DeKALB – A piece of World War II was once located right in our backyard.

Or more specifically, above our heads.

The local chapter of the Experimental Aircraft Association, EAA 241, hosted DeKalb-based historic contractor Roger Keys to share artifacts, videos, photos and knowledge of the drones that were used during WWII at the association’s monthly meeting at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport, 3232 Pleasant St.

About 200 drones were built at the old Wurlitzer plant in secret on a government contract.

“Wurlitzer made pianos and organs,” Keys said, “but during the war a lot of companies ceased manufacturing peacetime materials.”

The TDR-1 (the first torpedo drone; the “R” was just randomly assigned) drone was built in pieces at Wurlitzer, then assembled next door to Interstate Aircraft. The drones had a 600-mile range, but could also be piloted manually from the cockpit to get the planes as close to the target, usually ships, before crashing into it – just as a kamikaze plane would. The aircraft, which had a 50-foot wingspan, carried 2,000-pound bombs.

“The whole plane was a guided missile,” Keys said during his presentation.

Keys showed off a piece that sat atop the Wurlitzer hangar that gauged how high a drone was flying – they would sometimes circle above the DeKalb area – as well the canopy piece from a drone, which would protect the cockpit.

“It’s incredible what was done on the home front,” Keys said. “All the little towns across the country did this stuff.”

The association members take turns inviting special guests to give presentations at their monthly meeting. This month, it was one of the two association directors Dan Thurmau’s turn.

“I picked Roger, because I heard his speeches before,” Thurnau said.

About 50 people huddled inside the airport’s main hangar for Keys’ presentation, because the usual meeting room at the airport would have been too small to meet the demands of Keys’ presentation, association President Larry Cabeen said.

“There was more interest than usual,” he said. “This was for both history buffs and aviation buffs.”

DeKalb resident and association member Robert Miskewitch said he enjoyed the informative meeting and the local history lesson.

“We have pieces of DeKalb that are air-mailed over there; that’s one way to look at it,” Miskewitch said. “Personally, I felt that they should have kept one here, but that didn’t happen.”