Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. Tactical Airlift in SEA
Abstract
Tactical airlift supported ground forces which operated in a land where jungles, flooded rice fields, mountains, poor roads, monsoon climate, and enemy activity made other means of supply difficult or impossible. Although such conditions and topography restricted conventional mobility, airlift made the difference and provided the greatest mobility in the history of warfare. Rapid repositioning of forces, rather than retaining large reserves, characterized the tactics employed. Virtually every type of ground unit had been moved into combat and supported logistically by air. General Abrams, Commander of U.S. forces, considered a unit not in contact with the enemy as a potential reserve force--it could be moved by air where needed in minimum time. This last report describes the vital but declining role of tactical airlift in the Southeast Asian war from 1969 through November 1971, a decline attributed to the withdrawal of U.S. forces. On 1 December 1971 the airlift organization, an air division, became a staff directorate of Headquarters 7th Air Force (HQ 7AF). Chapter I summarizes the organizational and control structure which evolved from 1954 through 1968. Chapter II examines the organization and control structure from 1969 through 1971. Chapter III describes the multi-faceted role of airlift. An entire chapter is devoted to Lam Son 719 since it so well typified airlift operations. The training of VNAF air-lift personnel is also treated separately because rapid Vietnamization of the war later became a major objective of U.S. policy in SEA. Chapter VI draws some conclusions concerning the past and future role of tactical airlift.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 15, 1972
- Accession Number
- ADA486688
Entities
People
- Ronald D. Merrell
Organizations
- Pacific Air Forces