This historic film shows rare footage of a television-guided, WWII drone aircraft and drone weapons being flown during training or tests. These were conducted as part of the development of a drone weapon which was built by Interstate Aircraft and known as the TDR-1, or Torpedo Drone. Tests were conducted over the Great Lakes by a special, highly classified U.S. Navy unit known as the Special Air Group, or STAGONE. Based in Traverse City, Michigan, the group flew a variety of experiments to develop attack techniques using drones as both stand-off weapons and for kamikaze attack. STAGONE was eventually deployed to the South Pacific, where they conducted attacks against Japanese positions using TDR-1s. The TDR-1 was designed to be recoverable and featured landing gear, and could make bomb or torpedo attacks. During actual combat missions however the drones were expended.

At :31, chase plane radar scope is seen, identifying an abandoned lighthouse which was used as a practice target. At :47, a primitive TV signal is seen — the TDR-1 utilized an iconoscope type camera which was mounted in its nose. The signal was recorded aboard a chase aircraft, probably an Avenger. A graphic at 1;27 shows a typical attack plan. At 2:35, what appears to be a drone aircraft (possibly a Beechcraft Model 18) is shown buzzing the lighthouse, as seen from a chase aircraft. At 3:50, the same type of run is seen recorded in the TV monitor of the chase aircraft. At 5:26, attack profiles are seen, with what appears to be a TDR-1 making a run on the light house. At 6:20, a bombing attack is shown made by a TDR-1. At 7:25, bombing attack as seen from a camera positioned at the water, against what appears to be a floating target. At 7:59, target practice against a ground target is shown. At 8:11, a TDR-1 is shown being ground launched. Once it is airborne, it makes a bomb drop. At 9:11, a great shot of the TDR-1 in the air, with a large bomb slung underneath the fuselage. It is possibly a dummy bomb, as it does not detonate when the drone crashes a few moments later. At 9:50, additional bomb drop tests at the Great Lakes are shown, possibly using a depth charge. At 10:35, television footage from the chase aircraft is shown. At 11:00, a TDR-1 dives into the water to simulate an attack against a ground target or ship. At 11:59, a similar attack made against a coastline or island. At the end of the film 12:30, footage is shown of STAGONE in the South Pacific, making a simulated attack on a grounded Japanese ship.

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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, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com