Reginald Denny Industries and the Radioplane Company

After the war Radioplane stayed in business and eventually became part of Northrop. Northrop recognized Denny's creation of the business and the company later but in a radio program someone got it wrong. Here is a copy of the letter Reginald Denny wrote to set the record straight. Although the record did get set straight this letter provides a fascinating insight to the origin of both Radioplane and Denny Industries.

The correspondence was kindly provided to me by his daughter who has been in the process of recovering the records her father left. It was apparently written to a law firm to provide background for his complaint that Radioplane had conveniently forgotten that he created the company. His efforts were not lost, today the Western Museum of Aviation on the Hawthorne Airport with Northorp-Grumman Corporation one of the original drones is on exhibit with full credit as due.

From the personal correspondence of Reginald Denny

On the " Success Story " broadcast Mr. William Larrabee, representing Radioplane Company, announced in effect that:

In 1938 Radioplane Company under the guidance of Whitley C. Collins, obtained and fulfilled a contract With the US government for three experimental type radio-controlled target planes. He later announced that the production of Radioplane Co. (now subsidiary of Northrop Aviation) had jumped from three target planes in 1940 to a certain number of target planes, or drones per week in 1956

Radioplane Company was not in existence in 1938. It was not formed Until June of 1940.

I formed and Incorporated Reginald Denny Industries (A California Corporation) in 1934.

I started development of the Radio-controlled Target Plane in 1936. and the first experimental plane was built by myself and a young model builder and Radio "Ham" in the garage of my home at 2060 N. Vine Street, Hollywood In late 1936 or early 1937. I paid all costs out Of my own pocket and did not charge them against Reginald Denny Industries.

Several other experimental planes were built at the Reginald Denny Industries. Demonstrations were made with some of these experimental types at Fort McArthur for Colonel Thiele, and at March Field.

Largely through the influence of Colonel Thiele and Brig. General Sunderland, Antiaircraft Forces U.S.A, I was invited to Wright Field, Dayton Ohio to discuss an experimental contract. I went to Wright field (paying all my own expenses) and after four days of tough negotiating with a very doubtful board appointed by the US Air Force, I finally convinced them that the type of target plane I could produce would be of inestimable value for gunnery training, and also suggested that they could be used as what I termed " Aerial Torpedoes".

However this suggestion was turned down as being only good for Indiscriminate area bombing.

When I say that "I finally convinced the board" that is only partially true. I forget the number of members of the board but I think it was five or six and as I recall, the majority were against awarding me the contract. One member particularly was against it, his name was Major Greene, his chief objection being that the proposed size and speed of the target plane were too small. My argument was that they were both relatives and the smaller the cheaper. However two members of the board Capt. George Holloman ( Later Col. Holloman who was killed In a crash overseas, and after whom Holloman Field was named), and Major F. M. Borum ( Later Maj. General Borum ), word in my favor saying that the project should be given a trial; that size add speed could be Increased later if necessary add that cheapness was &great factor.

My engineer ( for Reginald Denny industries practically drew up the specifications . Air speed; 70 M,P,H. Rate of climb; 500 feet per minute. Ceiling 5000 feet, Duration of flight 1 hour and landing without undue damage within a quarter of a mile from the take off point.

I left Dayton with a letter of intent for the contracts but as I recall the contract was not signed until early In 1939.

I had taken in a partner in the Reginald Denny Industries, Mr. Paul Whittier. His company, the M. H. Whittier Co., had put up a considerable seem of money to finance a contract for model plane kits and supplies and miniature Gas Engines with the Montgomery Ward Co. and, as a result, held the controlling stock in Reginald Denny Industries. Paul Whittier was away in Honolulu when I negotiated the radio controlled target plane contract.

The M. H. Whittier Co. refused to allow any of Reginald Denny Industries' money to be used in financing the contract.

Through Mr. William Neary of the Union Bank and Trust Co. I contacted Mr. Whitley C. Collins and Harold Powell who were partners in the Elastic Stop Nut Corp. and they agreed to put up $10,000 as working capital for a one third Interest in the deal.

Although the Whittier Co, would have no part of the contact I nevertheless Gave him a half of my interest, which he later gave to Collins and Powell in 1943 or 1944.

The three target planes were flown, fulfilled specifications and requirements, and were accepted by Major Holloman in Spring of 1940. This took place at Muroc Lake.

Radioplane Company was formed in June of 1940.

These three planes were built at Walter Righter's shop in Burbank. Righter was building the "Dennymite" miniature engines for Reginald Denny Industries. It was he who designed and built the engines for the target planes and was the chief engineer for the project. Kenny Case, whom I have previously mentioned was the radio engineer and built the transmitter and receivers for the radio control.

On that contract, all Mr. Collins did was put up the money. Incidentally, before M. H. Whittier Co. would release all claims to the Radio-controlled project they insisted that Reginald Denny Industries be reimbursed $6500.00 which they claimed was due for moneys spent on work done there on the project.

This left a working capital of $3500 and then we were assessed according to our interests for the amount necessary to complete the contract.

This first contract was for $11,800 and when the money was paid after fulfillment of the contract Messrs. Collins and Powell took out the $6500 paid to the Industries claiming that it was not working capital as called for in our original agreement.

I think that all this has proven definitely that the credit taken by Mr. Larrabee on behalf of Radioplane Co. and Mr. Collins on the "Success Story'' broadcast is false and does me a great deal of harm.

I have given interviews for stories that have been published in magazines and newspapers in which I have stated that I was the originator of the Radio-controlled target planes and that Reginald Denny Industries fulfilled the first Government contract for any such type plane. One of those three planes was (and still is I believe) on display In the museum at Wright Field and described as " The first successfully flown non man carrying radio-controlled aircraft."

The U.S. Navy designated the first drones T.D.D. which stands for Target Drone Denny. The Navy put out a Monthly booklet called T.D.D. News and in their first issue published my picture and told the story of how I developed the first drone,

The first brochure put Out by Radioplane Co. carried my picture and acknowledged me as the originator.

In 1954 I was invited by Admiral Blandy to attend the dress rehearsal at sea of Operation Crossroads, the atomic bombing of Bikini Atoll, in recognition of the valuable pioneer work I had done in developing the Robot Planes.

I attended the event. I was flown down to San Diego with a bunch of newspaper men who were steering the show, They were all curious to know why I was along, and knowing the feelings of Mr. Collins, (President of Radioplane Co. I was then the Secretary and Vice President) regarding this. I Just told them that I was representing Radioplane, however after the dress rehearsal which took place on the aircraft Carrier Shangri La commanded by Rear Admiral C. A. P. Sprague, a cocktail party was given by Admiral Sprague for the newspapermen and other guests. I was talking to admiral Sprague and Captain J.W. Davidson (in charge of all robot operations), when Don Ryan of the Herald Express joined us and asked; "Will somebody tell me what this guy is doing here? " (Indicating me) to which Captain Davidson replied " This guy? Why he's the father of the robot plane".

Don Ryan seemed dumbfounded. and turned to me "Is this true Denny?" he asked. "I'm sorry" I said, "But I do not want to get into any trouble so do not want to be quoted. If Captain Davidson is willing to give you the story, then it would be wonderful as it would be official and I could not be accused by my company of violating security regulations." Captain Davidson gave him the story, which resulted in Don Ryan's article In the Hearald. Express with these headlines.

I have this article.

I was a member of the "Joint Civilian Orientation Conference" No. 12 which was from March 30 to April 7th. 1952. At this conference I attended for three days at the Pentagon in Washington to listen to important information regarding drones given out by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of Defense, and others. This information was listed "Restricted" and could not be repeated Without gaining clearance. Unfortunately I could not complete the remainder or the conference, which would have meant visiting various Army, Navy, and Air Force bases and of course Marine.

All the correspondence from the Defense Orientation Conference was addressed to Reginald Denny Inventor. T.D.D.

I have a little booklet published by the Association which gives the names and addresses of all the participants. In it I am listed as Reginald Denny T.D.D.

I have attended several Air Force Association dinners a guest speaker of the evening to tell the story of early development of the robot plane.

I have received an invitation to attend the California Wing Air Force Assn., convention at Long Beach on April 22 and accept an award from them.

At the last meeting I attended (as M.C.) I was told that I was being given an award, and that it was for my contribution to Air Power by pioneering the Robot Plane. However, when I received the invitation it read: "For performing an outstanding service in bringing the message of Air Power to the public"

Why was this changed?

I feel that the statements made by Mr. Larrabee on the "Success Story" broadcast make me out to be a liar and a fraud and can do me considerable harm if in the future I should have a project I might submit to some Avation company,