Into Friendly Fire: the RP-63 "Pinball"

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As World War II ended, gunnery training was brought to a halt. RP-63G production did continue until 1946, but only 30 were delivered, in addition to the two prototypes. The remaining 420 aircraft were cancelled. The serials of the RP-63G that were built were 45-57283 to 45-57312.

The need for aerial gunners was now drastically reduced, and aerial gunnery was bound to evolve quickly. With the advent of jet propulsion, bombers and fighters were becoming much faster, and gunnery techniques had to cope with that evolution. Already, the new B-29 Superfortress was using remote-controlled turrets which used complex electro-optical sights for aiming.

An inflight shot of two RP-63A Pinballs. In the foreground is 42-69647, the first prototype, featuring the flush air scoop. The aircraft in the background is probably 42-69880, the first production RP-63A, which featured the clamshell intake. (Photo: USAF).

All Army Air Force Training Command RP-63 were transferred to the new Strategic Air Command, to help train B-29 gunners. They served until 1948, when training stopped. The surviving airframes were redesignated QF-63A,C or G. The “Q” prefix indicated a pilotless drone aircraft, but no RP-63 was ever used as such. Most airframes were subsequently scrapped, although a few have been preserved in museums.

Proponents of “Operation Pinball” regretted that higher priority was not given to the program. Had such training been available earlier, they reasoned, gunners would have protected the bombers more effectively during that critical period of the air war when the American bombing campaign was being heavily challenged by enemy air opposition.