conover photographed a young assembler named Norma Jeane Dougherty. Believing she had modeling potential, he encouraged her to pose, which led her to a modeling agency. Her success there prompted a screen test and the start of her acting career as Marilyn Monroe.
The OQ-2 was a simple aircraft. It used a two-cylinder, two-cycle piston engine producing 6 horsepower, driving two contra-rotating propellers. Bendix built the radio control system. Launching was done only by catapult, and recovery relied on a parachute—if the drone survived target practice. The Army's OQ-2 versions included landing gear to cushion the parachute landing, but none of the improved variants or Navy models had landing gear.
The OQ-2 led to a series of improved versions, notably the OQ-3/TDD-2 and OQ-14/TDD-3, which were produced in quantity. Gaps in the designation sequence between OQ-3 and OQ-14 exist because many other target drones built by Radioplane (and its licensed contractors) and competing companies never advanced beyond the prototype stage. After World War II, experiments continued with Radioplane drones. In one 1950 test, a derivative of the OQ-3 was used to lay military communication wire.
Quick Facts
- National Origin
- United States
- Manufacturer
- Radioplane
- First Flight
- 1939
- Primary User
- USAAF
- Number Built
- ca. 15,000
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The OQ-2 originated as a radio-controlled model aircraft designed by Walter Righter. Actor Reginald Denny purchased the design and engine, demonstrating updated versions to the US Army in 1939 as the RP-2, RP-3, and RP-4. In 1940, the Army ordered 53 RP-4s (sometimes referred to as OQ-1, though that designation was never assigned). A larger 1941 order for the similar RP-5 became the US Army OQ-2, with 'OQ' meaning 'subscale target'. The US Navy also adopted it as the TDD-1 (Target Drone, Denny, 1). Thousands were built at the Radioplane plant at Van Nuys Airport in Los Angeles.
The OQ-2 was a simple aircraft with a Bendix radio control system. It had no landing gear on most variants; the Army's OQ-2 versions included landing gear to cushion parachute recovery, but subsequent Army variants and all Navy versions omitted it. The drone led to improved variants, notably the OQ-3/TDD-2 and OQ-14/TDD-3, produced in quantity. Other target drones from Radioplane and competitors mostly remained prototypes, explaining gaps in the designation sequence. After World War II, experiments included using a derivative of the QQ-3 to lay military communication wire in 1950. Radioplane manufactured nearly fifteen thousand drones during the war and was bought by Northrop in 1952.
Reader's Guide
The Radioplane OQ-2 holds significance as the first mass-produced drone in the United States, establishing a production and operational template for military target drones. Its development from a model aircraft design by Walter Righter, purchased by actor Reginald Denny, illustrates an early intersection of civilian hobbyist innovation and military procurement. The OQ-2's adoption by both the US Army (as OQ-2) and Navy (as TDD-1) demonstrated its utility across services. The drone's production at the Van Nuys Airport plant, where over 9,400 of the follow-on OQ-3 were built, made it the most widely used US target drone of World War II. The factory also became an incidental part of cultural history: on June 26, 1945, Army photographer David Conover photographed assembler Norma Jeane Dougherty there, whose subsequent modeling and acting career as Marilyn Monroe began with that encounter. The OQ-2's legacy includes its role in training anti-aircraft gunners and its influence on later Radioplane designs, with the company eventually becoming part of Northrop in 1952.
Did You Know?
- The OQ-2 was the first mass-produced unmanned aerial vehicle in the United States.
- Actor Reginald Denny purchased the original design from Walter Righter and demonstrated it to the US Army.
- On June 26, 1945, a young assembler named Norma Jeane Dougherty was photographed at the Radioplane plant, later becoming Marilyn Monroe.
- The OQ-2 was launched by catapult and recovered by parachute.
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