The Marine Corps and Close Air Support

[Music] it is d-day plus three the beachhead has been established and the landing force is moving forward at 1300 the Marines reach the enemy's newly formed main line of resistance the assault units are pinned down attitudes to receiving casualties from intense mortar and machine gun fire an effective support weapon must be brought to bear without delay mortars and bazookas have not been able to knock out the enemy emplacements naval gunfire and artillery cannot reach the emplacements because they are protected by terrain a decision is made to call for close air support the request is transmitted the target is pinpointed and the strike coordinated controlled and deliver [Applause] target destroyed mission accomplished marine close air support demonstrates its hard-hitting effectiveness as one of the major supporting arms available to all ground forces a supporting arm held in high regard by all Marine Corps personnel it's their Sunday punt a supporting arm of personal pride to the marine pilot it's his specialty but most of all a supporting arm of major concern to troops under fire it's their weapon and a potent one and often their salvation both air support is not a totally new weapon its concepts are as old as marine aviation itself but such a closely integrated highly mobile military organization it was natural that the Marine Corps with the Navy should pioneer in the use of the airplane for close support of troops in the field as the only u.s. forces ever in combat between world wars 1 & 2 the Marines were first applying the basic rudiments of close air support during punitive expeditions in Haiti and Nicaragua early South Pacific campaigns in World War two saw the use of close air support on a small scale the concept of marine close air support was refined and perfected both in the organization and execution close air support the game an integral part of Nvidia's operations you Georgia Bougainville Saipan Peleliu the Philippines Iwo Jima and Okinawa all hard-fought fitter campaigns one with the aid of close air support carrier based marine and Navy pilots provided close air support during the initial stages of the invasion as soon as the beachhead airstrip was completed the air units moved ashore and continued to render close support to the ground troops [Music] communications procedures and the tactical organization of close air support units were worked out and proven in these specific battles most team works between ground and air units with mutual understanding of each other's capabilities and limitations was the key to success in coordinated close air support requests for air support were answered now in a matter of minutes pilots laying their bombs napalm gunfire or rockets on the objective often only yards in front of their own troops following World War two the Marines further developed their close air support doctrines the outbreak of war in Korea soon found the Marines ready with their sunday punch new weapons flames and tactics made close air support of potent ally of United Nations forces countering red aggression we have briefly seen how close air support has been developed by the Marines now let's see coordination and teamwork actually make it work it is now d-day plus five the advance of Baker company has been halted by a machine-gun fire from well constructed block houses the company commander takes position where he can observe the enemy installations with him as the forward air controller though not apparent from his uniform the forward air controller is a Marine aviator he is specially trained in the technique of close air support he knows the capabilities of the planes the pilots who fly them as a Marine officer he has been schooled with the man of the infantry units he speaks the language of the foot soldier as well as that of the airmen he is well qualified to initiate coordination between the ground air team later Sevigny commander confers with the forward air controller to request an air strike the battalion commander makes a quick check with his supporting arm Center this Center provides him with liaison with the three major supporting arms artillery naval gun fire and air convinced of their urgent need for an airstrike the battalion commander authorizes Baker Connelly to transmit his request for an airstrike the forward air controller transmits the request directly to the unit that allocates the aircraft the tactical air Direction Center which has already been established ashore in the beach area it's as simple as that the unit that needs the aircraft transmits its request to the unit that has the aircraft at the tactical air Direction center the request is quickly processed so that the close-support airstrike is coordinated and integrated with the fire and maneuver of the Jason infantry or supporting units the air combat intelligence officer checks the request for proximity to frontlines anti-aircraft fire and best route to the target the aircraft which depends on call circling the area are given their instructions by the net controller over very high frequency radio air coordinator who leads the strike and the forward air controller coordinate and work closely together in directing the strike the close coordination and control of close air support missions means the strikes are sufficiently accurate to ensure troop safety when the bombs are dropped only yards in front of the line [Music] [Applause] markets destroy the company moves forward time and lives are saved once again marine close air support has demonstrated its effectiveness strike requested strike deliver the story of marine close air support [Music]