It is necessary to start this paper with a disclaimer. Neither the author nor his firm have been concerned with the development of Drone aircraft for more than a few years. Others in the field have more, certainly longer, experience; the choice of the present author is probably because he has been associated with the development of the most ambitious target aircraft so far produced in Britain—the Canberra Mk. 10.

The early history of work on automatic flight was discussed by Dr. G. W. H. Gardner in the 46th Wilbur Wright Memorial Lecture*. Credit is due to the Royal Aircraft Establishment for the development of more modern Drones and associated equipment, and indeed, of the whole control system which is now used for Aberporth and in Australia. Much credit is also due to the Australian authorities for the working up of the target service which they now provide at Woomera and for the development of the Jindivik target. The Fairey Aviation Company Ltd. and Flight Refuelling Ltd. have respectively been concerned with the droning of the Fairey Firefly and the Gloster Meteor aircraft which are also used as targets for British missiles.