On July 5, 1990, in a letter to the members of Special Task Air Group One (STAG-1) and Special Air Task Force (SATFOR), H. Lawrence Garret, III, Secretary of the Navy said, "On 27 September 1944, a TDR-1 Assault Drone launched and staged a combat attack against an enemy target; the success of this first true guided missile marked a new era in modern warfare."
Due to the "top-secret" classification of our activities, it was not until many years after wars-end that it was even acknowledged that we existed. However, we have always been proud of our place in history. To see the symbol of that "place", the last remaining TDR-1, so desecrated and ignored, brought tears to our eyes and anger to our hearts. Adding salt to our wounds was the Japanese Zero, gleamingly restored and prominently displayed, not only in the Naval Aviation Museum but also in the National Air and Space Museum, which also has on display, the Japanese Buka Bomb.
On November 11, 1999, 80 former STAG-1 and SATFOR members and spouses met in reunion at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida to renew friendships and visit the one remaining TDR-1 Assault Drone which is in the possession of the Museum. We last saw the TDR-1 at our 1988 Reunion, also in Pensacola. At that time the Museum had rolled out the Assault Drone onto the front lawn where it was displayed with a plaque which described its history and exploits. For the next six years the TDR-1 was on display within the Museum.
What a difference a new Museum building and a few years made. This year we were told we could find the TDR-1 in a "storage" building on the Navy Base. Our buses took us there and after wandering through what can only be described as filthy "work" areas we found our TDR. Wings removed, tires flat, fairings removed and crumpled and all covered with a layer of dust. After pulling aside a pile of scrap lumber we were able to get close enough to examine the drone and take some pictures.
We are committed to correcting this flagrant disregard of such a milestone in our military aviation heritage; your assistance would be most sincerely appreciated.
Norman Tengstrom
Email: normant@comcast.net