ARMED HELICOPTER RECONNAISSANCE AND AREA SURVEILLANCE
Abstract
The conclusions and recommendations of the report are substantiated by the operational documentation and are concurred in by this headquarters. The report provides a valid assessment of the armed helicopter when performing aerial reconnaissance and area surveillance in the insurgent environment of Vietnam. The armed helicopter provided the Army of the Republic of Vietnam with an effective means of collecting and reporting combat information in time to permit appropriate combat action. Though this mission required considerable exposure to enemy ground fire, the armed helicopters received few hits. Late arrival of camera equipment precluded an evaluation of the capability of the armed helicopter to provide photographic intelligence. The excellent photography which was obtained on a limited number of missions, however, gives strong indication of a potential in this area. The concept of obtaining photographic reconnaissance by armed helicopters, including the photographic processing, developing and extracting of combat intelligence from the resulting photographs should be further evaluated.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 15, 1965
- Accession Number
- AD0356835