Fly – 72060 – Culver TD2C-1 “Turkey” Red Wings

Description:

U.S. piloted target drone

The Culver PQ-14 “Cadet” is an radio-controlled target drone for training anti-aircraft artillery gunners entered in service for the U.S. Air Force in 1942 as well as for the U.S. Navy. Bit over 2000 units were produced during the war, and the few survived aircraft were sold as surplus in 1950.

The Culver PQ-14 “Cadet” was a modification of the Culver LFA Cadet commercial aircraft and in the U.S. Navy was adopted under the designation TD2C-1 and nicknamed Turkey. The bright red target color scheme was the common for all Culver PQ-14s.

Markings:

• Culver TD2C-1, BuNo 120082 (ex-USAAF PQ-14A, s/n 45-58863),  Naval Air Development Center (NADC), U.S.NAVY, NAS Johnsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., late 1940s
• Culver TD2C-1 BuNo 120035 (ex-USAAF PQ-14A, s/n 45-58816), Naval Air Dvelopment Center (NADC), U.S.NAVY, NAS Johnsville, Pennsylvania, U.S.A., summer 1949