Yeah you have to manually launch the F-89s and control them. In the real incident the Pilots had to find the drone on their own, so no ground based radars to help!

Third time is a charm. Found the sucker NW of Burbank flying west and basted it.

OK, figured out that an Air Intercept mission won't work, have to set up an anti-air patrol to get them to launch. But then, they launch but can't seem to find the drone. i did change their Scorpion's radar to active.

Tried playing this but the Scorpions just sat on the ground and I kept getting this message: "Mission Drone Killers, aircraft type F-89D Scorpion with loadout Mighty Mouse Rocket (Mk40) based on Oxnard Air Force Base cannot launch! Reason: Contacts are neutral."

I changed to weapons free on the F-89s, same message.