FIELD MARKING EQUIPMENT (DROP ZONE AND NIGHT LANDING)(RDP-60)

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 23, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 12, 2014
• Sequence Number: 35
• Publication Date: December 11, 1951
• Content Type: MEMO

Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for
Release 2014/05/14: NSM I TTAL SLi"
C A-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4
SECURITY INFORMATION
MEMORANDUM FOR THE RECORD
SUBJECT:. . Field Marking Equipment (Drop
Zone and Night Landing)(RDP-60)
u(
11 December 19 1
1. Abstract - This memorandum explains what transpired as a result
of the EE requirement for adequate drop zone marking equipment, placed
with RDD on 4 December 1951. It points out some deficiencies in the pro-
cedure of getting operational problems from the operating people to RDD.
2. On Tuesday, 4 December 1951, EE RDAB representa -50X1
tive, met with the undersigned and posed the following current operational
problem: Personnel losses have been severe in operations involving the
night landing of aircraft for delivery of personnel and eauinment: bonfires
and AN/URC-4 transceivers are used in marking the zone. 50X1
was informed of the status of the special ultraviolet landing system
utilizing fluorescent autocollimators which has workedsatisfactorily in
preliminary operational tests. He was also informed that immediate action
would be initiated to determine whether or not and when this system could
be provided for opperenal use. The action was initiated that same day
in the following-
a. Acting Chief, RDD/TSS, was informed of the problem and asked
whether it could be ascertained that an urgent priority should be as-
signed to this problem. He could not contact the Chief, EE Division,
at the time, but directed that action should be given all possible
impetus, since RDD had an established project, approved 10 October
1951, (although not with such a priority) to provide such equipment.
b. On Wednesday, 5 December, Procurement, was con- 50X1
tacted and asked to telephone, through a cut-out, to Gordon Enter-
prises, 5362 North Cahuenga, North Hollywood, California,--a war sur-
plus dealer who had autocollimators on hand on 1 October 1951--to de-
termine whether any autocollimators could be purchased. It was dis-
covered that this dealer had sold and shipped them to England the
week of 26 November. The dealer said he thought he could get more.
He will call back the week of 17 December.
c. ARC Wing Headquarters, who has been closely 50X1
following the Air Force development of the ultraviolet-autocollimator
landing system, was contacted on 5 and 6 December to investigate the
availability of necessary equipment and the reliability of the system.
SECURITY INFORMATION
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4
He reaffirmed
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4
0 SECURITY INFOUSTION
He reaffirmed the reliability, stating that the autocollimators
could be seen from 1,000 to 2,000 yards away when activated by the
ultraviolet lamp of the aircraft and that good depth perception per-
mitted night landing. He said there are 45 autocollimators at
Mountain Home, of which a quantity could probably be made available
f r emergency operations. He stated that a 50X1
could install the BH-6 or AH-8 ultraviolet lamps, and. asso- 50X1
ciated power equipment, in the aircraft. He said that it would be
possible for to write up specifications for doing the 50X1
wnrk 1111+ rArnmmonAAA that either the work be done at QUA]
r.arNmc%elrlo who witnessed such an installa-
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tion being performed. offered to introduce
1.411"'ipS Branch, as a consultant to ARC Wing Headquarters, to
in order to explore these possibilities.
d. By noon of Thursday, 6 December, it was felt that in a matter
of weeks autocollimators could be made available and that facilities
for installing, or training a technician to insta311 the aircraft
equipment could be provided for implementing the night landing opera-
tions. It was also evident that a more elaborate program could be
shortly underway for providing smaller and better autocollimators
and a standard ultraviolet light installation in the aircraft.
50X1
3. On Thursday morning, 6 December, APB, reported this 50X1
progress to AC-RDD/TSS. Since the work involved in getting this program
in motion required at least a week of concentrated effort, it was felt
that an affirmation of urgency should be obtained from the Chief, EE Di-
vision. The Chief, Acting Chief, and RDAB member of BE Division could
not be reached, but EE-1, was discovered to be the one who 50X1
originally had the problem and was asked to give the details of it and the
priority which should be assigned to it. stated that there was 50X1
no manAant_reguiremant for landing an aircraft at night and that the opera-
tional difficulties experienced were in dropping personnel and equipment at
drop zones. He did not feel, however, that the project should have a triple-
A priority since, except for resupply, the operations would be discontinued
until spring. The system now being used for marking the drop zone is
simply small fires for location and flashlights laid on the ground in the
form of an arrow for giving dropping directions. The pilot has been hav-
ing very great difficulty in locating the zone, usually circling over the
area about eight times before being able to drop his load. Consequently,
the area is well alerted, and the personnel are captured almost as fast
as they land. Another great difficulty seems to be that it is almost im-
possible for a dropped person to locate supplies if dropped with another
parachute.
4. Since the problem of night dropping is radically different from
that of night landing, another solution to the problem was required. Mr.
proposed the use of an infrared beacon. For this purpose he proposes 50X1
to use a Welshback mantle gasoline lamp, feeling that a storage battery is
a very poor way, by comparison, of supplying the energy for the light and
that power in the form of gasoline is more readily available.
SECURITY INFORMATION
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4
He will
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4
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U SECURITY INFORMATION
? He will investigate and expedite, if possible, the procurement of these
lamps and the necessary infrared filters. Although the ultraviolet system
could possibly be of some value in this operation, the aircraft equipment
required would probably violate the sterility of the aircraft being used.
5. It seems evident from the foregoing discussion that planners of
the operation did not avail themselves of the technical assistance at
hand. The original problem, with its actual requirements, was not ac-
curately tranamitted through channels. The requirement should have been
received by RDD/TSS long before it actually was. A formal request, with
a clear indication of the priority which should be assigned, should have
come from the Division Chief. It seems apparent that there exists either
a lack of education of operational personnel as to the capabilities of
RDD or a lack of proper procedure by which operational personnel could
effectively get their requirements to RDD.
A
Applied Physics Branch
Research & Development
Dleince
Distribution:
Addressee - Orig
DLC Chrono - 1
SD/RE - 2
TSS/DD/P - 1
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SECURITY INFORMATION
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Declassified in Part - Sanitized Copy Approved for Release 2014/05/14: CIA-RDP78-03153A001800030035-4