UNITED STATES MILITARY AIRCRAFT by Jos Heyman

Air Force

OQ = Aerial Target (1942-1947) Last update: 1 February 2015

OQ-1 Radioplane RP-4 Specifications: span: length: engines: 1 engine 6 hp max. speed: 75 mph, 113 km/h

(Source: Radioplane?)

The OQ-1 was a twin propeller target drone built by Reginald Denny who had formed the Radioplane corporation. The aircraft was launched from rails and, after a demonstration in November 1939, 3 were ordered followed by another batch of 50. It has been suggested by several references that these aircraft were never designated as OQ-1.

OQ-2 Radioplane RP-5A Specifications: span: 13’3”, 4.04 m length: 8’8”, 2.65 m engines: 1 Righter O-15-1 max. speed: 85 mph, 137 km/h

(Source: J. Heyman)

A development of radio controlled model aircraft, the prototype of the A-2 aerial target aircraft, also known as model RP-5, flew for the first time in June 1941. It was redesignated as OQ-2 in the same month.The production version was the A-2A, redesignated as OQ-2A, which flew for the first time in early 1942. 600 OQ-2As and OQ-2Bs were built by Radioplane and 384 by Frankfurt, although other references indicate a production of 3865 by Radioplane, which, most likely, includes the TDD-1 version for the US Navy. Known serials were 43-44715/45314 and 43-46116/46499. Refer also to PQ-2, TDD

OQ-3 Radioplane RP-6 Specifications: span: 12'2", 3.71 m length: 9'1", 2.77 m engines: 1 Righter O-15-3 max. speed: 103 mph, 166 km/h

(Source: Righter archive, via ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave)

First flown in December 1943, 5822 OQ-3s were built by Radioplane and 3581 by Frankfurt. These figures most likely include the TDD-2 versions for the US Navy. The serials were 44-54708/59707, 44-65660/67699, 45-46725/49087. Those remaining in service on 11 June 1948 were redesignated as Q-3. Refer also to Q-3 and TDD

OQ-4 Brunswick-Balke-Collender Specifications: span: length: engines: max. speed: The OQ-4 was an experimental aerial target aircraft of which a few were built. It was not further proceeded with because of the sufficient availability of other aerial target aircraft. The company made wartime products, including mortar shells, flares, assault boats, fuel cells, floating mines, aircraft instrument panels, and aluminum litters.

OQ-5 ?? Specifications: span: length: engines: max. speed: The OQ-5 was an experimental aerial target aircraft not produced in quantity. It may have been cancelled because sufficient other aerial targets were available and no contractor may have been selected.

OQ-6 Radioplane RP-15 Specifications: span: 14’, 4.30 m length: 10’, 3.00 m engines: 1 McCullough O-90 max. speed: 195 mph, 313 km/h

(Source: Righter archive, via ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave)

High speed aerial target aircraft which was built by Radioplane as RP-14, RP-15 and RP-16. It is assumed they were all designated as OQ-6. The RP-14 version was completed in November 1944 and was powered by a Righter O-45-1 engine. The RP-15 version, to which the specifications apply and which have been designated as OQ-6A, flew for the first time in January 1945. Not produced in quantity, a number were used for tests as XOQ-6A. The suggestion that those remaining in service on 11 June 1948 were redesignated as Q-6 is incorrect. Refer also to Q-6

OQ-7 Radioplane Specifications: span: length: engines: 1 Righter O-15 max. speed: 112 mph, 180 km/h

(Source: Righter archive, via ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave)

Experimental aerial target aircraft based on the OQ-3 but with increased performance. The OQ-7 flew for the first time in November 1943. It was not produced in quantity. The suggestion that those remaining in service on 11 June 1948 were redesignated as Q-7 is incorrect. It has been suggested this was model RP-7. Refer also to Q-7

OQ-8 ?? Specifications: span: length: engines: max. speed: Aerial target aircraft not produced in quantity.

OQ-9 ?? Specifications: span: length: engines: max. speed: Aerial target aircraft not produced in quantity.

OQ-10 ?? Specifications: span: length: engines: max. speed: Aerial target aircraft not produced in quantity.

OQ-11 Simmonds Aerocessories Specifications: span: 12', 3.66 m length: 9', 2.74 m engines: 1 Herkimer max. speed: 60 mph, 97 km/h The OQ-11 was an experimental aerial target aircraft built and tested in 1941 but not produced in quantity. The suggestion that it was later redesignated as Q-11 is incorrect. The company was a British company that had establishments in Canada, the US and Australia. Refer also to Q-11

OQ-12 Radioplane Specifications: span: length: engines: max. speed: The OQ-12 was an experimental aerial target aircraft not produced in quantity. Only one was built and flew in October 1941.

OQ-13 Radioplane Specifications: span: length: engines: 1 Righter O-15 max. speed: The OQ-13 had been described as a modification of the OQ-3 but for use over water. Not produced in quantity.

OQ-14 Radioplane RP-8A Specifications: span: 11'5", 3.49 m length: 9'3", 2.82 m engines: 1 Righter O-45-1 max. speed: 140 mph, 225 km/h

(Source: Righter archive, via ctie.monash.edu.au/hargrave)

Designated as the OQ-14, 2084 were built by Radioplane and 1464 by Frankfurt, although other references state that 5204 were built by Radioplane, which comprised three orders placed on 9 April 1945 (for 3120), 20 April 1945 (for 1584) and 30 April 1945 (500). These orders included the TDD-3 version for the US Navy. First flown in April 1945, the serials were 45-22796/25435 and 45-56375/57286 and those remaining in service on 11 June 1948 were redesignated as Q-14. Refer also to Q-14

OQ-15 ?? Specifications: span: length: engines: 1 Kiekhaufer O-45 max. speed: Aerial target aircraft not produced in quantity. Designation XOQ-15 is known and it is believed five were built.

OQ-16 Frankfurt Specifications: span: 12’, 3.60 m length: engines: 1 Righter O-45-35 ? max. speed: The OQ-16 was an aerial target aircraft of which 15 were ordered in early 1945 before the programme was transferred to the US Navy as TD3D. Refer also to TD3D

OQ-17 Radioplane RP-18 Specifications: span: 10’2”, 3.10 m length: 8’5”, 2.56 m engines: 1 Kiekhaufer O-45 max. speed: 190 mph, 306 km/h

(Source: Northrop)

The XOQ-17 was an aerial target which flew for the first time in March 1945. The production of 400 OQ-17s was ordered on 16 February 1946 followed by another batch of 30 at a later date. Refer also to TD4D

OQ-18 ?? Specifications: span: 15’, 4.60 m length: engines: max. speed: The OQ-18 was a large experimental aerial target aircraft not produced in quantity. It was developed and tested in 1945. The contractor is not known.

OQ-19 Radioplane RP-19 Specifications: span: 11'6", 3.51 m length: 12'4", 3.76 m engines: 1 McCullough O-90-1 max. speed: 200 mph, 321 km/h

(Source: J. Heyman)

A development of the OQ-17, the OQ-19 design was designed by Radioplane and built by Radioplane and Helio. Eventually the design was taken over by Northrop and became known as the Ventura. Although the OQ designation series became in disuse in 1948 and those aircraft remaining were being redesignated in the Q series, the OQ-19 designation remained in use until 18 September 1962 when it was replaced by designations in the M-33 series. By May 1984 more than 48,000 had been built for a number of countries, with production continueing. The design was also associated with the MX-721 project. The designation YOQ-19 was assigned to prototypes which were tested in July 1945. They were similar to the US Navy’s KD2R-1. This version had the O-90-1 engine. The OQ-19A was the first production version and the only known serials were 60-3769/5373. Serials 60-6094/6593 were associated with the OQ-19 designation. The XOQ-19B had a McCullough O-100-1 engine and metal wings and flew for the first time in 1950. The production version of this was the OQ-19B which were built with serials 55-709/2708, 55-4801/4806, 56-4470/6669, 57-5102/5751, 58-4597/5278, 58-5527/6891, 59-2875/4141, 59-5048/5787 and 59-5930/5954. On 18 September 1962 the designation MQM-33A was assigned. The OQ-19C version, to which the specifications apply only, had 389 built and these were redesignated as MQM-33B on 18 September 1962. The OQ-19D version was similar to the OQ-19C but had the O-100-1 engine. Serials included GM54-239/1126, 57-3102/5101, 58-2327/3016, 58-3097/4596, 59-537/1442, 59-5788/5915, 60-1149/2077 as well as GM52-1722 and GM53-1920. They were similar to the US Navy’s KD2R-3 and were redesignated as MQM-33C on 18 September 1962. The OQ-19E designation referred to the Radioplane RP-92 which appeared in 1960 but was not put into production. The version had a McCulloch O-150-4 engine.