  From medium-resolution radio images, DR 16 was suspected to be a large
cometary nebula. To test this suggestion we obtained a higher resolution
(15\arcsec) VLA continuum map. We also analyzed data from the Canadian Galactic
Plane Survey in continuum, H I line, and IR. These data were supplemented by
published near-infrared (J, H, K) stellar photometric results and MSX 8.28
micrometer data. We suggest that DR 16 is the diffuse H II region of an ongoing
star formation site at a distance of about 3 kpc. The complicated radio picture
arises from the superposition of diffuse H II with the remains of a giant
bipolar outflow. The outflow was generated by a probable Herbig AeBe star, and
the lobes are the remnants of its working surfaces. Additional ring-like
features are discussed. DR 16 is part of a larger volume of space in the local
spiral arm where star formation is an ongoing process.
