U.S. NAVY WWII TDR-1 DRONE OPERATIONAL TESTS IN SOUTH PACIFIC 30772
This historic silent film shows operational tests of the Interstate TDR-1 Torpedo Drone in the Pacific in 1944. The Interstate TDR was an early unmanned combat aerial vehicle — referred to at the time as an “assault drone“ — developed by the Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation during the Second World War for use by the United States Navy. Capable of being armed with bombs or torpedoes, 2000 aircraft were ordered, but only around 200 were built. The type saw some service in the Pacific Theater against the Japanese, but continuing developmental issues affecting the aircraft, along with the success of operations using more conventional weapons, led to the decision being made to cancel the assault drone program in October 1944.
Under the code-name Operation Option, the Navy projected that up to 18 squadrons of assault drones would be formed, with 162 TBF Avenger control aircraft and 1000 assault drones being ordered. However technical difficulties in the development of the TDR-1, combined with a continued low priority given to the project, saw the contract modified with the order reduced to only around 300 aircraft. A single TDR-1 was tested by the U.S. Army Air Forces as the XBQ-4, however no production contract resulted from this testing.
In 1944, under the control of the Special Air Task Force (SATFOR), the TDR-1 was deployed operationally to the South Pacific for operations against the Japanese. TDR-1 aircraft equipped a single mixed squadron (Special Air Task Group 1) along with TBM Avenger control aircraft, and the first operational mission took place on September 27, conducting bombing operations against Japanese ships. Despite this success, the assault drone program had already been canceled after the production of 189 TDR-1 aircraft, due to a combination of continued technical problems, the aircraft failing to live up to expectations, and the fact that more conventional weaponry was proving adequate for the defeat of Japan. The final mission was flown on October 27, with 50 drones having been expended on operations, 31 aircraft successfully striking their targets, without loss to the pilots of STAG-1.
Following the war, some TDR-1s were converted for operation as private sportsplanes.
For more information read an article by Nick T Spark featuring interviews with TDR-1 control pilots at or see his interview on History Detectives at
We encourage viewers to add comments and, especially, to provide additional information about our videos by adding a comment! See something interesting? Tell people what it is and what they can see by writing something for example like: “01:00:12:00 -- President Roosevelt is seen meeting with Winston Churchill at the Quebec Conference.“
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD and 2k. For more information visit
1 view
231
35
1 week ago 00:17:13 1
У НИКО СГОРЕЛО ОЧЭЛЛО! СПИРИТ И ВИРТУС ПРО НА IEM DALLAS 2024
1 week ago 00:15:35 1
10 модов на СИЛОВУЮ БРОНЮ в Fallout 4
1 week ago 00:14:10 1
Почему мужчина должен быть с бородой. Значение бороды для славянина. Кто и почему нам навязал бритьё
1 week ago 00:07:09 1
Tokio Jokio | 1943 | World War 2 Era Propaganda Cartoon
1 week ago 00:02:56 1
ROBBRERY - ПРОСТО ТЕНЬ (клип 2024)
1 week ago 00:00:00 1
СОСКУЧИЛСЯ ПО CS 2 🖤
1 week ago 03:05:15 1
«Все хотят свободной дискуссии». SHORTPARIS в Онеге: необыкновенный концерт у Полярного круга
1 week ago 00:03:36 1
Yimmy Yimmy - Tayc | Shreya Ghoshal | Jacqueline Fernandez | Rajat N | Rana | Nyadjiko | Anshul Garg
1 week ago 00:47:26 1
How Killer U-Boats Battled the Royal Navy (Full Episode) | Drain the Oceans
1 week ago 00:17:10 1
Лендлиз. США на войне. Кто помог СССР победить во Второй мировой? Оружие Танки, ракетыэ | WAS
1 week ago 00:14:08 1
Could This Change Air Travel Forever?
1 week ago 00:05:39 1
U.S.’ Worst Nightmare: Houthis Bomb 3 ‘Israeli’ Ships In A Day, 1 Of Them In Mediterranean Sea
1 week ago 00:35:37 1
СИМПЛ ШИКАРНО ИГРАЕТ С АВП НА ДАСТ 2 // S1MPLE ИГРАЕТ НА FPL
1 week ago 00:15:58 1
Top Secret Anti-Gravity Spy Plane - TR3b Black Manta
1 week ago 00:21:18 1
Мыслеформа нормализации, защита и снятие подключек от чужеродного разума, Ваша сила, в Вас самих!
1 week ago 00:32:41 1
Электромобиль в такси: все плюсы и минусы + пониженная комиссия от агрегатора | Skywell ET5 - обзор
1 week ago 01:37:17 1
Отец Павел - О Боге. Рай И Ад. О Выгорании
1 week ago 01:15:59 1
СЭМ — работал на радио, а потом записал альбом
1 week ago 00:01:00 1
“Why are you quitting?“ Special Operations Candidates conduct pre-dive training
2 weeks ago 00:00:42 1
💛NAVI ВСЁ РАВНО КРУТЫЕ💛 | TikTok Sherl0ck #Shorts #го #go #кс #ксго #кска #cs #csgolive #csgoclips
2 weeks ago 00:00:00 1
🔴 LIVE: The Truth Behind the US Pentagon Program | UFO’s Investigating the Unknown S1 FULL EPISODES
2 weeks ago 00:54:33 1
ink mate ЖЕСТКО БОМБИТ НА СВОИХ УЧЕНИКОВ!!! // ЖЕСТКАЯ КАТКА В КС 2!
2 weeks ago 00:09:20 1
Поздравление для лучшего классного руководителя. Выпускной 2018. Астана
2 weeks ago 00:00:59 1
U.S Soldiers in Heavy Combat Footage with Afghan Militants in Afghanistan