New Navy contract aims to equip hundreds of ships with drones

[Aktungbby]

Grumman F6F-5K Hellcat drones are launched from the port catapult of the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Boxer (CV-21) during the Korean War in August 1952. The F6F-5Ks were used as guided "missiles" and were guided by Douglas AD-2D Skyraider drone control planes, but the attacks produced only meagre results. Note the 407 kg (1.000 lb) bomb underneath the Hellcats. SEP 1952 USS Boxer returns to Hunters Point Shipyard after the drone operation <This one caused a few problems: https://www.warhistoryonline.com/military-vehicle-news/two-jet-fighters-sent-up-to-shoot-down-a-wwii-warbird-in-1956-blasted-208-rockets-at-it-it-survived.html

[Sailor Steve]

And the US turned B-17s into drones.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Aphrodite

http://www.military.com/video/guided.../3235721522001

The last one is mislabeled a B-29, but it's still a B-17.

[Aktungbby]

From a very young age, Kennedy was groomed by his father and predicted to be the first Roman Catholic Irish-American President of the United States. When he was born, his grandfather John F. Fitzgerald (1863–1950), then Mayor of Boston, told the news, "This child is the future President of the nation." He often boasted that he would be president even without help from his father(US Ambassador to England). He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1940. Kennedy planned to run for Massachusetts's 11th congressional district in 1946

^ indeed. One probably changed the course of history; JFK became the president instead of his ambitious older brother 'Joe' Kennedy Jr. "As planned, Kennedy and Willy remained aboard as the BQ-8 completed its first remote-controlled turn at 2,000 feet near the North Sea coast. Kennedy and Willy removed the safety pin, arming the explosive package, and Kennedy radioed the agreed code Spade Flush, his last known words. Two minutes later (and well before the planned crew bailout, near RAF Manston), the Torpex explosive detonated prematurely and destroyed the Liberator, killing Kennedy and Willy instantly." [wiki] <Last photograph of Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. on day of flight, August 12. 1944

[Mr Quatro]

Speaking of drones:http://www.popsci.com/pentagon-agree...ot-quite-medal

PENTAGON AGREES TO RECOGNIZE DRONE PILOTS WITH A DECORATION

According to Military Times, “The Pentagon has firmly rejected the idea of giving drone pilots and cyber warriors their own medal, and instead will offer a new "R" device to pin on existing noncombat medals.” That should help with recognition, while not alienating veteran’s groups. It might also help a little with drone pilot retention, a major Air Force problem going back years.

The new pin may be good for morale, but it’s hardly the only way the Air Force plans to keep pilots.

A recent change opened up piloting Global Hawk drones to enlisted servicemembers, not just officers, and paired it with a bonus as high as $125,000 for drone pilots that sign up for another five years.

Where do I sign up?