----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Ed Burkhead wrote:
----[Please read http://ercoupers.com/disclaimer.htm before following any
advice in this forum.]----
Bill,
That's a cool looking book but I'd like more detail on what it's about.
Could you give us a paragraph or three explaining the book, please?
Ed
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
Hi Ed,
The name of the book "SHOOT Only at the Red Airplane," was appropriate
because all U.S. Navy drones were painted red, and on a firing run, all
gunners aboard ships were to concentrate on destroying the red drone
and not shoot at us, in a nearby aircraft, controlling the drone by
radio control
.
The book is about the history of radio controlled target aircraft and
how they contributed to the war effort by using them for target practice
for the US fleet.. Gun crews improved their proficiency by destroying
drones that looked like, and flew like a kamikaze, as opposed to a
target sleeve.
From 1917 until 1956, the end of the piston era, most of the drones are
discussed and portrayed, with the most popular ones explored at
length. With. drones from the Denny TDDs, the TD2Cs the TRDs and the
Grumman F6F-5K Most of the pioneers are pictured at the end of the book
There is a complete play by play description of actual NOLO (no live
operator) aboard, gunnery training exercises, with comments from the
actual pilots who performed their missions.
In 1944 at age 17, I enlisted in the US Navy and earned my air crewman
wings in the back seat of a Navy Doiglass SBD dive bomber. Then was
transferred to VU7-A drone squadron. So I have (been there, done that.).
Most of the story is comprised of my own recollection of events at that
time. I had succeeded in locating four other ex Navy personnel who
provided extra material for the book.
Over 100 rare photographs of the major players and some of the
experimental drones.
I flew my Ercoupe for 1300 hours and hung it up last year.
Unforgettable experience and the best advice I can give.
"KEEP YOUR TAIL UP"
Publisher lulu.com browse- history- type author Bill Coons key words
. Drones-Aviation.
Cheers,
Bill Coons
==============================================================================
To leave this forum go to: http://ercoupers.com/lists.htm
