 The United States Army presents the Big Picture, an official report produced for the armed forces and the American people. Now, to show you part of the Big Picture, here is Sergeant Stuart Queen. There is an ancient maxim which says that the more things change, the more they are the same. It often comes as a surprise to many of us that, despite the extraordinary changes we've seen in military weapons during our generation, there are basic truths of military science and tactics which have remained unchanged for centuries. One of those basic military truths, mobility, and its application to your modern army is the subject of today's Big Picture. 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. Before the First World War, the horse provided all the tactical mobility the army needed. But then, the balance changed abruptly. We're seen on the battlefield. Trucks replaced wagons, were first tried as combat 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 costly business, even in the days when a dollar was worth a dollar. Adolf Hitler triggered off a whole new concept of moving and shooting. Between firepower and mobility, at a faster pace with a harder punch, he came far down the road toward mechanization. Connoisseurs, the search for information had accelerated because mobility had been improved. And our soldier was again able to move as fast as he could shoot. The army does a good job of moving on roads and highways. Or even without them, the boys can average 20 to 30 miles an hour. Right, vehicles are almost as fast. This happens. 30 miles an hour may become five miles an hour or no miles 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 miles an hour in combat. Let's face it, the next war, if it comes, won't be a 20 or 30 mile an hour war. And we must assume that our potential enemies have just as much firepower as we have. We 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. We must find a way to make our fighting force superior to theirs. How will we do this? One way, mobility through 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 feet up or even 2,000 feet up, but the air just above the treetops or, better yet, between the trees. 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 soldier win on the battlefield. Those 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 done. Day's helicopter is not the ultimate all-purpose 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. Larger helicopters are equally versatile. They are flown night and day to teach army aviators the tactics and techniques for our air-mobile future. 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 fields and to take off with a brief run over very steep barriers. Many techniques have been devised by army aviators. Paradrop of supplies is an old fixed-wing plane. Newer jobs for aviation is in collaboration with the missile command. The honest John Rocket is air transportable, so is its launching equipment. Thus, in a matter of minutes, a critically needed rocket can be hauled to a launching site and fired. 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. We will go to a command post where the key officers of a division are being briefed. Besides one more point here, gentlemen. Helicopters are arriving tomorrow at 05-30 hours, the 18th, the land in the respective areas which we've already designated. Aircraft will be ready for loading immediately upon landing. Precisely at 05-30, the Choctaws fly in from the division's base airfield. Smoke pots mark the pickup site, and each pilot knows exactly where to touch down. Trem a good night's sleep and a hot breakfast. Our troops will arrive at their battle site 20 or 30 miles away with a full head of steam, not with their keen edge dulled by an exhausting march. The heavy weapons are loaded aboard powerful mojaves to be carried directly to the battle area. The Choctaws are picking up their loads. They can easily carry a jeep with a recoilless rifle. Each with its load of fully equipped fighting men, till the forward observer is directing a continual barrage to soften up the enemy's resistance. 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 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. Since party calls the next turn, complete the softening up process with a barrage of rockets for years near the battle area, winging over terrain obstacles impassable for troops on the ground. Those are ready, their tension mounting as the moment of combat approaches. It's the enemy down. Born infantry, a free and unchallenged minute or two to pile out an organized. This is army aviation paying off. Our men are landed practically on their objective, fresh and ready to go. 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. Wool brings out a reserve of small arms ammunition followed by more jeep-mounted recoilless rifles to reinforce the attack. Buying over the area, a battle surveillance observer keeps tabs on the enemy. Information is thus gained on enemy strong points, reinforcements and gun emplacements. The force of battle is available to the ground commander, giving him an extra pair of all-seeing eyes. The troops push forward toward their initial objective, ammunition and are covering the advancing soldiers and set up fields of fight. He's anticipated the attack and has saved a Sunday punch for the infantry. 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 and fixed wing planes to an assembly point for helicopter delivery to the battle scene. It's the Otter, 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. Ferry continues its shuttle, bringing more equipment and the reserves who were delivered to the assembly area in Otter's. Through and join the assault. Casualties, but our Mojave's are ready. Within minutes, our wounded will be in rear area hospitals receiving life-saving medical attention. The division surges forward. Buying soldiers still have an extra bonus of energy and will to win is broken. The victory is ours. So far, we have seen more tactical applications of existing army aircraft to the military problem of fire and maneuver. New as this equipment is. Still newer aircraft are under development. In response to the lessons learned by army commanders in maneuvers, such as those you've just seen. Now let's visit some aircraft plants around the country for a look into tomorrow. First, we'll go to Fort Worth, Texas where the Iroquois helicopter is being built. This is the first aircraft designed specifically for army use and the first helicopter designed to use a gas turbine engine. It represents a significant breakthrough in the state of helicopter development. 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. Being built especially for army observation, used to help the ground commander locate targets on the fast moving battlefield 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 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 altitudes at which they will be flying. It is to be equipped with the latest in 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 cockpit. When pictures are taken, this outer panel opens and closes automatically. After 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. 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. Tilt wing 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 towards 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 width. Next to Toronto Canada to see the first flying model of the caribou. Several caribou's will be purchased by the army for testing as a battlefield troop and cargo carrier. Arch with General Easterbrook as the caribou is put through its paces. The remarkable feature of the caribou is its extremely short takeoff and landing ability. Watch this. Capable of carrying 28 combat troops. With this load it can fly close to 400 miles without refueling. Thus as an air ferry a single caribou will be able to haul hundreds of men short distances without refueling. Will operate in rough country without prepared strips. For this 10 ton plus airplane fares only 500 feet from touchdown to a full 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. 25 years ago, the army cavalry still relied on the horse formability. As had Gangescon centuries before. In World War II, the army traded in its horses for tanks and developed powerful armored divisions and armored cavalry regiments to give it the mobility essential to victory. Following VJ Day, the helicopter began making its appearance in army maneuvers and by the time of the Korean War was ready to provide army commanders with the means of rapidly moving supplies over areas inaccessible to ground vehicles. It also proved invaluable in the rapid evacuation of wounded directly from the battlefield to hospitals in the rear. Army aviation also served widely for reconnaissance and surveillance. In short, it had become an integral part of the combat scene. Success of the army on a future battlefield will depend largely upon its ability to move swiftly and decisively. In this field, army air vehicles will undoubtedly play a vital part. Now, this is Sergeant Stuart Queen, your host for the Big Picture. The Big Picture is an official report for the armed forces and the American people. Produced by the Army Pictorial Center. Presented by the Department of the Army in cooperation with this station.