44-85819

A remote-controlled drone protoype based on a B-17 Flying Fortress airframe takes off from Hilo Naval Air Station in Hawaii on the 6th of August 1946 to fly to Muroc Army Air Field, California, remotely controlled by USAF personnel nearby. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Prototype.' Printed caption on reverse: '60717 USAF - Pilotless Aircraft Starts 2600-Mile Flight (Photo 1 of 4). A crewless B-17 Flying Fortress "Drone" aircraft starts its record-breaking 2,600-mile flight from Hilo Naval Air Station, H media-458343.jpg FRE 10926 A remote-controlled drone protoype based on a B-17 Flying Fortress airframe takes off from Hilo Naval Air Station in Hawaii on the 6th of August 1946 to fly to Muroc Army Air Field, California, remotely controlled by USAF personnel nearby. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Prototype.' Printed caption on reverse: '60717 USAF - Pilotless Aircraft Starts 2600-Mile Flight (Photo 1 of 4). A crewless B-17 Flying Fortress "Drone" aircraft starts its record-breaking 2,600-mile flight from Hilo Naval Air Station, Hawaii, to Muroc Army Air Field, California, August 6, 1946. The drone, one of two which successfully completed "Operation Remote", setting an endurance record for remote controlled aircraft, is shown as it rises into the air shortly after take-off. The flight, which was under the direction of Brig. Gen. William L. Richardson, Chief of Army Air Forces, Guided Missile Division, lasted 14 hours and 55 minutes before the first plane touched down at Muroc. Both drones were veterans of the Bikini atom-bomb tests in which they were flown by remote-control into the radioactive bomb clouds. U.S. Air Force Photo.' On reverse: US Air Force 1361st Photographic Squadron, AAVS (MAC) Photo [Stamp]. Roger Freeman Collection

Associated the image with the aircraft record for B-17 44-85819 by matching the aircraft serial numbers.

Object Number - FRE 10926 - A remote-controlled drone protoype based on a B-17 Flying Fortress airframe takes off from Hilo Naval Air Station in Hawaii on the 6th of August 1946...

Delivered Dallas 5/7/45; Sth Plains 4/8/45; Walnut Ridge 24/8/45; 234 BU Clovis 31/1/46; 4121 BU Kelly 20/2/46; with Harry Barrett taxi acc. 15 TSK Clovis 25/3/46; 556 BU Long Beach 9/6/46; 1503 BU Hamilton 16/6/46; 509 Comp Gp Roswell 18/8/46 Operation Crossroads; 4104 BU Rome 4/11/46; 4145 BU Wendover 15/12/46; 216 BU Wendover 23/3/47; re-ass 31/3/47; 4145 BU Alamogordo 16/4/47; with Fain Pool force landed base 20/5/47; 4121 BU Kelly 8/8/47; 4000 BU Patterson 4/9/47; 2750 AB Wright-Patterson 10/9/48; Recl Comp 15/12/49.

Revisions

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Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

44-85819: Gallery (1 items)

A remote-controlled drone protoype based on a B-17 Flying Fortress airframe takes off from Hilo Naval Air Station in Hawaii on the 6th of August 1946 to fly to Muroc Army Air Field, California, remotely controlled by USAF personnel nearby. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Prototype.' Printed caption on reverse: '60717 USAF - Pilotless Aircraft Starts 2600-Mile Flight (Photo 1 of 4). A crewless B-17 Flying Fortress "Drone" aircraft starts its record-breaking 2,600-mile flight from Hilo Naval Air Station, H

Object number: FRE 10926 - A remote-controlled drone protoype based on a B-17...