Remote Piloted Aerial Vehicles - The Radioplane Target Drone

The Radioplane Target Drone

RP-1, 2 and 3

Reginald Denny (1891-1967) and Walter H. Righter (1905 - 1982)

In the late 1930s, the Radioplane Company developed a series of radio-controlled model airplanes as aerial targets for antiaircraft gunnery training by the Army Air Corps.

Radioplane Company Founding Executive, 1939

L to R: Ferris M. Smith, Harold Powell, William Larrabee
Reginald Denny and Whitley C. Collins

Photo: Botzum, Richard A., 50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft, Northrop Corp., 1985

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Reginald Denny (L), Walter Righter, RP-1, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Reginald Denny, RP-1, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Reginald Denny (R) and Paul Whittier, RP-1, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

Photo: Botzum, Richard A., 50 Years of Target Drone Aircraft, Northrop Corp., 1985

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Reg Denny Jr. notes: "The RP-1 was, I believe, partially built at "The Industries" and partially at Paul Whittier's home. It had a wooden frame and was a scaled up 'Dennyplane'. I don't think anyone actually designed it, other than to build a larger version of the Dennyplane. [Ed: it was designed and built by Fred Hardy who also designed the Dennyplane]

Ultra rare image of the RP-1 before covering, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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Fred Hardy, RP-1, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

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Fran Righter notes: ..."My Dad [Walter Righter] wrote on the back of the picture "Fred Hardy and the ship he designed". Fred may have worked for "The Industries" for a period of time but he started working at the Righter Mfg. Co. July 25, 1938 and worked there until Jan. 25, 1941. Fred Hardy was Dad's 10th employee and Ken Case the 13th; starting work there ten months after Fred. Reg is correct about the radio control problems. That is why Ken was sent over to the Righter Company."

Reg Denny Jr. notes: ..."I believe it's design was the result of the efforts of several model builders at "The Industries". Paul and dad possibly contributed to this. Whatever, it never really flew. Primarily I believe, due to the under-developed, confusing radio control system. This is all from my childhood memory and could be incorrect." Ed: It did indeed fly once but the radio signal to the plane's controls failed, the plane went out of control and crashed. None-the-less the army representatives were very interested and Walt, Reg, Fred and Ken then created the next protypes the RP-2 and RP-3 and finally the RP-4 powered by Walt's second engine, the 'Sidewinder'. This combination flew reliably and the Army offered a contract to build 50 machines.]

RP-1 Twin, detail, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Paul Whittier, RP-1, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

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Photo: Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Reginald Denny, Paul Whittier Estate, 1935

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Airship Designed to be Shot Down

Los Angeles Times Jan. 28, 1938 - Click Image to Enlarge

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RP-1. Army Demo. Dale Dry Lake, Feb. 21,1938

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

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Editor's note : The following are a selection of press clippings about that day. Walter Righter's input was almost unknown at that time and statements like "..it was designed and constructed by Reginald Denny, actor, and Paul Whittier, National Guardsman" are quite incorrect.

The Airframe was designed an built by Denny's assistant Fred Hardy, The remote control was designed and built by Ken Case and the engine and all subsequent airframes were designed and built by Walter Righter.

Understandably the press were more likely to promote Reg Denny's name - the big movie star and Paul Whittier's name - the notable local socialite who was providing the money for the whole exercise.

RP-1. Army Demo. Dale Dry Lake, Feb., 1938

Daily News, Feb. 21, 1938

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RP-1. Army Demo. Dale Dry Lake, Feb., 1938

Glendale New Press, Feb. 25, 1938

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RP-1. Army Demo. Dale Dry Lake, Feb., 1938

Glendale Star, Feb. 1938

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RP-1. Army Demo. Dale Dry Lake, Feb., 1938

Santa Ana Register, Feb. 1938

Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

RP-1. Army Demo. Dale Dry Lake, Feb., 1938

Herald Express, Jul. 4, 1938

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Denny's Radio Model Tested

Flying Aces, Jun, 1938 - Click Image to Enlarge

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Radioplane RP-3

Ken Case, RP-3, Righter Manufacturing Co.

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Ken Case, RP-3, Righter Manufacturing Co.

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RP-3, Righter Manufacturing Co.

L to R: Reginald Denny, unknown, Paul Whittier, unknown, unknown, Al De Lisle (bending over airplane), Ken Case and Walter Righter

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Ken Case's radio transmitter

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RP-3, 1939

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RP-3, Dale Dry Lake, Sep. 29, 1938

L-R : Ken Case and ?

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RP-3, Dale Dry Lake, Sep. 29, 1938

L-R : Whitley H. Collins, Harold Powell, Al DeLisle
Ken Case, Reg Denny, Paul Whittier and ?

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RP-3, Dale Dry Lake, Sep. 29, 1938

L-R : Walter Righter and Reginald Denny

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Fran Righter recalls: "Usually things went along well in the drone business, but some times there were mistakes, crashes and 'down days'.

RP-3, Dale Dry Lake, Sep. 29, 1938

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Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

RP-3, Dale Dry Lake, Sep. 29, 1938

"Walt (Righter) decides that next time he'll attach the propeller BEFORE launching the drone"

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RP-3, Dale Dry Lake, Sep. 29, 1938

"After careful consideration Paul (Whittier) comes to the conclusion that the parachute mechanism MAY have caused the crash"

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RP-3, Dale Dry Lake, Sep. 29, 1938

"After further consideration Paul (Whittier) rationalizes that all the drones need to be checked for two wings and a propeller PRIOR to launch"

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Photo : Righter Family Archives - Click Image to Enlarge

Continue on to part 2

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