On our last trip we visited the German Museum in Munich. We encountered the Argus As292 Drone. An unmanned flying device created back in 1937, for the Luftwaffe. In 1939 it flew its first radio controlled flight. Used at first as a Flak crew training object, but later on equipped with cameras and used as informer above the battlefield. Some 100 drones were manufactured and delivered in 1942 -1943. They flew with a speed of 100 km/h (about 60 miles /h) for 30 minutes. Unfortunately the drone wasn't at display on our visit, so we photographed the photograph. For us this discovery was a big surprise, Drones are well know in due to desert storm but not back in 1937. Does anyone have more information on these drones, especially pictures? Do you guys know if the Allied forced had drones back in WWII as well, or know if they developed drones for their own armies? Panz
There maybe something of interest in this file AVIA 6/12787 Mission to USA to investigate American drone equipment 1943
There maybe something of interest in this file AVIA 6/12787 Mission to USA to investigate American drone equipment 1943 I also came across this which might be of interest:- Remote Piloted Aerial Vehicles - The Radioplane Target Drone Cheers, '610
Do you guys know if the Allied forced had drones back in WWII as well, or know if they developed drones for their own armies? Panz, I did a quick look up on WW2 drones and came across this fascinating video on the TDR 1 and 3. WWII Drone TDR 1 & 3 - YouTube History of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - Wikipedia Also the ill-fated Project Aphrodite: Project Aphrodite - WW2Talk Operation Aphrodite - YouTube
Developed in the 1930s after an earlier experiment "Fairey Queen" was the DH Queen Bee which was used for gunnery training pre war as well as 1940-1945 and beyond. Watchet Museum - Watchet and the Military For the ultimate pre war radio controlled drone you need to consider the Battleship HMS Centurion and her predecessor HMS Agamemnon http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Agamemnon_(1906) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Centurion_(1911) Radio controlled during target practice, but with the skeleton crew below decks - for safety! Coastal Command and Bomber Command annual exercises used the ship for attacks on a ship underway and taking avoiding action. Regards Ross
Lots of feedback, and information, thanks a lot. What more can a man want ..... And on telly they give us the idea that drones are something of modern warfare. They don't tell us modern warfare is something from history. Thanks all
USAF were using strategic drones in the 1950s. Royal Artillery formed their first drone unit for trials in 1959 and have been using them ever since.
