FLYING SOLDIERS

[Music] [Applause] [Music] a 100 years ago on the plains of the Far West a basic principle of military science was proven again the principle is simple Victory goes to the side whose ability to move and to shoot are most equally balanced [Music] before the first world war the horse provided all the Tactical Mobility the Army needed but then the balance changed [Music] abruptly the soldier needed a faster means of moving from place to place in order to keep up with his own increased Firepower [Music] thus mechanization was born tanks were seen on the battlefield trucks replaced [Music] wagons and airplanes were first tried as combat [Music] Vehicles between the two World Wars the Army was not quick to mechanize there was no pressing need to and the modernization of a fighting force was a L business even in the days when a dollar was worth a [Music] dollar then Adolf Hitler triggered off a whole new concept of moving and shooting [Music] but it was really the same old story he had found a better balance between Firepower and Mobility at a faster Pace with a harder [Music] punch by the end of World War II we had come far down the road toward mechanization [Music] reconnaissance the search for information had accelerated because Mobility had been improved and our soldier was again able to move as fast as he could [Music] shoot the Army does a good job of moving on roads and highways or even without them truck convoys can average 20 to 30 mph track vehicles are almost [Music] as but when this happens 30 m hour may become 5 m hour or no M an hour in combat there are many things beside traffic jams and detours that can slow down the flow of critically needed supplies but take the most optimistic point of view that we could keep our trucks rolling at 20 or 30 m an hour in combat let's face it the next War if it comes won't be at 20 or 30 mph War the Firepower available to the Army today is tremendous and we must assume that our potential enemies have just as much Firepower as we have we don't have to assume that they outnumber us we know that they can put several well-trained men in the field for every one of ours [Music] to face this threat we must find a way to make our fighting force Superior to theirs how will we do this one way Mobility through the air the air which has no mud holes or traffic jams roadblocks or Bridges the Army must take to the air not the air 20,000 ft up or even 2,000 ft up but the air just above the Treetops or better yet between the [Music] trees Army Aviation has many different functions but all of them are part of the land battle all of them are designed purely and simply to help the combat that Soldier win on the battlefield though soldiers have taken to the air they remain just as much a part of the Infantry artillery or armor as they were before becoming Aviation Specialists the Army's aircraft are simply a better and faster means of moving from one place to another and getting a job [Music] done today's helicopter is not the ultimate allpurpose air vehicle that the Army is seeking but it has many points in its favor it can land in cramped quarters and maintain close contact with soldiers on the ground the Army's larger helicopters are equally versatile they are flown night and day to teach Army aviators the tactics and techniques for our airmobile future [Music] Army fixed Wing aircraft also have a high degree of maneuverability and each of them has been chosen because it is rugged and can live in the field with the troops it serves all of them are capable of landing on very short and rough [Music] Fields they are designed to take off with a brief run over very steep [Music] [Music] barrier to give the greatest possible support to our troops many techniques have been devised by Army aviators paradrop of supplies is an old story so is the laying of wire from fixed Wing [Music] plane but one of the newer jobs for Aviation is in collaboration with the Missile Command the Honest John Rocket is air transportable so as its launching equipment thus in a matter of minutes a critically needed rocket can be hauled to a launching site and fired Army Aviation is not a new way of fighting it is just a faster and more efficient way of getting troops and their weapons to the scene of battle and a faster and more efficient way to acquire tactical information for the ground Commander let's see how an attack might be made on a hypothetical Battlefield using the aircraft which the Army has today first we will go to a command post where the key officers of a division are being briefed now let's emphasize one more Point here gentlemen helicopters are arriving tomorrow at 0530 hours the 18th they'll land in the respective areas which we've already designated aircraft will be ready for loading immediately upon Landing precisely at 5:30 the chu TOS fly in from the division's base Airfield [Music] smoke pots Mark the pickup site and each pilot knows exactly where to touch [Music] [Applause] [Music] down on the double fresh from a good night's sleep and a hot breakfast our troops will arrive at their battle site 20 or 30 m away with a full head of steam not with their Keen Edge dulled by an exhausting [Music] Mar meanwhile Jeep mounted heavy weapons are loaded aboard powerful Mojave to be carried directly to the battle [Music] area CHS are picking up their loads they can easily carry a Jeep with a recoiless rifle [Music] now the troop carriers are off each with its load of fully equipped fighting men [Music] over the attack objective a forward Observer is directing a continual barrage to soften up the enemy's [Music] resistance from his flying observation post The Observer prepares to lift the artillery fire he sees a reconnaissance Patrol armed with machine guns and Rockets coming in right on [Music] schedule they proceed to a pre-planned position just behind the cover of a hill then rise above the protecting Ridge to sweep the area [Music] shortly the leader of this armed reconnaissance party calls the next turn armed choar flying gun platforms come in to complete the softening of process with a barrage of rockets [Music] The Troop carriers near the battle area winging over terrain obstacles impassible for troops on the ground the troops are ready their tension mounting as the moment of combat approaches [Music] another flight of armed truck toss holds the enemy [Music] down they give the first wave of helicopter born infantry a free and unchallenged minute or two to pile out and organize this is Army Aviation paying off our men are landed practically on their objective fresh and ready to [Music] go their vehicles are set down beside them equipped with weapons and with radios that will tie the attack together and give the battle commander a clear line back to higher headquarters [Music] [Applause] [Music] as the troops press forward the Mojave come in before the battle has hardly begun a mechanical mule brings out a reserve of small arms ammunition followed by more Jeep mounted recoiless rifles to reinforce the [Music] attack flying over the area a battle surveillance Observer keeps tabs on the enemy information is thus gained on enemy strong points reinforcements and gun imp placements [Music] a running commentary on the course of battle is available to the ground Commander giving him an extra pair of allseeing eyes the troops push forward toward their initial objective meanwhile the armed helicopters have replenished their ammunition and are covering the advancing soldiers our troops near their objective and set up fields of [Music] fire the aggressor has anticipated the attack and has saved a Sunday punch for the [Music] Infantry the battle commander quickly figures the odds the attack must not stall he has an Ace in the Hole and he uses it he radios directly to the commander of his reserve Force telling him to bring more troops forward in fixed Wing planes to an assembly point for helicopter delivery to the battle [Music] scene this is the author a plane that is designed to live with the Infantry and to be as reliable as an aircraft can be it carries nine troops and all of their gear Army aviators can bring them into places where the average pilot would not consider trying to land an aircraft of this size [Music] the Chaka air Ferry continues its shuttle bringing more equipment and the reserves who were delivered to the assembly area in [Music] utter as the attack continues our tanks break through and join the assault [Music] no battle is without casualties but our Mojave are ready within minutes our wounded will be in rear area hospitals receiving life-saving medical [Music] attention and now at full fighting strength the division surges forward [Music] in the critical final attack the flying soldiers still have an extra bonus of energy and will to win [Music] the enemy's determination is broken the Victory Is [Music] Ours the use of elevated gun platforms is one of the most promising new ground Warfare techniques in many years years here testing this impressive New Concept for himself is Major General bugs KS commandant of the army aviation center at Fort Rucker Alabama let's ask him a few questions General Karn isn't it somewhat unique for a major general to take part in an exercise of this kind well I'm not really participating in this exercise I'm flying this Sue and firing its weapons so that I'll really know what we are able to to do with armed helicopters at this stage of the game are you satisfied with what you've learned General garens I'm more than satisfied I'm enthusiastic while we've been doing a lot of experimenting at the army aviation center with Sky Cavalry or aerial combat reconnaissance concept you don't really grasp the significance of this new way of fighting until you've done it yourself the speed versatility and Effectiveness that you gain by being free of ground obstacles but still an intimate contact with the ground is tremendous how do you think the Army can use this new fighting technique General we have a lot of ideas on the fire one of the best I think is the aerial combat reconnaissance company this unit will be completely air mounted with armed helicopters and infantry troops mounted in transport helicopters the company will have additional transport helicopters to move gasoline ammunition and food this air Cavalry outfit would be completely mobile able to operate without considering the terrain or land obstacles then we gather General that you feel that the helicopter is in the Army to stay let's put that another way the air vehicle is in the Army to stay our present helicopters are good but we have new vehicles in development which should prove to be even better thanks very much General KS we're going to look at some of these new aircraft right now while the Army continues its training and planning let's visit several aircraft plants for a look into [Music] tomorrow first we'll go to Fort Worth Texas where the iroy helicopter is being built this is the first aircraft designed specifically for army use and the first helicopter designed to use a gas turban engine it represents a significant breakthrough in the state of helicopter development [Music] [Music] [Music] with the iroy mobility in the battlefield will be greatly improved for it has been built as a many purpose vehicle it will serve as a stable and agile platform from which to deliver fire it will transport troops keep them supplied and speed them to a hospital here on Long Island is the Mohawk a new airplane being built especially for Army observation used to help the ground Commander locate Targets on the fast moving battle field of tomorrow unlike other Army aircraft the Mohawk's pilot and engines have armor protection against enemy ground fire both the pilot and co-pilot have an excellent view of the ground beneath the Mohawk this is an important feature for low altitude high-speed [Music] observation ejection seats will make it possible for the pilot and observer to get out of the plane safely in an emergency from the extremely low altitude at which they will be flying it is to be equipped with the latest navigation equipment and will be capable of flying day or night in almost any weather facilities for aerial cameras are built into the fuselage the cameras are operated remotely from the [Music] cockpit when pictures are taken this outer panel opens and closes [Music] automatically after of the camera compartment is a large area where electronic components are installed the Mohawk will be an ideal vehicle for the new television radar and infrared surveillance equipment that is being developed by the Army perhaps the best feature of this relatively sophisticated Army aircraft is its ingenious arrangement of flaps and ailerons which makes it possible to land and take off on short unimproved strips here in Philadelphia is a vehicle which is in its first stage of development it takes off as a helicopter then tilts its wings and propellers forward and becomes a conventional airplane [Music] [Music] the Tilt wi had undergone months of testing before the early morning in July 1958 when the first transition from vertical to horizontal configuration was tried all indications pointed toward success but it had never been done before aviation history was made that morning the transition was perfect there is every reason to believe that within a few years the Army Aviator will be able to take off vertically from a small clearing then fly with the speed and fuel economy of a conventional airplane to a landing site no larger than his tilt Wings length and [Music] width next to Toronto Canada to see the first flying model of the Caribou here is Brigadier General Ernest F Easterbrook director of Army Aviation inspecting the new [Music] plane several Caribou will be purchased by the Army for testing as a battlefield troop and Cargo Carrier [Music] let's watch with General Easterbrook as the Caribou is put through its [Music] Paces the most remarkable feature of the Caribou is its extremely short takeoff and Landing ability watch this [Music] the Caribou will be capable of carrying 28 combat troops with this load it can fly close to 400 Mi without refueling thus as an air Ferry a single Caribou will be able to haul hundreds of men short distances without refueling [Music] it will operate in rough country without prepared strips for this 10ton plus airplane requires only 500 ft from touchdown to a full [Music] stop here is the future of Army Aviation the 15 ,000 soldiers who are directly involved in Army Aviation today they are working to improve the balance between Firepower and movement so that tomorrow's War if it comes will find our side with the advantage Army Aviation is more than a new weapon it multiplies the effectiveness of every weapon we have now and those we will have in the future how soon our flying soldiers can realize the advantages which Aviation can provide depends on our ability to develop this potential and to acquire the air vehicles to do the job [Music]