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Royal Navy - de Havilland DH. 82 Queen Bee K8671
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Royal Navy - de Havilland DH. 82 Queen Bee K8671
Royal Navy - de Havilland DH.82 Queen Bee K8671 (msn 5204), being recovered by cruiser HMS Newcastle after a live-fire anti-aircraft gunnery practice. The Queen Bee was a radio-controlled target drone using Tiger Moth wings, with the wooden fuselage of the DH.60 Moth to improve buoyancy in the event of an arrival and improve corrosion resistance. Date: circa 1940
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Media ID 21130889
© The Peter Butt Aviation Collection / Mary Evans
Anti Aircraft Arrival Buoyancy Corrosion Cruiser Drone Fuselage Gunnery Havilland Improve Moth Newcastle Practice Radio Controlled Recovered Resistance Target Tiger Wings
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EDITORS COMMENTS
In this evocative photograph from the past, we witness a pivotal moment during a live-fire anti-aircraft gunnery practice conducted by the Royal Navy in the late 1930s or early 1940s. The target of this intensive training session is the de Havilland DH.82 Queen Bee drone, identified as K8671 (msn 5204), which is being skillfully recovered by the cruiser HMS Newcastle. The Queen Bee was a groundbreaking radio-controlled target drone designed and manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company. Its distinctive features included Tiger Moth wings, which provided the necessary lift and maneuverability for the drone, and a wooden fuselage derived from the DH.60 Moth. This innovative design offered improved buoyancy in the event of an unscheduled water arrival and enhanced corrosion resistance. During gunnery practices, the Queen Bee drones would be launched from the deck of a naval vessel and flown to a predetermined altitude and course using radio control. Once the target drone reached the desired position, it would release a flare, signaling the start of the gunnery exercise. The naval gunners would then engage the drone with live ammunition, allowing them to hone their skills in detecting, tracking, and destroying aerial targets. The successful recovery of the Queen Bee drone by HMS Newcastle in this photograph underscores the importance of these training exercises in preparing the Royal Navy for the challenges of the Second World War. The determination and expertise of both the drone handlers and the naval crew are on full display, as they work together to ensure the safe and efficient execution of this crucial training mission.
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