Project CHECO Southeast Asia Report. USAF Reconnaissance in Southeast Asia (1961-66)

Abstract

Abstract : Reconnaissance can be defined as act of observing enemy for purpose of obtaining information about him and his activities. In past, it has been called the eyes of commander, but it has become more than that. Reconnaissance now includes not only visual, but also photographic, infra-red, electronic, and communications intelligence, to name major areas. Perhaps most fascinating aspect of reconnaissance in Southeast Asia is flexibility and imagination shown by Americans, civilian and military, in developing new means of gaining intelligence. Some of these methods involved new equipment, but most were an adaptation of existing equipment to new environments. Thus, Air Force has developed and is continuing to develop, in Southeast Asia, tactics for reconnaissance in counterinsurgency operations in an hostile environment of surface-to-air missiles. The prominence of imagination does not mean that more classic military virtues were ignored. In terms of professionalism, reconnaissance pilots particularly, and support personnel in general, were probably best educated and trained United States has ever sent to war. In dedication, hard work and courage, they have continued highest traditions of U.S. Air Force. Before advent of airplane, reconnaissance was accomplished by patrolling - recon platoon or company, cavalry troop or squadron. The advantages of mobility, speed, and elevated viewing platform provided by aircraft, have been so great that, today, reconnaissance is almost synonymous with aerial reconnaissance. This study will deal only with aerial reconnaissance and, in interest of brevity, only with U.S. Air Force reconnaissance. This is not to indicate that U.S. Navy, U.S. Army, Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF), and Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) have not played a major role. It merely means this paper is limited to presenting a history of USAF Reconnaissance in Southeast Asia.