3205th Drone Group

The 3205th Drone Group was a United States Air Force test and target-drone organization active during the early Cold War. It operated surplus aircraft that had become obsolete for frontline service, converting them into remotely controlled platforms for weapons trials, missile development, nuclear-test support, aerial photography, and related research. Its work formed part of the postwar transition from piston-engine strategic bombers to jet aircraft, guided missiles, and increasingly sophisticated air-defense systems. The group grew out of the Air Force's earlier guided-missile and drone programs at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. After World War II, large numbers of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses were no longer required as bombers because the B-29 Superfortress and newer aircraft had taken over the strategic mission. Rather than scrapping every surviving aircraft, the Air Proving Ground Command retained selected B-17s for specialized uses. Some became DB-17 director aircraft, which carried crews and equipment to control unmanned aircraft. Others were converted into QB-17 target drones equipped with radio-control, radar, television, optical-tracking, and telemetry systems. MB-17 variants served as launch platforms for experimental guided weapons and smaller drones. The unit lineage included the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group, the 550th Guided Missiles Wing, and the 3200th Drone Group. A 3201st Air Base Support Squadron assumed the B-17 drone mission at Eglin in 1950, became the 3200th Drone Group in 1951, and was expanded with specialized drone squadrons during the same period. The 3205th and 3215th Drone Squadrons operated at Eglin, while the 3225th and 3235th squadrons supported testing at Holloman Air Force Base and Naval Air Station Point Mugu. The group and its subordinate units worked with Army, Navy, and Air Force test organizations. Its aircraft were used in a wide range of trials. At Holloman, QB-17s served as targets for air-to-air and surface-to-air missile tests, including Nike Ajax work. At Point Mugu, Navy aircraft used the drones in interception exercises involving the Hughes AIM-4 Falcon. At Eglin and other locations, drones supported guided-bomb, missile, atomic-effects, ditching, and instrumentation experiments. In 1956, the 3215th Drone Squadron moved to Patrick Air Force Base to support tests of the IM-99 Bomarc surface-to-air missile. As B-17 airframes became scarce, two RB-47E Stratojets were converted into QB-47E drones with electronic-countermeasures and chaff equipment, providing a more representative jet-age target. The group also operated QF-80 Shooting Star drones. These aircraft offered faster and more maneuverable targets than the piston-powered Fortress. The QF-80 program included remotely controlled F-80 variants and DT-33 director aircraft, with some drones carrying cameras or equipment for sampling radioactive material. The aircraft were used at Eglin, Holloman, and nuclear-test locations. The B-17 portion of the mission declined rapidly in the late 1950s. The remaining aircraft had exceeded their intended service lives, replacement parts were difficult to obtain, and the type no longer realistically represented modern opposing aircraft. The final operational United States Air Force B-17 mission took place on 6 August 1959, when DB-17P 44-83684 directed QB-17L 44-83717 during an AIM-4 Falcon test involving an F-101 Voodoo. The 3205th Drone Group was discontinued on 1 February 1961, with its work taken over by the Air Proving Ground Center. The broader target-drone mission at Eglin continued with newer aircraft, including QF-104A Starfighters, and later moved to Tyndall Air Force Base.

The 3205th Drone Group emerged from the United States Army Air Forces and United States Air Force effort to preserve useful postwar aircraft as remotely controlled test vehicles. In 1946, the 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group was activated at Eglin Air Force Auxiliary Field No. 3 in Florida. The organization developed the pairing of DB-17 director aircraft with QB-17 target drones and demonstrated the concept in January 1947 with a remotely controlled Fortress flight from Eglin to Washington, D.C. The group subsequently supported guided-weapon and atomic-test activities. The 550th Guided Missiles Wing expanded this work in 1949. Its guided-missile squadrons operated MB-17 launch aircraft and QB-17/DB-17 combinations, with detachments at Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico and Naval Air Station Point Mugu in California. The program accumulated extensive B-17 flight experience and supported missile testing for several services. By 1950, the organization also had B-29 and QF-80 aircraft available for test work. On 26 April 1950, the 3201st Air Base Support Squadron was activated at Eglin using personnel and equipment from the earlier guided-missile organization. It assumed the QB-17 and DB-17 mission and was redesignated the 3200th Drone Group on 1 June 1951. The organization participated in atomic tests at the Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands during 1950 and 1951. In July 1951, the program was expanded through the activation or reorganization of several drone squadrons, including the 3205th Drone Squadron at Eglin and the 3225th Drone Squadron at Holloman. These units operated B-17s and QF-80s over Army, Air Force, and Navy test ranges. The B-17 drones performed both expendable and non-destructive missions. Some were deliberately destroyed by missiles or used in ditching experiments, while others were subjected to near misses so that they could be recovered and flown again. The Holloman operation supported air-to-air and surface-to-air missile programs, including Nike Ajax testing. At Point Mugu, Navy aircraft intercepted target Fortresses over the Pacific. The aircraft carried radio, radar, television, tracking, telemetry, and other equipment designed to control the drone and collect test information. The group also operated QF-80 aircraft. Early attempts to create unmanned P-80 targets had been curtailed by postwar resource constraints, but the program was revived in 1951 under the Bad Boy project. Later batches incorporated improved control systems, camera-equipped wingtip tanks, and arresting equipment. DT-33 trainers served as director aircraft. Some QF-80s supported nuclear-test measurements and radioactive-material sampling, while others operated as jet targets at Eglin and Holloman. The 3215th Drone Squadron moved from Eglin to Patrick Air Force Base in April 1956 to support the Bomarc missile program. The Bomarc tests required targets that could represent faster aircraft, and two RB-47E Stratojets were consequently converted into QB-47E drones. They received electronic-countermeasures and chaff equipment, although the aircraft were generally intended to survive planned near misses because of their value. At least one Stratojet was destroyed when a missile intended to pass nearby struck the target. By the end of the 1950s, the B-17 fleet was exhausted and increasingly difficult to maintain. The final Eglin QB-17 was expended on 29 May 1958, while a few aircraft remained at Holloman and Patrick. DB-17P 44-83684 directed the last operational United States Air Force B-17 flight on 6 August 1959. The group was discontinued on 1 February 1961, and the Air Proving Ground Center assumed its remaining functions. Newer target aircraft, including QF-104A Starfighters, continued the Eglin test mission after the B-17 era ended.

• 1961

  Group discontinued

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 3205th Drone Group was discontinued on 1 February, with its functions transferred to the Air Proving Ground Center.

• 1959

  Last USAF B-17 operational mission

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  DB-17P 44-83684 directed QB-17L 44-83717 during a Falcon missile test, marking the final operational flight of a United States Air Force B-17.

• 1958

  Final Eglin QB-17 expended

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The last QB-17 based at Eglin was used as a missile-test target over the Gulf of Mexico.

• 1956

  3215th Drone Squadron moves to Patrick

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The squadron relocated to support the IM-99 Bomarc surface-to-air missile test program.

• 1951

  Drone-group and squadron expansion

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 3200th Drone Group was established, and the 3205th and related drone squadrons were organized to support multiple test ranges.

• 1951

  QF-80 program revived

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  F-80 Shooting Stars were converted into remotely controlled jet targets under the Bad Boy project.

• 1950

  3201st Air Base Support Squadron assumes drone mission

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The newly activated squadron at Eglin took responsibility for QB-17 and DB-17 operations.

• 1947

  Remote-controlled Fortress demonstration

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  A QB-17 drone directed by a DB-17 flew from Eglin to Washington, D.C., demonstrating long-range unmanned operation.

• 1946

  Predecessor guided-missile group activated

  [1]3205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 1st Experimental Guided Missiles Group began operations at Eglin and developed the director-aircraft and target-drone system later associated with the 3205th program.

A United States Air Force experimental and weapons-test organization specializing in remotely controlled aerial targets and associated director, instrumentation, and missile-test operations.

• Radio-controlled aerial target · 1946

  QB-17

  Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses converted into remotely controlled target aircraft. Depending on variant, they used radio, radar, television, optical tracking, telemetry, and other systems. QB-17s supported missile interceptions, atomic tests, bombing trials, and destructive or non-destructive weapons experiments.

• Drone director aircraft · 1946

  DB-17

  Manned B-17 aircraft modified to control QB-17 target drones. These aircraft carried the crew and control equipment needed to guide unmanned Fortresses during weapons tests and other missions.

• Airborne weapons-launch platform · 1946

  MB-17

  B-17 variants adapted to carry and launch experimental guided bombs, missiles, and smaller drones. They were used in early guided-weapons development before modern dedicated test aircraft became available.

• Jet aerial target · 1951

  QF-80 Shooting Star

  Radio-controlled versions of the F-80 fighter used as faster, more maneuverable targets for air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons testing. Some aircraft carried camera systems or equipment for nuclear-test sampling.

• Jet drone and missile-test target · 1957

  QB-47E Stratojet

  Two RB-47E aircraft converted into remotely controlled targets for the Bomarc program. Their jet performance, electronic-countermeasures equipment, and chaff dispensers made them more representative of contemporary aircraft than the aging B-17.

• 1961

  Transfer remaining mission to Air Proving Ground CenterStrategy

  Background

  The B-17 fleet had reached the end of its practical service life and the group structure was no longer required for the remaining target mission.

  Action taken

  The 3205th Drone Group was discontinued and its activities were absorbed by the Air Proving Ground Center.

  Aftermath

  Eglin's target-drone work continued with newer aircraft, including QF-104A Starfighters, and was later associated with operations at Tyndall Air Force Base.

  Source

• 1957

  Introduce QB-47E targets for Bomarc testingProduct launch

  Background

  The B-17 was increasingly obsolete and the supply of serviceable airframes was declining, making it a poor proxy for modern jet aircraft.

  Action taken

  Two RB-47E Stratojets were converted into QB-47E radio-controlled drones with electronic-countermeasures and chaff equipment.

  Aftermath

  The Stratojets provided more contemporary targets, although one was destroyed when a planned Bomarc near miss became a direct hit.

  Source

• 1956

  Shift Bomarc support to Patrick Air Force BaseStrategy

  Background

  The development of the IM-99 Bomarc required a target operation positioned for launches from Cape Canaveral over the Atlantic Missile Range.

  Action taken

  The 3215th Drone Squadron moved from Eglin to Patrick Air Force Base and used DB/QB-17 aircraft in Bomarc testing.

  Aftermath

  The move extended the unit's role into long-range air-defense missile evaluation and preceded the introduction of faster QB-47 jet targets.

  Source

1. 13205th Drone Groupen.wikipedia.org