Cold War Target Drone Rebuilt by Enthusiasts

A flying target drone that was found in the swampy waters in the Avon Park Air Force Range 10 years ago now awaits its last piece of the restoration puzzle.

The OQ-19 target drone was used during the Cold War, according to former Army pilots, for gunnery practice of crews on B-52s and B-47s. The rare piece of history was brought to the facility in 2009.

Last week several gathered to get a peek of the last piece of the restoration for the drone. Target Management Office officials, including Logistics Management Specialist John Allen, traveled from Huntsville, Ala. to bring the final two pieces.

“Those are JATO’s (jet assisted take off) rockets. The two will be added to the sides of the drone,” said retired Col. Bill Hutchinson. Hutchinson along with retired Col. Roy Whitton and Avon Park Air Force Range Commander Lt. Col. Paul Neidhardt were just a few of the eager minds behind keeping the drone in Avon Park.

“It took us over three years to find all the parts. Now we have to clean them (JATO’s) up and get them mounted on the drone … It’s the last steps to complete,” Hutchinson said.

Other retired military members were present at the revealing of the JATO’s and had a vivid memory of the drone when it was in use. “I used to shoot at these drones,” retired Major Randy Smith said. “I knew that someone somewhere had to have these JATO’s.”

Smith contacted several people before being lead to Allen, who eventually knew just where to look for the rockets. “I didn’t have them but I knew who did. They had been just sitting since 1996 so when I heard he (Smith) was looking for them I knew where to go,” Allen said.

The rockets are very rare items. According to Hutchinson and Allen, it took over a year to de-militarize the parts before handing them over for the drone. “We needed to get the explosive parts off before we could use it,” Hutchinson said.

Finally the rockets made it to the drone; all that is left now is to find the right person to do the work. “We have to do some research and see how they were attached. There is space here for what looks like they may have been bolted on to the sides … We can’t let just anyone get on here, we have to find the right person for the job,” Hutchinson said.

The group at the AP Air Force Range share the piece of history with the community while thanking everyone involved with the project.

“The (Fort) Moody boys deserve a lot of credit on this. They did a good job painting and cleaning it up,” Whitton said.

It’s taken many volunteers and countless donations to bring the drone back to life from its swampy start but soon it will be a perfect addition to the permanent display in this community.

Source: News Sun