AVON PARK AIR FORCE RANGE, Fla. — On May 18, a completely refurbished drone used for target practice during the Cold War departed Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and headed back home to Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla.
A Radioplane OQ-19D (KD-2R3) Target Drone was restored to its original condition by more than 45 Airmen from the 23rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron who contributed more than 725 hours to the project.
The drone was transported on a HC-130P/N Combat King and was accompanied by Col. Kenneth Todorov, 23rd Wing commander, and four members from the 23rd EMS to be presented at Avon Park, a geographically separated unit of the 23rd WG, to a group of World War II veterans and the Avon Park commander.
Two of those veterans, retired Col. Roy Whitton and retired Capt. Louis Brough, are part of the driving force behind the success of this project.
“This specific drone was used for target practice for the B-52s and the B-47s during the Cold War. This whole project began when we found the tail section of one of the drones near Avon Park,” said Brough. “It had gone down after being shot through the tail. It was never recovered because its location was difficult to access by parachute.
“We located a salvage collector in Kentucky who had the body shell of a drone and he decided to donate it to us,” he added. “We thought it would be wonderful to get one of these drones fully restored and put on display at Avon Park. With some planning and coordination, we were able to get the parts from Avon Park, the body from Kentucky and then everything was sent to Moody.”
The restoration project began in September 2008 and was completed in May. This model is one of only four of its kind left in the world.
“We put this together without a manual,” said Tech. Sgt. Paul Bartels, 23rd EMS aircraft structural maintainer, who was also one of the individuals who accompanied the drone back to Avon Park. “The entire body was heavily corroded and we essentially had to remanufacture it.
“We had to do a lot of metal, paint and stencil work, but now it looks almost brand-new. The biggest challenges were procuring the propeller and completing the Radio Flyer logo on the tail.”
Airman 1st Class Timothy Miller, 23rd EMS aircraft structural maintainer, who was also one of the four who traveled with the drone to Florida, worked primarily on the body.
All of the hard work that was put into the project paid off during the presentation when the 23rd EMS Airmen were recognized by the 23rd Wing commander.'
“After more than 50 years, this drone has come full circle and we’ve brought it home,” said Colonel Todorov. “I’m overwhelmed at what our team has accomplished. They put in a lot of work and effort and it is indicative of their initiative.
“When we first took possession of this drone, it was in hundreds of pieces, not to mention the all the pieces that were missing. This job gave our Airmen a chance to work on history and they did an absolutely phenomenal job,” he added before presenting each one with a 23rd Wing commander’s coin.
The veterans also found the return of the drone very meaningful.
“On behalf of the local community and those who were here when this drone was in use, I’d like to thank Moody,” said Mr. Whitton. “I’m so proud that this is now displayed here where gunners actually trained with it. It is a memorial to all of those who served at Avon Park.”
The Moody Airmen also recognized the importance of restoring a part of history.
“It was great seeing how much the veterans cared about this,” said Airman 1st Class Patrick Shea, 23rd EMS aircraft structural maintainer. “It was easy to tell what this piece of history meant to them and I am proud to now be a part of it.”
The current commander of Avon Park, Lt. Col. Charles MacLaughlin, also agrees.
“It’s great to see a part of our old heritage returned,” he said. “Avon Park is now working to improve the bombing range here. We started out with full air range capabilities in the late 1950s and that tapered off in the 1990s to us being almost in a caretaker status. We’re now trying to become more functional.”
Colonel Todorov summarizes the importance of the geographically separated unit and the meaning of what the 23rd EMS Airmen accomplished.
“Avon Park is a critical part of the 23rd Wing and to return this drone to its original location is something every Flying Tiger Airman can be proud of.”
Local News
Related Photos
-
Tech. Sgt. Paul Bartels, 23rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron aircraft structural repairman, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., tightens bolts while attaching the wings to a Radio Plane OQ-19D (KD-2R3) Target Drone at Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla., May 18.
-
(Left to right) Retired Capt. Louis Brough, Airmen from the 23rd Equipment Maintenance Squadron, Moody Air Force Base, Ga., and retired Col. Roy Whitton, pose behind a Radio Plane OQ-19D (KD-2R3) Target Drone at Avon Park Air Force Range, Fla., May 18. Airmen from the 23rd EMS restored the drone so that it could be displayed at Avon Park.
Discussion
Eyes on the Drone
23rd EMS personnel restore piece of history for Avon Park
- Local News
-
-
Don Giovanni: VSU presents Mozart’s most famous opera
VALDOSTA — Editing Mozart isn’t for sissies.
It takes a certain knowledge, talent and sheer chutzpah to perform surgery on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alas, in our age of short-attention spans, it is a challenge which many opera productions must consider, given that many of Mozart’s originals stretched as long as four hours. -
Traffic Unit coming to Hahira
HAHIRA — The Hahira City Council voted to allow the addition of a Traffic Enforcement Unit to the Hahira Police Department at Thursday night’s regular session council meeting.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit will patrol two miles of Interstate 75 and according to Hahira Police Chief Terry Davis, has nothing to do with making money and everything to do with the safety of Hahira’s citizens. -
Life’s a Drag
Theatre Guild Valdosta unleashes some of its leading players this week to star in its newest comedy, “Leading Ladies.”
-
Driving into the Future
President John F. Kennedy once said that children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future. You hear a variation of this every day, but it’s not often that you come across a teacher that whole-heartedly believes it.
-
Lowndes' Harvey-Clemons sends letter of intent to Georgia
Regarded as the state of Georgia’s best player, Lowndes’ Josh Harvey-Clemons announced Wednesday that he will be staying in-state to play college football.
-
Lowndes' grading guide stirs controversy
The Lowndes County school system has implemented a new guide to grading for students in the third through eighth grades that has caused alarm among parents in the community.
-
Giving Back: Boys and Girls Club honors volunteers
Seventeen-year-old Jacob Beverly thought he was invited to the 66th Annual Dinner Meeting of the Boys & Girls Club of Valdosta Tuesday night only to give a speech.
He didn't realize that he was also being honored as the recipient of the 2011 “Youth of the Year” award by the organization. -
Deer Fest coming in March as an all new adventure
When the 8th annual Deep Woods Deer Fest opens on Saturday, March 3 it will have evolved into the South Georgia OutdoorFest.
-
Hahira website manager fired
The City of Hahira terminated its website manager after a number of city council minutes went missing from the database, according to Hahira City Manager Jonathan Sumner at Monday night’s city council work session.
-
Ramona Quimby: Bringing a children’s book to life
Monday may have been the “Ramona Quimby” cast’s first time stepping on stage in costume, but they will become used to these clothes. Very used to them.
In addition to Valdosta State University Theatre & Dance’s two public performances this weekend, these student actors will wear these costumes in approximately 20 more shows. - More Local News Headlines
-
Killer of Fla. Girl Found in Landfill Gets Life
Army Orders Bradley Manning Court-martial
Cancer Charity Revives Breast-screening Grants
Heavy Snowstorm Hits Colorado On Its Way East
2nd Teacher From LA School Arrested on Sex Claim
Prosecutors Close Armstrong Inquiry, No Charges
Sights and Sounds: Football Fans Pour Into Indy
Unemployment Rate Down to 8.3%
Obama: Still Far Too Many Americans Need Jobs
GOP: Jobs Numbers Welcome, Can Do Better
Fla. Man Adopts Girlfriend in Legal Battle
More Deaths As Egypt Clashes Continue
Raw Video: Prince William in Falklands
Egpyt Protesters Blame Police for Soccer Deaths
'Lucky' 9-Year-Old Receives 6-Organ Transplant
Raw Video: Michelle Vs. Ellen in Pushup Contest
First Person: Will Peyton Manning Stay in Indy?
Egypt Shaken After Deadly Soccer Riot
New Suits, New Starts for New York's Unemployed
Hall of Famer Dorsett Speaks Out on NFL Injuries
