A PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING HIGH-RESOLUTION OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY OVER DENIED AREAS

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: Animal Partners
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 06408441
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 17
• Document Creation Date: September 6, 2019
• Document Release Date: September 12, 2019

Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408441
A PROGRAM FOR PROVIDING
HIGH�RESOLUTION OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPHY -
OVER DENIED AREAS
Approved for Release: 2019/07/30 C06408441
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ABSTRACT
The Office of Research and Development with support
from the Office of Technical Service and the National Photographic
Interpretation Center has demonstrated the ability of homing
pigeons to carry a small 16mm camera.capable of obtaining
high-resolution photography from over-flights. Furthermore,
homing-pigeons have-successfully been taught_to relocate to
a new home. It is,,therefore, feasible to-relocate'homing
pigeons
for subsequent use, to
obtain_timely-photography of denied-areas� The effort
described here provides a program for the selection of
birds, performance documentation, user training and involvement,
and the demonstration of a simulated mission in the Washington,
D.C., area in-,April of 1971.
41.1113311113111Ernalenems6M
PROGRAM OUTLINE
It is well known that homing pigeons will fly many
hundreds of miles, often under adverse weather conditions,
to return to their home lofts. Recent research by ORD has
demonstrated the homing pigeon's ability to carry a sophis-
ticated 16mm camera capable of taking high-resolution
oblique photography. The purpose of the effort described
here is to provide a scientific program for:
a. Selection of high-quality pigeons;
b. Training and documentation;
c. Testing of performance and flight path prediction
accuracy;
��'-'`"1"
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d. Involvement and training of potential user;
e. Simulated missions in the Washington, D.C., area.
As seen in Figure 1, suppliers will provide birds to
These
will be high-quality birds selected for homing and weight-
carrying ability. extenslve training and
flight.path-accurac
be sent to the OTS facility
tests will- be-conducted with user
involvement and evaluation,- Selected birds will then be
by the, user to Mashingto4, D.C. o undergo
simulated,mission-:tests,prior to being taken to operational
sites. It is also seen in Figure 1 that
amMOOD
Alaska, is planned.in_order to measure changes
test at Anchorage,
in performance
that may occur in transport to extreme northern. latitudes,
(i.e., the Soviet Union).
As seen in Figure 2, there are three basic suppliers
with controlled lofts in
The suppliers will obtain birds from various locations from
Florida to Alaska, and some relocation testing will be
conducted by trading birds between the controlled lofts
prior to shipment
of miles
Figure 3 shows the scale
Overflight accuracy tests
will be conducted, using small DF transmitters on the birds
and DF receivers located at various points along the flight
path home. A light aircraft will also be fitted with a DF
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Figure 1: Program Outline
Sept.-Nov.
Bird Suppliers
I
Sept.-Jan. Homing Trapping
Oct.-Feb.
wimmgmannmma
Weights
Feb..-March
Alaska
�
Relocation
Culling/Data
Flight Path Accuracy
Launch Point Experiments
Accuracy/Launch Point Adjustments
Washington, DC
Feb.-April V
Relocation/Culling
Overflight Accuracy Tests
Operational Sites
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Figure 2: Suppliers
Sept.-Nov.
1------
Alaska
Sept.-Nov.
West Coast
Sept.-Nov.
Florida
Relocation
Culling
*Controlled Lofts
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receiver to assist in flight path measurements. Bird-
carried cameras will also be used to establish flight paths
in some cases. Figure 4 shows the loft location
A command post on top of the lab tower will provide
communication for coordinating the field tests.
Table 1 shows the expected transitional quarter costs
($108,000), and Table 2 shows the expected costs for FY-77
as $135,000 of which $70,000 is for ORD and 4$65,000 is for ,
OTS. Neither office has currently budgeted for these FY-77
MWMMA
.costs.
�Ensinansansia
4
OTS SUPPORT
During the T.Q. two basic activities will take place:
A pigeon loft and facilities will be constructed
-0
12. riJ
($3,0,00)Y and
place in
arrive
basic training for handlers will take
For FY-77, the first birds will
in early October and will continue to
arrive through February 1977.
will provide
feeding and exercising of the birds twice daily on a seven-
day-a--week basis plus homi
� �
ii
�
ht training at least three
times a week. Complete records will also be kept. It is
felt that the number of birds at any one time could be as
,Y
.�\
o'
r7J
large as 100, and that- two tull-ti*handlers will be required')
�
.sosinwomesisoguriammar
to perform this service and-ta-as-Sist in flight path accuracy
tests to measure performance.
FY-77 costs,
including'the salary for two hired handlers, is estimated at
$25,000..
4monsimoms.
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ilk
-1
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SE
TABLE ]
ORD T.Q. CONTRACT COSTS
CONTRACTOR
ITEM
COST $
SUB RUNNING
TOTAL TOTAL
Materials & Supplies
,(Biru Lofts/Training)
Purchase of Birds
Aircraft Rental $15/hr
(100 hrs.)
Labor
Travel
500
3,000
1,500
.3,000
2,000
10,000
10,000
10,000
3,000
7,000
5,000
25,000
35,000
'5 Cameras at $2,000 each
Purchase of Birds
Labor and Repair
Travel and Field Support
3,300
;
400
200
3,000
1,600
4,500
3,000
16,000
51,000
4 DF Receivers at $825 each
Eight 1=gr. Transmitters at
$50 each
Three 6-gr. Transmitters at
$65 each
Commo Equipment for Field
Tests
Refit of Aircraft
Labor
Travel
(continued)
,.1
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I
TABLE 1 (CONTINUED)
ORD T.Q. CONTRACT COSTS
CONTRACTOR
I
, ITEM SUB
COST $ TOTAL
RUNNING
TOTAL
Drawings & Doc.
Purchase Birds
Coast)
Labor
Travel
(New Camera)
& West
4,000
4,000 i
! 7,000
5,000 20,000 . 71,000
QRC Support
! 4,000 4,000 4,000
Building Supplies
Labor
2,300 t
700 3,000
: .s.iffezingiss
78,000
Specialized Relocation Training
(
108,000
L
A
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TABLE 2 A
ORD FY-77 CONTRACT COSTS
CONTRACTOR
ITEM SUB RUNNING
COST $, TOTAL TOTAL
Buildng Supplies
yeed
Two Bird Handlers
Transport, Shipping, Misc.
Labor.
Boat Rental
500
500
21,000
1,000
1,009
1,000
25,000 25,000
miummmoom
QRC Support
i38,000
38,000 63,000
ELMENDORF AFB (ALASKA)
Building Supplies
Labor
Gen. Support
1,000
4,000
2,000
7,000 70,000
tnort
U.
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TABLE 2 B ,
OTS FY-77 ESTIMATED COSTS
CONTRACTOR
ITEM SUB RUNNING
COST $ TOTAL TOTAL
30 Cameras ($2,000 each)
Construction of Lofts and
D.C. Test Support
Y-7.\5t
60,000 60,000 60,000
5,000 5,000 65,000
TOTAL. FY-77 COSTS $ 135,000
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01-kj
Four OTS ersonnel, capable of conducting operational
missions, will be given preliminary training
dossonsalo
(about one week) and participate in (or direct) at
least three or four simulated mission tests
These personnel will also require training in handling and
loading of the camera equipment. Five prototype cameras
will be provided by ORD for design verification and initial
tests
OTS should provide
a total of 30 cameras (at an estimated cost of $60,000) to ,
support the ma orit of tests a
and
Washington, D.C.,
"ossmonlanz==asia
OTS will assess the operational quality of tests at
and provide
"IsommIliNeasfILMNOszca:ma
to the Washington, D.C.,
area. OTS will be-responsihia_Lar_awasaucting all tests in ,
_
the Washin ton D C. area as well as the h ndlin of birds
and the maintenance of cameras. ORD will provide assistance,
Iskaismipppummampapseamm
consultation, and analysis during the entire program. OTS
�poormsz.
may participate in (or direct) the test at Elmendorf AFB in
Anchorage,. Alaska, to verify performance at extreme northern.
latitudes.
Two OTS officers- now at
411131=93$111116110121Mnewillir
have been identified as having previous
experience in handling birds.
and
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PROGRAM MANAGEMENT
. During the previous feasibility stage of this program,
the voluntary involvement of NPIC provided technical
evaluation and experimental direction which considerably
improved the photographic product. It is strongly felt
that this final phase of development will require the
involvement of OSI, OWI, and SE as well as that of OTS, ORD,
and NPIC in order to ensure a product of maximum intelligence
value. It.is recommended that the Technical Collection
Team.(TCT TACANA)-be continued, and include
(NPIC), to properly advise and assess the efforts of the
.vogram manager (Dr. Charles Adkins)- and the OTS team
member during the course of this program. Figure 5 shows
the recommended program management structure.
As a matter of policy, humane disposition of all culled
birds will be observed at each of the controlled lofts.
Hpwever,
for the bird loft
and the use of birds in the tests at
Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska. It is expected that
some assistance will be required for the initial contact,
and arrangements with Elmendorf AFB.
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Figure 5: Program Management Structure
TCT
OTS - ORD - NPIC
OSI - OWI - SE
TCT/ORD
Program
Manager
(Adkins)
Bird
Suppliers
TCT/OTS
(Kerr)
Ops Tech
Officers
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OSR SUPPORT
A computer search was performed by the personnel office
to locate Agency employees familiar
was found who
Branch of OSR. His supervisor is
Publications Staff.
with homing pigeons. A
works in the Publications
Chief,
was interviewed, with
s permission, and was found to be quite knowledge-
able in the raising and training of homing pigeons. A summary
of his experience is enclosed. .
was quite
enthusiastic about participating in the program on a full-time
basis. I suggest that Mr. Noel E. Firth, Director, OSR, be
approached to consider the temporary reassignment of
to this program for the period of one year.
be responsible for the loft designs, the training of bird
handlers and operational� personnel,
selection and training of birds.
to this program will be invaluable.
and could supervise the
contribution
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