Aircraft History
Built by Interstate Aircraft and Engineering Corporation in DeKalb, Illinois. Delivered to the U.S. Navy (USN) as TDR-1 Assault Drone bureau number 27??? (last three digits unknown) in the range of 27859-27958. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South Pacific (SOPAC).

Wartime History
Assigned to Special Air Task Force (SATFOR), Special Task Air Group One (STAG-1). No known nickname or tail number. Likely, this aircraft had a three digit tail code.

Mission History
During October 1944, took off from Nissan Airfield (Green Island) on a missions against Rabaul. Over the target, this drone crashed into jungle near Lakunai Airfield and the bomb did not detonate.

Wreckage
The wreckage of this drone was known to locals. During 1966, Stephen Simpson visited the crash site. Nearby was its unexploded 2,000 lbs bomb. Later, locals set fire to the wreckage, destroying it and blowing up the bomb, fearing evil spirits from an airplane without a cockpit.

References
Navy Serial Number Search Results - Interstate TDR-1 Bureau Numbers 27859-27958
"Naval Aircraft Factory TDN development built in modified configuration by Interstate as TDR-1. Was unmanned remotely-conrolled aircraft for use in combat as assault drone."
NARA STAG-One War Diary 1 September 1944 to 1 November 1944 page 5

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Last Updated
November 2, 2023