1944 WWII Offical Military US Navy STAG-1 Torpedo Drone Mission Photo Aeronautics

Presented is a unique photograph from the distinguished estate of U.S. Navy Commodore Oscar Smith, Jr.

“Smith was a officer and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy (1908) who rose to the rank commodore during WWII and in 1944 became the head of the Guided Missiles Committee convened to explore every possible guided-missile and drone project. He was also a recipient of the Legion of Merit medal.”

This 8×10 black and white photo shows curling from age/storage and has stamping on the reverse:

“OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH – Not to be used for Publication, by order of the Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics.” – “Confidential”

The details are hand written in the lower square. This was a photo from a STAG ONE mission from STAG 1-428. The date was 7/15/44 (ironically, the same day an assasination attempt on Hitler was made). With the subject “TDR RUN ON BEACHED JAP SHIP.” (TDR stands for Torpedo Drone).
STAG Details: stands for Special Task Air Group One. Was organized in the summer of 1943 as part of the U.S. Navy’s Speical Air Task Force. They conducted the first drone combat air stikes in military history. Commodore Smith had a heavy influence of these missions and this photo is from his personal collection.