The man who never "flew"

I recently brought a book on ebay called “Lightning Bugs” – the rather unknown story about the RPVs used by the USAF developed from 1958-1980s.
The bugs were the first mass produced RPV or otherwise known as the “Drone”.

The Predator and Global Hawk descend from this.

The drones BQM-147 series were based on the Q-2 target series used by the USN/US Army and USAF starting in 1947 and 1962 at the end of the Cuban Missile crisis, SAC had thanks to Ryan company a growing but small fleet of new reconnaciase drones able to replace the U-2 on highly dangerous photographic missions.

This drone operation expanded over time flying out of Taiwan and then South Vietnam … and is overlooked generally amongst warbird enthusiasts that the USAF flew DC-130 drone motherships across Asia and elsewhere….

More forgotten are the aircrews and drone operators/pilots who “flew” these drones from the back of the Hercules and from further distant ground stations.

Imagine flying a C-130 with drones under wing for a good time….off the coast of North Vietnam WELL within SA-2 range and lockon….flying low over fishing boats only 30miles off the coast or so… Now how bloody brazen was that…..

Just because it doesnt have a man in the cockpit…… doesnt mean it should be forgotten about.

During the 1960-70s Ryan and USAF developed much more powerful drones and they became very stealthy to radar.
They flew 60,000ft + and Mach1+. All without a man in the airframe. But controlled from far away.

China shot many down during the Vietnam war period…so they were vunerable.
But they did provided exceptional intelligence which lives on today – yes without the drones in the mid 1960s – the USAF would had never developed the high technological advanced ECM jammers and systems to defend against the SA-2 Guidelines and etc which grew in size and capabilities.

I somehow believe we wont ever see a heritage drone fly at a airshow in such a manner but it would be nice to see people recognise the drones and more importantly the people behind it.

I highly recommend the book for anyone wanting another side to “warbirds” and black black operations.