The Kennedy's and Radio Control

[flying IT]

Since we just went past the 50th anniversary date of the assassination of John F Kennedy, I would like share with all why John became fingered to become President.  Actually, it was from watching the vid of the U47B carrier trials that made me remember this little bit of history.

John was not the first pick by the elder Kennedy Joe, but his older brother Joe was.  John became the chosen one after Joe Jr was killed during WW II.  How Joe Jr was killed is what is interesting.

After completing his 25 missions, he volunteered for Operation Aphrodite.  This is were they took old B-17 bombers, removed excess weight and the canopy.  Loaded the thing with explosives, cameras facing forward (can you say FPV), and radio control equipment.  The idea was that the pilot would and co-pilot would take off, level it up, and point it in the general direction of the target.  After which they would parachute out.

In the case of Joe Jr and his co-pilot Wilfred John Willy, the B-17 (now named BQ-7) blew up before the time for them to jump.  The resulting explosion killed both and caused widespread damage of Blythburgh in Suffolk England.

here is a link to information of the http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/app1/bq-7.html