OpsLens

20 Warplanes of the Strategic Air Command

DC-130 Hercules

Once Communist surface-to-air missiles began knocking U-2 spy planes out of the skies over Cuba, China, and the Soviet Union, the Air Force looked to unmanned aircraft. Lockheed’s DC-130 could carry – and remotely pilot – Model 147 “Fire Fly” and Lightning Bug” Ryan drones.