COMMON)

AIR PHOTOGRAPHIC AND CHARTING SKRIFICS

Brig. Oen. (then Col.) Brooke B. Allen*

Brig. Oen. Ethrinit, -Day

Col. William S. Barksdale, Jr.

Maj.,(then Brig.) Gen. Clifford

Brig. Oen. %bort N. Hall

1 April 1951. - 21 SePtelear 1952

24 September 1952 - 28 February 1958

1 March 1958 20 Mar& 1958.

•

20 Mara 1958 - 31 July 1962

1 August 1962 -

*Promoted to Brigadier General on 9 Ootobwr 1951.

**Promoted to Major Generaloil 1 July 1961.
1 April 1951

27 November 1951

3.6 April 1952

3.1 May 1952

August 1952

-7 December 1952

1 Nay 19511

May 1955

Establishment of the Air

Pictorial Service (APS)

at Washington, D. C.,

under direct control of the

Chief of Staff, USAF.

Ileadqvartaii - APS moved from

Washington to Philadelphia,

Pa.

APS redesignated as the Air

Photographic and Charting

Service(APCS) and assigned

to NHS.

Aeronautical Chart and

Infornetiin Service (ACIS)

transferred from Air Materiel

Command to RATS, and then

reassigned to APCS.

ACTS redesignated Aeronautical

Chart and Information Center

(ACIC) on 1 August 1952.

Iq ACIC moved from Washington

to St. Louis, Novon 33 August

1952. .

Headquarters APCS transferred

true Philadelphia to Orlando AFB,

APCS assigned USAF photo-mapping

and electronic surveying responsibilities.

(SIVRAN,whiah later became HIRAI)

Geodetic )ftssionvas transferred

from SAC to MATS, and then assigned

to APCS, et about the same time.)

APCS assumed general monitorihip of the NCO Academy (MATS).
2

APCS was directed by Headquarters

USAF to sane' responsibility for

missile-site sarvey. Since the

number oUgeodosiste in the Air

Farce was then limited, the

Consand, through contract, arranged

for its initial assignments to

be carried out by tens from the

DS Coast and Geodetic Survey.

Oredual enlargement of this phase

of.its mission led to the establishment of Operating Location 1,

1370IR Photo-Mapping Croup, at

Orlando Air Force Bass, on 27 Munk

1958. Although this 010 was attached

to Headquarters APCS for operational

control, monitorship of the unit

was exercised by the Aerial Survey

Division of DM/Operations. In

September 1958, this OL was replaced

by Operating location 1, 1373d

Mapping and Charting Sonadron.

which later provided logistical

support for it.

•integration of the ZI regional

film exchenges into a central

operating facility at St. Louis, Mo.

under the 1356th Film Library Plight,

was completed in the cloutse of this

period.

Iseponsibility, fte giving photographic support to missile divisions

in ARDC test firings and in SAC

training and operational launchings

at Vandenberg Air Force Bass, Calif.,

was assigned to APCS in the summer

of 1958. This phase of its mission

vas delegated to the 1352d Notion

Picture Squadron, which organised

An operating location at Vandent

o (then Cooks APB) on 11 July .
tit 3

August-November 1958

1 January 2959

1 February 1959

Additional photographic documentation of AT missile launchings at'

Cape Canaveral, Fla., was made a

requirement of APCS. Service of

this type, on a small scale, had

been furnished for sump time. However, on 1 NoveMber 1958, an

Operating location of the 1365th

Photographic Group was organized

at Patrick AFB, Fla., to meet this

requirement.

Air Airco Film Library Center was

established at St. Loulit,'No., for

conduct of AF film-library activities

inthe Uhited States and overseas

areas. This . authorisation of a name

for the operational phase of the

1356th File Library Flight emphasised

the recent consolidation of its exchange function and indicated more

exactly the character of the service

rendered. Since the Flight Would

cantinas to provide administrative

eery/castor the entire organization,

the designation of the unit as a

whole was not affected by this action.

Detachment 1, 1352d Motion Picture

Squadron, was organized at Vandenberg AFB, Calif, to meet the growing

demand for photographic' coverage of

Miele activities at that base.

(Concurrently, CL 1, 1352d w Squadron, in service there for the previous

six months, was discontinued.)

Mid-February 195, Announcement of the inactivation of

Palm Beach AFB, Fla, in early 1959,

led to transfer of the 1370th PhotoNapping Group and five of its squadrons from that installation to TUrner

AFB, Da., in mid-February of that

year.* Since facilities far the

Group's photographic 'Moreton were

not then available at the new station,

this function was retained at Palm

Beach APB, as an opprating location

of the 1373d Mapping and Charting

Squadron, until the fall of 1961.

*An additiOnal component, the 1375th Mapping and Charting Squadron, was activated,

at Turner, prior to the transfer.
1 April 1959

1 July 1959

10 July 1959

1 January 1960

1 April 1960

Detachment 2, 1352d Motion Picture Swaim,

organised at Ent AFB, Colo., to provide

photographic documwntation for missile bases

being constructed in the nertb-central and

northwestern United States. This unit also

would cover events at the Air Force Academy.

y

The expanding workload and complexity of

/ missile-sit, survey Operationeled to replacement of OL 1, 1373d Mapping and Charting

Squadron, by the 1381st %eidetic Survey

Squadron (Missile), organised at Orlando APB

on 1 July 1959. The mission of the newly

established unit consisted in the performance

of geodetic, astronosdb, and gravity surveys

on a worldwide basis.

As a means of furnishing better photographic

service to Headquarters Pacific Air Forces,

the 1362d Photographic Fli g ht was transferred from Yokota AB, Japan, to Sicken AFB,

Concurrently, a detachment of the

1362d Photographic Flight was established

at Yokota, to provide documentary photographic coverage in Japan and neighboring

areas.

Due to expansion of its mission, the 1370th

PhotO-Napping Croup was redesignated as a

Wing. During the newt few months, some

organisational changes within the unit also

were made.

As a result of negotiations between APCS

and Alaskan Air Command, transfer. of the

Alaska Branch Film Library, at Blmendorf

APB, to direct operational Control of the

Air Force Film Library Center was effected

onlhis date. The neWly acquired facility,

redesignated as the Air Force Film Library

(Alaska), become detachment of the 1356th

Film Library Flight (later Squadron).* This

action reflected the trend toward establishsent of a closer rislationship between the

OM and regional libraries—as a means of

furthering prompt distribution of films and

wider use of associated audio-visual aids.

*change of. designation from Flight to Squadron was effected 1 July 1960.
5

Continuing requirements for a geodetic

surviving capability at Vandebberg Air

Force Base led to organisation of Detachmeat 1, 1381st Geodetic Survey Squadron

(Missile) at that installation.

In order to realign and standardise its

photographic units and to reduce the number

reporting direct/7 to its headquarters,

11121--with the approval of Headquarters,

!(STS--undertook reorganisation of these

components. In broad terns, the basic still

and motiaa-picture capacity of APC8 would,

after 1 July 1960, consist of two large

photographic squadrome.-th.1365th, at Orlando

Air, enticing the eastern United States and

Immo, and the 1352d, at Lookout Mauitain

Air Force SULU(%) meeting the needs of the

western half of the country and the Pacific

area. Detach ants of these units mould

document miasile activities at Caps Canaveral and Vandenberg APB, uhile other elements,

strategically stationed around the globe,

mould aid in the fulfillment of their Mission.

APCS responsibility for the Aeronautical

Chart and Infoimation Caster was transferred

to Headquarters USAF, effective 1 July 1960.

As a result of the pending realignment of

photographic units, the expansion of geodetic-

's:my and photographic activities, and the

forthcoming transfer of ACIC, a nu;ber of

changes were made, in the Office' of DCS/OperatiOns, Headquarters APCS, in April 1960.

Indluded in the reorganisation were the

following actions:

%designation of DCS/Operations

as DCS/Geodesy and Cartography.

Establishment of the Directorate

of Development Planning, (iron the

preVicus Development Planning Division

of DCS/Operations).

co Designation ofDCS/Photographv

(frost the former Photographic Division

of DCHAperations).
6

In•the interest of economy and sound

management, Headquarters USAF announced.

in the spring of 1960, that flying activities scheduled at Orlando Air Force

Base would be transferred from the

Orlando NencipmlAirTort to NoCoyAFB,

Fla., on 1 July 1960. Since operational

control of the aircraft would, be retained

by the 1360th Air Bees Squadron (1360th

Air Base Group), a detachment of the

1360tINateria Squadron was organised

at McCoy, to provide maintenance support

for these planes.

Activation of the Bile Fill Library,

Orlando Air Force Base, Fla.

In late 1958, the requirement to establish

a capability for documentation of SAC

coast and ocabat4reining activities had

been *twinned to APCS. This responsibility',

toefenteemvalthetted. male, was eventually

smithy statimuNi ptotegraphic teams of the

1365th Photographic Stiroidron'at certain SAC

airfields, on a perssupst• eseic( Locations

ielected for the purpose vire Offutt AFB,

Web. (mg SAC); itarch-APB;'ciait:

FirtimonthAl); Westover AFB,Nems.94 1 Sighth'

'AP); and Barksdale APB, La: (Ng, Second AF).

Because of the impact of this action upon

photographic resources within APCS, it

was decided to organise these detachments .

over a period of monthou-Aogust to November

1960-sratber than to'establish the four

simaltansouslf.

She film-depository function of the 1350th

Notion Picture Squadron was designated the

DSO Notion Picture Film Depository, as a

named activity at Wright-Patterson APB, Ohio,

with finil assignment to the:1350th /V

Squadron.
7.

fo*

1 December 1960..3. July 1963.

1 July 1961•

Augast*Septaber 1961

By direction from Beadquarters USAF, the

Air Photographic and Charting Service,

in the fall of 1960, was assigned reopen.

ability for the. procurement and/or pro..

dectden of training films urgently needed

in the Weepon/Sipport Training lila Program.

Oa 1 Diromeher, this mission lams delegated

to 9m: 3365th. Photographic Squadron and

performed, for the non seven months, by

personnel sent TES to Wright...Patterson Air

Force Base. Bimini* ot pending cheap* in

the photographic operational requirements

of APCS, this responsibility was transferred

to 3350th Motion Picture Squadron at Wright-.

Patterson IFB, on 3 July 1961.

With the trans!** of MATS aircraft and

siçpartiug authorisations to McCoy Air Force

under the • Single Manager PrOgram,

effective 1 July' 1963., Detachment 1, 1360th

Material Squadrons was discontinued.

In directives twat Headquarters MATS, AP=

was infonmed that the complexities of mill.

tarp personnel accounting, adadaistration

and control, coupled with the limited number

of lled technicians and supervisors

available fomi. tbe accomplishment of these

functions, had resulted in the decision to

consolidate and mechanise this work at the

operating Wing or Base level. Simms the

program had been established as a shortraoge Command project, the consolidation

of records of £108 'units located at Orlando

APS had been completed by 1 December 1961.

In the summer of 3962, consolidation of AIM

records in the Orlando 0810 was concluded

by transfer of personnel files of the 1352d

Photographic Croup in Jane, and those of the

following units in July-..the 1350th Motion

Picture Squadron; the 1356th Fill Library Squadron; Detachment 3, 1365th Photographic

Squadron; and Detachment 1, APCS. The 1370th

Paeto.Napping Wing would, however maintain

a mechanised CPO of its own. Mechan isation

of both offices had been postponed by delay

in obtaining necessary equipment. Delivery

had recently been rescheduled for midNovember.
8

23 October 1961

1 January 1962

Detachment 1, 1373d Mapping and Charting

Squadron was transferred from Palm Beach

APB, Fla., to TUrner Ar

e!, Gas. in'anticipation of movement of the entire squadron

into the new Geodetic Production and

Analysis Center, then under construction.

The departure from the 'Florida base was,

however, hastened by transfer of the property at Pale Beach An from the Department of the Air Force to the Department

of the Army, on 13 May 1960.

Redesignation of the 1352d Photographic

Squadron as Headquarters, 1352d Photographic Group, at Lookout Mountain APT,

Calif, took place. At that time its

five detachments were renumbered.

On the same date, the 1369th Photographic

Squadron was designated and organised at

Vandenberg AFB, with assignment to the

1352d Photographic Group. (Concurrently,

its antecedent, Detachment 1, 1352d PhotograOhic Squadron, was discontinued.)

31 January 1962 Detachment 2, ]365th Photographic squadron,

was discontinued at Patrick AR; Fla.

1 June 1962 Detachment 1, Headquarters APCS, was

organised at Wright-Patterson APB, as

a result of the transfer of the commercial

motion-picture procurement function from

the Air Force Logistical Command to yrs

(through*MITS). In assuming this respon=

sibility, APCS gained 17 civilian and two

officer spaces from EFIC. (The choice of

base was determined largely by the sUbstantial amount of support that would be

required for the Systems Project Office

Program.

With the organisation of its netachment ls

APCS also assumed responsibility for support

of the Weapon SystemsProJect Cffice (WaT),

an undertaking conducted by the 1350th MP

Squadron during the previms year.
9

5 June 1962

1 Jul 1962

1 July 1962

1 July 1962

Dedication of the Geodetic Production and

Analysis Center of the 1370th Photo-Mapping

gang, at Turner AFB, Oa. This unique building, containing the latest photographic and

geodetic equipment obtainable, housed the

1373d Mapping and Charting Squadron, is well

as the Turner Air Force Bass Photo Laboratory.

Detachment 3-1, 1365th Photographic Squadron,

was discontinued at West Ruislip RAF, ragland. Four of its camenumnsware transferred

to the Squadron's detachment at Lindsey Air

Station, Germany, to augment that unit.

Photographic coverage of events lathe nnited

Kingdom goad, in the future, be furnished

by personnel true that station.

To provide photographic support to Hq, Tactical Air Command, Detachment 8, 1365th

Photographic Squadron, was designated and

organised at lengley IFS, Vs. One officer

was assigned to this unit as an APCS Liaison

Office; with Headquarters TAG, Initially,

photographic service was to be supplied by

the 1365th on a TD! basis.

To the 1350th Motion Picture Squadron were

assigned two specialised in-service production

programer

a. AF Systems Command Staff Film Report

and the AFRO Annual Film Report.

b. Photographic support to the Aeronautical Systems Division (WADD). These programs

could be moat advantageously conducted at

Wright-Patterson AIR, since they were largely

concerned with systems progress and engineer-

. ing report films produced from stock footage

available there.

1 October 1962 For organisation and location of five addi- .

tional detachments of the 1381st Geodetic

Survey Squadron (Missile), per MATS, SO

0-108, 9 Aug 19627, see page 16 for details.
APCS ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the conduct of its, unique mission, the Air Photographic and Charting

Service has been credited with a long list of outstanding accomplishments.

A general idea of the value of the various services that this complex command

performs is indicated by the following adhievementes

Nuclear tuts (19049581 19624962)

Photographic documentation of this laportant series -- a responsibility

AU* the embryonic APCS inherited at the time of its establishment -- has

been carried out successfully over a period of years at the Pacific Proving

Grounds and Nevada Test Site by its 1352d Photographic Group (formerbr Squadron).*

Photographic documentation of the Air Force Special Weapons Project also

became a task assigned to APCS in the early months of its existence.

Establishment of. Geodetic Ties •

Atlantic Missile Range Mirror!

One of.theAnitiai projects undertaken by the 1370th Photo-Napping

Group (later Ming)," then stationed at Palm Beach Air Force Base, Florida,

consisted in an aerial softy oflhe Atlantic Missile Range. Adjustment of

the network, which connected previously isolated land masses, decidedly increased the over-all calibration accuracy of the range.

As an example of the geodetic errors found lathe survey, the Grand

Bahama Island, lying 60 miles off the Florida coast, was shown to be six miles

cut of r^nition. Cubs was misplaced by a .6 mile, end other islands also were

erroneously represented on charts. All geodetic positions were corrected,

and uracalng stations subsequently relocated to first-order accuracy.

North Atlantic Tie 

In 1956, Aerial Survey Teams (AST's) of the 1370th PbotO-Napping

Group succeeded in linking the North Atlantic datum system with that of

Europe. This substantial achievement made possible the establishment of

a true direction-and-distance relatimu*dptetween points on the two continents.

*Change of designation was made effective on 1 January 1962.

"Redesignation of the 1370th.Photo4lapping Group as a Wing took place on

1 January 1960.

10
Mid-Pacific Aerial Survey

In late 1958, the 1370th Photo-Mapping Group deployed, to the Naval

Air Station on Kwajalein (in the Narshalls), an AST responsible for conduct

of an aerial survey in the central Pacific. Six weeks later, the small team

began operations, with tour BB-50 , s, a C-54, and the support of a Navy LS?

and helicopter.

By the end of December, the required 25 lines of the Hiram net connecting Wake, Eniwetok, and the Taongi Islands had been established. In

attempts to position the. Hiram net in asimuth through sightings on nightflare drops, coupled with astro-gravimetric Observations, the AST was assisted

onihe ground and in the air -- by personnel from the Army Map Service.

Accomplishment or this phase of the mission was, however, hindered by adverse

weather conditions. As a consequence, completion of the project was delayed

until Nay of the following year.

Cuba-Central America Tie 

This Caribbean net, also known as the neaten Tie, was accomplished

by an AST of the same organisation employing two BB-50's. Beginning operations on 1 September 1959 and using the Naval Air Station at Key West, Florida,

as a staging area, the aircraft flew a total of 59 missions. With cceputations

to be made at its home station -- then Turner Air Force Bass, Georgia -- the

AST had concluded its work by the close of that year. In the course of this

project, one of the flight crews brought back the longest ifiran measurement

made up to that time -• a distance of more than 560 statute miles.

Japan-Taiwan ( Formosa) Tie

In October 1959, a small detachment from the 1370th Photo-Mapping

Wing (then Group) ww resumed work on a Hiram survey stretching from Japan southward through the Ryukyu to Okinawa, and then westward to Taiwan. Flying RB-50

aircraft based at Clark Air Base in the Philippines and using Kadena Air Base,

Okinawa, as a staging area, the crews developed a 37-line network involving

twelve ground stations. Through strenuous effort, the team completed its

assignment by the end of February 1960, thus establishing a geodetic tie between

the Tokyo and Koshisan datums.

Brazil-Venezuela Tie 

The task of accomplishing a precise geodetic tie across a large gap

in the existing ground triangulation of northeastern South America was undertaken by an AST of the 1370th Photo-Mapping ring in April 1960. Included in

the area to be surveyed -- a strip 1,700 miles long and 500 miles wide --were

the mouths of the Amazon and Orinoco Rivers, the rainforest belt, and selected

jungle, savannah, and mountain regions of Venezuela, British Guiana, Surinam,

French Guiana and Brazil. Using Atkinson Field, British Guiana, as an operational base and Belem Brazil, as a staging area and supply point for ground

stations, this AST, by 30 June 1962, had completed 73 percent of the 194 Hiram

measurements required. This electronic-survey project represented the longest

411370th Photo-Mapping Group was transferred from Pais Beach A?!, Fla., to Turner

APB, Ga., in February 1959.

For change of designation, see page 10.
overland tie ever attempted by such a method.

In connection with the triltteration net, gravity-reference studies and •

astronomic positioning in azimuth have been conducted by attached personnel

from the Inter-American Geodetic Survey and the 1381st Geodetic Survey Squadron

(Wisils). Also an integral part of the project has been the precise, visual

photographic mapping of large areas, tied to the Hiran net by means of aerial

electronic-controlled photographic crossflights. A total of 19,881 linear

miles of photography has been assigned.

Eastern Pacific Tie

Equipped with three BB-50 1 s and one C•54, a 138-man team from the

1370th PhotoAapping Wing was deployed to Hie am Air Force Base, Hawaii, in

July. 1961, to conduct an aerial survey designed to establish a common datum

for islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. In addition, Midway. and Johnston

Islands were to be geodetically positioned in relation to this chain.

The project consisted of 56 Hiran measurements. Since the lOngonarrow

network had no connection with any Iodating datum, it was necessary to ascertain

the astronomic azimuth of 16 of its lines. Determination of 11 of these was

accomplished by the AS? -- with the assistance of Army Map Service personnel

--through use of Soden° ligttrerossing technique. This method, relatively

recently employed by the 1370th, is dependent upon the simultaneous sighting

of a bright light, mounted under the fuselage of an aircraft flown midway

between two ground stations, %thick are equipped with azimuth measuring instruments. The five remaining azimuth determinations were accomplished by personnel

from the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey. By 30 June 1962, the field phase of

the project had virtually been concluded.

Southwest Pacific Aerial Survey

In late March 1962, an AST, with three BB-50 4 s and a complement of 1110

men, was deployed by the 1370th Photo4 appingWing to Andersen Air Force Base,

Guam. Beginning operations at the end at that month, the team has, as its

objective, the exact positiOning of each of the principal groups of the B.S.

Trust Islands within a anion datum.

Personnel of the Air Weather Service are assisting the AST in collecting

necessary meteorological information in the mission area. Moaners of'the Army

Map Service also are working closely with the team in measuring the Sodano

azimuth between selected ground stations.

This project represents one phase of a larger cartographic operation

that is to be carried out in the Southwest Pacific.
Cal

13

Aerial Photoaranhic Mapping

In the course of years, teams from the 1370th Photo-Mapping Wing have

completed the aerial photo-mopping of large land areas, including airfields,

cities, harbors and designated sites in the Zone of the Interior and US-oversee possessions. Under terms or special agreement, similar missions have

been carried out in foreign countries around the globe. Presently, for

example, an AST operating from Bogota, Colombia, and another using Lima, Peru

as abase are engaged in missions of this type. The resulting data will be

used in the revision of existing maps, and in the compilation of charts for

regions within the two countries not previously covered cartographically.

That the amount of photographic mapping accomplished annually by the Wing

represents a global effort of siseable proportions is shown by the figures for

the fiscal year 1962 -- a total of approximately 270,000 square miles covered

during that period.

,9^SCia1 Missions

In the course of years, members of the 1370th Photo-Napping Wing have

flown a number of special missions of a humanitarian character. The following

four, carried out in 1961, will serve as illustrations:

Rescue of Shipwrecked Seamen

On hi January 1961, an BB-50 crew, from the Wing's Aerial Survey Team

based in the Canal Zone, engaged in a 941-hour search for survivors of two shipwrecks that had occurred in the Caribbean Sea on the first and sixth of that

... .. , ua n ca . :4 , • II two men

and a half-sod en schooner on a barren reef 2Z miles northwest of Pammea. A

raft and survival kits were dropped, and messages ware sent to two ships in the

vicinity. While the nearer vessel approached the island and rescued the seamen,

the aircraft circled overhead and transmitted reports to the Panama radio station.

On the hameward flight, a life raft, with several persons waving frantically,

was sighted. The aircraft commander immediately alerted ships in the area. One

of these promptly altered its carves to rescue three mariners, who had been adrift

for more than eight days. The success of the AST members in locating the two

groups of survivors was considered especially noteworthy, inasmuch as the failure

of previous wide-spread USAF and Naval searches had led to the belief that all

persons aboard the sunken vessels had perished.

Airlift of Injured Scientists

At the request of the United States consul in Belem, Brasil, the 1370th's

AST stationed at Atkinson Field, British Guiana, undertook the rescue of two

Brazilian scientists, who had been severely injured when their canoe was swept

over a waterfall on the Jari River, a large tributary of the Amason. The actual

mission -- which involved the airlifting of the two men from the village of Santo

Antonio, the scene of the accident, to Porto de Nos, a 100 miles away -- was

carried out in early September 1961, by a crew of the AST's N-21 helicopter operating from Santarem, Brazil, on the Amazon River.
"Food for Peace" Flights

Two special missions were flown on 9 and 12 October 1961-by personnel

from the 1370th's Bogotkhased AST* in RC-130 type of aircraft. These flights,

from Lima to Juliana, Peru were the first made in connection with the State

Department's "Food for Peace" program -- a project designed to provide meals

for school children. On both . days, the planes transported food and officials

of Peru and the United States.

Disaster-Support Flights

On 1 November of that year, an RC-130 of the same AST engaged in initial

eisaster-support flighty made between Albrook Ars in the Canal Zone and Belize

British Honduras. These operations, directed by the Commander-in-Chief, Caribbean

Air Command, provided relief for areas suffering from the destructiOn caused by

"Hurricane Hattie".

Missile Launch-Site Surveys

Beginning aperatiorein 1958;* under the tutelage of experienced teams from

the U.S. Coast and Geodetic. Survey's - the 1381st Geodetic Survey Squadron (Missile) --

orginally an operating location -- seen acquired skill, gained strength, and

developed a training program well suited to its needs. Many of its activities --

by their very nature -- bear classification. However, a few unclassified examples

will illustrate the scope of the unit's accomplishmerte and indicate the types of

operations'in which it is presently engaged.

Early Operations

Initially, the organization was made responsible for geodetic surveys in

support of the TOR program in the United Kingdom and the location of launch sites

for ATLAS missiles in California. As a larger number of trained personnel became

available, it was possible for the unit to meet operational commitments brought

on by the JUPITER project in southern Europe, the need for locating W861174 Data

Acquisition and Tracking Units in the Pacific, and the establishmentof launch

sites for the MACS in western Europe and on islands of the Pacific.**

Later Assignments

Not all projects subsequently assigned to the Squadron took its teams so

far afield. Support given to the HOUND DOG program, for example, consisted in surveying sites for service shops and training facilities to be used in connection with

GAM 77 missiles. The required•informition pertained primarily to the determination

of azimuths and the positioning of stations -- all of them spread across the Uni.t4A

States, with the exception of one in Puerto Rico. Effort expended in furtherance of

the SNARE program also was related to the selection of locations for assembly and

checkout buildings in the United States. These projects, like all others undertzken

*See p,2 of this emmmary.

**In some areas, the MACE replaced the MATADOR.
15

by the Squadron, were accomplished in three stages -- reconnaissance of the

designated areas, deployment ofearvey teams, and the preparation and distribution of data sheets.

With the rapid expansion of missile-testing operations at Vandenberg Air Force Base the demand for missile surveys there and at other wisst

coast locations added substantially to the workload of the unit. A continuing

need for this type of service was met by organization of the Squadron's Detachment 1 at VAFB in April 1960.* Since that time, the mission of this unit was

enlarged by the assignment of two similar requirements -- the providing of

surveys for TITAN and MINUTEMAN locations and the positioning of radar sites

and BOMARC and NIKE emplacements pertaining to the SAGE Project.**

. tame tasks assigned to the Squadron have been carried out in conjunction with the work of aerialsurmarteams from the 1370th Photo-Mapping Wing.

In establishment of the Cuba-Central America Tie, : for example, personnel from

the 1381st Squadron supplied astronomic surveys for the ten Riran ground stations

in the trilateration pattern. An associated undertaking consisted in the determination of a gravity.-reference net extending through Central America, across

the northern countries of South America, and into Brazil. Ibis endeavor noes.

sitated the establishment of 91 gravity stations -- a substantial contribution

to the World-Wide Gravity Project sponsored by the U.S. Air Force.

Within the past year, the number of projects in which stellar cameras

could be employed to advantage has increased decidedly a trend noted within

the unit by the formation of its Stellar Camera Division, in the fall of 1961.

One of the principal undertakings in Which. these mull groups are playing an

important part is Project ANNA, a joint service program designed, in cooperation,

with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, to maintain in orbit

a satellite from which both geodetic and geophysical data can be obtained.

Participation by APCS -- one of the three prime Air Force agencies *** responsible for conduct of this experiment -- consists largely of stellar-camera

operations conducted by these teams at selected tracking stations around the

world.

For some time, missile-site survey operations in the north-central.

and western United States, along with periodic checks required to insure the

continued accuracy of previously established positionestave necessitated the

maintenance of a large number of 1381st personnel in those areas. Since the

cost of carrying so many members of the unit on TDT status represented a

substantial sum, it was decided, on the basis of both efficiency and economy,

*tee p.5 above.

**Abbreviation for Semi-Automatic Ground Environment.

Other agencies are the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center and the Air

Force Cambridge Research Laboratories.
kut

16

to organize the following detachments of the Squadron on 1 October 1962, at

the installations indicated:*

Detachment 2

Detachment 3

Detachment 4

Detachment 5

Detachment 6

Malmstrom AI'S, Montana

Minot AFB, North Dakota

Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota

Whiteman AFB, Missouri

Francis E. Warren AFB, Wyoming

Photographic Prolects and Programs

The multiple photographic services which APCS provides for the Mr Force

and allied agencies are too numerous to be mentioned in detail. A few examples

of outstanding accomplishments in various fields of photographic endeavor will,

however, indicate the capabilities of the Command's tar-flung units and the

success with which their efforts are attended. This phase of the APCS mission

is carried out by two large components the 1365th Photographic Squadron and

its seven detachments, which furnish coverage for the eastern United States

and Europe; and the 1352d Photographic Group, composed of the 1369th Alotographic Squadron, three detachments, and several minor dependencies, which

meet the needs of the western half of the United States and Pacific areas.

Continuing Programs 

Maintained on a continuing basis is The Air Force Story, (SFP 263)

a motion-picture program with a designation that is self-explanatory. At the

close of 1958, Volume I -- a sequence of 26 films, carrying the narrative to

June 1950 -- had been cc,mpleted. Since then, the early chapters of Volume II

have appeared -- the initial one entitled "The Air Force and the Atom Bcmb",

and the next three dealing with different phases of the Korean Conflict.

Recently released were three additions to the postwar series: "Our World-Wide

Air Force" (Chap V); "Entering the Eta of Missiles" (Chap VI); and "The Air

Force Academy" (Chap VII). In progress is "Aerospace Medicine" (Chap VIII).

SUpplementary aspects of the narrative will be added as need arises.

Most widely known of the regularly scheduled projects is the .=

Force News Review, compiled from documentary footage made by APCS in-service

photo units, and distributed throughout the Air Force for screening at

monthly Commander's Call assemblies. Of these productions AFNR 49 (December

3959) attracted special attention, not only on account of the excellence of the

film, but because it was the first of the series to be produced in color.

Thereafter, issuance of the December report in color was established as an

annual feature of the program. Since these films are limited to 14i minutes

and are both informative and entertaining, AFNR's released for public viewing

are often included in the schedules of television stations.

*MATS, SO 0-108, 9 Aug 1962.
17

Another monthly project is the AFSC Staff Film Report, prepared from

clips selected by the Air Force Systems Command from two main sources — photographic material furnished by AFSC contractors and centers * and that produced

by APCS units. By the end of September 1962, Report No. 100 in this category

had been completed. Also provided for the same agency is the AFSC Annual

Activities Report, a yearly summary of its varied research and development

programs.

Two film reports are furniabed periodically to the Deputy Commander

for Aerospace Systems (DCAS) — an annual compilation showing various phases

of the ballistic missile and space systems; and a semiannual review of the spacesystems program. (Both films were formerly produced on a quarterly basis.)

The USAF Missile and Space Film Report, prepared quarterly for Headquarters USAF, is a responsibility assumed by MS in aid-July 1961. (Realisation that this production reached approximately the same.audiences as the

BSD and Stir films was a determining factor in discontinuande of the DCAS

• requirement for quarterly reports.)

To be produced at five-week intervals is the "Fast Finder* aeries —

a continuing film report of Mr operations in Southeast Asia. This responsibility, assigned to APCS by Headquarters IMP in mid-June 1962, was met

by dispatching to the area a photographic team to procure combat documentary

footage on which these films would be . baeed... Since PACAF is the agency most

interested in these productions the photographic task force is presently

composed of member's from Detachment 3, 1352d Photo Croups augmented by

personnel and equipment from the Continental United Staten. kin reports themselves will assist in the establishment and evaluation of training* equipment, and Usapone requirements in USAF activities in that part of the world.

Often other types of long-range assigrasents assume the characteristics of continuing projects. A case in point is the aeries of some sixty

Film Training Aids requested by the Director of Flight Safety Research (GIG),

Headquarters USAF, is October 1958, Since coverage of the PTA's included

preflight and postflight inspections * pilot emergency procedures, and in-.

flight refueling techniques, involving 16 types of operational Lit:raft 

(fighters, bombers * cargo planes and helicopters) * it was several years before

the project' could be completed. Current examples are to be found inmthe "Airman's World,* a series of 26 TV programs provided by APCS for SAFOI; the

"Dynamics of Moral Leaderships* consisting of films to be produced for the

Chief of Air Force Chaplains* over a period of three years;"" and the numerous

motion Allure's prepared at the request of the Deputy Inspector General for

Safety.' Since these films are issued under individual titles, their names

usually indicate the directorates of DIG/S — Ground, Flight, Missile, Nuclear,

etc. — most interested in their production.

*I.e., Ballistic systems Division and Space Systems Division.

4I*By 30 June* the 26 programs had been released.

***

Pour films in this series had been completed by the end of June 1962.

Since all requests . for safety films now come to APCS from DIG/S, the laying Safety

Film Report, produced for several years on a quarterly basis for the Directorate

of Plying Safety Retouch, is now represented in the extensive .Safety Program

by occasional general summaries.
Missile and Space Protects 

At Cape Canaveral, Florida (Missile Activities).

Photographic support for the color documentation of missile activities at

the Air Farce Missile Test Center was initially provided by cameramen's:on TDY

from the 1352d, Motion Picture Squadron. With the establishment of the unit's .

operating location at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, this responsibility

was gradually transferred to the 1365th Photographic Squadron (then Group).

For the next three years (January 1959-January 1962), a detachment of the 1365th,

located at Patrick Alm Force Base, Florida, made still and film recordings of

the progress of Air ', force ballistic missile and satellite programs by doctment-

/fig the tests and launchings of the THOR, ATLAS, TITAN, MIDAS, ECHO, TIROS and

TRANSIT, for example. Through employment of the M-45 tracking mountihigh-speed

cameras and various lenses having focal lengths up to 180 inches, its cameramen

developed an advanced technique that established a new standard for this type

of photographic documentation. Black-and-white and color coverage obtained

through tracking with a lens of such size and sensitive depth of fief A nrovcod

to be most advantageous, when the first MINUTEMAN was launched on 1 February 1961.

A print of the footage made at that time was received with entnusiasm by the

Air Force Ballistic Missile Division, which indicated that the operational data

contained in the film would advance the MINUTRMAN prOgram.

In January 1962, operational activities of this detachment of the 1365th

Photographic Squadron were discontinued at the Air Force Missile Test Center.

However, the organization proper, from its home station at Orlando AFB, continues to supply photographic services there upon request.

At Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (Missile Activities)

When the construction of missile pads at Vandenberg APB was undertaken, man,

agencies assumed that provision for photographic service' there would be patterned'

after the plan in use at the Cape Canaveral launch site.. However, for reasons

of economy, security and freedom from threat of strike by civilian contractors,

it was decided that, at the new missile center, these needs would be met from

in-service sources. Consequently, in July 1958, the 1352d Motion Picture (later

Photographic) Squadron** was given this responsibility -- an assignment carried out by a dependency, initially under operational control of the parent organization. With limited personnel and basic equipment provided by the Lookout

Mountain Air Force Station, the unit assumed its duties at VAFB on 2 September

1958.

The mission of the embryonic Detachment 1 (an operating location for the

first six months) consisted in furnishing motion picture, still and documentary

photography to the lst Missile Division (SAC) and the Air Force Ballistic Missile

Division (ARDC). This suppOrt comprised, on an unprecedented scale, coverage of

*Since the Atlantic Missile Range is serviced by Pan American World Airways,

much of the photographic work there has been done by a civilian contractor.

For redesignation, see page 5.
19

test firings and ltnnch6s; production of operational, training and safety film

reports; and the supplying of engineering-sequential photography's which proved

to be exceeding useful to both Divisions mnd their contractors in evaluating

successful operations and detecting malfurctions accountable for failures.

Added, in the spring of 1959, was a requirement for technical-manual photography

of superior quality -- an assignment that demonstrated the ingenuity of the

cameramen in overcoming such handicaps as inadequate interior lighting, the

prevalence of dust, and the necessity of working in confined spaces, where the.

placement of cameras VAS difficult.

Photograpktinga the first TROR launch took place on 16 December 1958, when

highly satisfacu.zy results were adhieved.*Viathexpansion of the missile programs

demands for photographic services at VAFB steadily increased. Despite the maxy

problems with which the Detachment 1 was confronted, the unit was able to cope

with most situations through assignment of additional personnel and support provided by the parent organization. By 1 July 1959, when temporary camera control

and timing circuits had been installed at seven emplacements in the THOR complex

and at one facility in the ATLAS area, fUll responsibility for this phase of the

1352d's mission was transferred to the Detachment.

Thereafter, the unit successfully carried out most assignments through

reliance on its own resources. For the remainder of 1959, the major still and

documentary coverage consisted in photographing projects under conitruction.

During the same period, optical-instrumentation requirements were fully met on

operations that included an ATLAS firing and six &alight and two night, SACcontrolled, Royal Air Force THOR training launches. !specially noteworthy was

the ATLAS event of 9 September, since it was the first ICBM to be launched by an

operational crew composed entirely-of Air Farce-personnel; and ) for the Detachment, it represented initial accomplishment of this type of photography in a

weapon system than new at Vandenberg Air Force Bise.

In the course of the next two years (January 1960 - December 1961), Detachment 1, 1352d Photographic Squadron, furnished coverage formerly single and

double propellant loading exercisei, 4** flight-readiness firings, missile launches,

and various special -- but related projects. One of the assignments in tr y -

last category concerned Operation BIG SIM -- an effort on the part of the 1st

Missile Division to determine wind-f/ow patterns at VAFB and neighboring areas,

through use of smoke generators. In support of this study, made necessary by

the toxic character of liquids utilized in missile activities two still photographers from the Detachment were provided daily for a thirty-day period (11 July10 August 1960). One of these men was stationed on the ground to record Observatione- the other photographed smoke-colored wind patterns from a helicopter

flown during the tests.

*Me documentary film resulting from this effort received nation-wide distribution.

For technical photography, including engineering seqpential in both motion-picture

and still forms, 30 cameras were used.

**The first night launch took place on 1 recember 1959.

Prior to 22 March 1960, the 1st Missile Division had not required photographic

coverage for this type of operation.
Ulth.the completion of additional missile complexes, the capabilities of

the Detachment were often heavily taxed in providing documentation and optical

instrumentation photography at any time of day or night, and in all types of

weather.* On 3 May 1961, the first successful launch of a TITAN missile from

Vandenberg AFB took place -- a most gratifying milestone in aerospace development, since it was also the first successful TITAN eilo-launch. From the favorable moment which the documentary and optical-instrumentation footage received

upon release, it was obvious that the photographic recording of the event was

regarded as an achievement. Three weeks later (24 May) when an ATLAS launch was

made from Vandenberg AFB,, cameramen from Detachment 1 not only covered pre-launch

activities and lift-offy but also succeeded in capturingreturn of the reentry

vehicle to a predetermined area.

Since the training of crews for all ICBM bases was being conducted at Vandenberg Air Force Base, preparation for introduction of the MINUTEMAN there was

begun soon after the initial launch of this missile at Cape Canaveral on 1

February 1961. Construction of a suitable launching complex was soon undertaken; and, by January 1962, requirements for a MINUTMEAN camera console system

had been completed. For purpopes of study in connection with the MINUTEMAN

program, photographic data regarding cloud and fog cover was obtained by the

Detachment, through nightly time-exposures made with a K-17 camera, over a

twelve-manth period. Before the awe of FY 1962, sufficient progress had

been made for the unit to photograph satisfactorily the lowering and removal

of a MINUTEMAN missile from its underground silo a photographic effort that

was regarded as something of a feat.,

For the Detachment, the past twelve months had constituted a period of

considerable importance. During thaktimeo the unit had increased in numerical

strength, assumed additional duties,' and had been assigned a larger supporting

role in the missile program. In the course of the year, its designation had

been changed to 1369th Photographic Squadron (1352d Photographic Group);***

and the principal units to which it furnished services were now the 6595th

Aerospace Test Wing (AFSC) and the 1st Strategic Aerospace Division (SAC).

Missile Projects in Other Areas

In .1958, APCS was given responsibility for photographic coverage of the

THOR missile program in the United Kingdom -- a mission delegated, in Jily of

that year, to the 1363d Photographic night, a component located at Lindsay

Air Station (Wiesbaden), Oermany. **** Since special emphasis had been placed

Since operational missiles are to function in all kinds of weather, no SAC

launch was postponed because of rain squalls, high winds, etc.

Photographic responsibilities regarding missile projects in other areas are

'discussed in the following section.

*it*

See entry under 1 January 1962, page 8.

MI**

In the reorganitatton of APCS photographic units in July 1960, the 1363d Photographic Flight was replaced by Detachment 3, 1365th Photographic Squadron.

( See page 5.)
21

on obtaining detailed doCumentation of constriction at the Feltwell (England)

site, the earliest of these installations, and the ceremonies marking the

official transfer of the first THOR missile to the Royal Air Force (19 September),

initial photography was accomplished by a team then on TDr from the 1365th

Photographic Group. This contingent was, however, soon replaced by cameramen fromthe 1363d Photo Flight transferred to the unit l s recently established

operating location at the RAF station at West Ruislip, England.

For the next eighteen months, this detachment continued to document, at

short intervals, the development of the THOR program.* Because aerial photography proved to be the most satisfactory means of recording surface construction, much of the filming was done from a helicopter with the four points

of the compass modes reference for orientation. Although construction at the

various missile silts sometimes progressed rather slowly, the photography required of the detachment was completed in May 1960.

In the second half of 1959, the 1363d Photographic Flight undertook a

comparable assignment in Italy -- the furnishing of still and motion-picture

coverage of the JUPITER program. This responsibility, carried out on a TIN

basis, entailed documentation of the project from its beginning. Initial

activity therefore'consisted in photographing virgin terrain and abandoned

buildings that were to be rehabilitated prior to the commencement of construction

connected with missile deployment proper. A summary of activities was-presented

in two film reports- completed by the end of June 1960. In addition, still coverage of the program was supplied to the Historical Division of USAFR, the Italian

Air Force, and the Military Advisory Assistance Group in Rome. From this last

arganisation„ the Detachment received notification that the photographs had

been invaluable in keeping its personnel informed of the current status of the

project.

Maintained on a continuing basis is film documentationa the MACE program in

West Germam.7

In 1959, when the first ICBM's were being phased into the SAC weapons

inventory, APCS was given responsibility for photographic documentation of the

progress in construction of Atlas and Titan bases in the western half of the

United States. Conduct of this mission was reassigned to Detachment 2, 1352d

Photographic Group (then Squadron), activated on 1 April of that year, at Ent

Air Force Base Colorado. or the remainder of 1959, the primary effort of the

unit was directed toward coverage of missile sites located in five states.

During the next six months, photography was carried out in ten states, with

more than three times as many missile sites covered -- a task that required

approximately 15,000 miles of highway driving per month for its accomplishment.

*Meanwhile, the teamwas also

events suitable for inclusion

The MACE) a missile of newer

was in use

able to film, at AF bases in the United Kingdom,

in the Air Force News Review.

design, gradually replaced the MATADOR ; which
22

By the second half of 1960, the workload of the Detachment had been sUb-

_stantially increased by construction of a large number of tammnmmn sites in

Rocky Mountain and Central United States areas and the addition of TITAN complexes in the Southwest. In early 1961, documentation of other TITAN emplacements in the region west of the Mississippi also was undertaken. By that time,

markeo advance -- and certain similarities -- in the construction program made

possible reduction in the number of installations previously visited on a

monthly basis. The photographing of only representative complexes and segments

of sites within the Detachment's area of responsibility further eliminated duplication of effort. However, the hours spent in support of the program remained

virtually unchanged, due to the assignment of new sites and the multiplication

of technical difficulties inherent in meeting motion-picture requirements in the

in the more advanced weapon systems.

In recent months, the Detachment also provided photographic optical instrumention in various launch areas in which power cables, camera positions, and

permanent mounting pads for camera stands were required. The furnishing of such

service was, however, largely dependent upon the availability of personnel and

equipment.

As missile sites are constructed in the eastern United States,-mnch responsibility for photographic coverage is being assumed by the 1365th Photographic

Squadron.

Another recent APCS project, assigned in the spring of 1962 to the 1352d

Photographic Group, consisted in documentation of a team !Ion the tommand's

1381st Geodetic Survey Squadron (Missile), on TDY in Okinawa. Motion-picture

and still photography, accomplished by the 1352dI s detachment stationed at

Yamato Air Base, Japan, included various aspects of the tactical-missile hardsites approaching completion and the operational readiness of the unit. Also

shown were the equipment used by the surveyors and the type of activity in which

they were engaged.

Space Exploration Projects

Satellite Programs

Since early 1958, when the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) was

established within the Department of Defense to control the military applications of astronautics, components of the Air Photographic and Charting Service

have participated in various space programs. The initial enterprise in this

field (Project PICNEER), undertaken as a joint-service effort, consisted in

launching, from Cape Canaveral, a succession of small space vehicles to explore

the area in the vicinity of the moon and relay back useful data. In preparation

for the three "lunar probes" allotted to the Air Force, elements of APCS•photographed satellite tracking stations in Hawaii, Singapore, and Manchester (England).

Of the first PIONEER event, which took place on 17 August 1958, the 1365th Photo

graphic Group (later Squadron) obtained complete motion-picture and still documentation.* The other two USAF launChes, made in October and November of that•year,

*

To APCS, its part in this program was known as Operation MONA.
23 (Fti

were covered with equal success.*

Wen, in late 1958, the Air Force was cr'sparing to engage in a series

of experiments conaerned with recovery of space vehicles, the Air

Photographic and Charting Service ms assigned responsibility for photo.

graphic services connected with this continuing program. Since, under

ProppotjgaggIEBS, the satellites were to be launched froalindenberg

Air Force Base, documentation of this phase of the program vu delegated

to the 1352ds detachment (later 1369th Photo Squirm) located there.

Consequently, complete photographic coverage of the successful launch of

Dagglall I an 28 February 1959 vas obtained through the skill of that unit.

According to plans, an orbiting satellite of this type, after following

a polar path for a short period at relatively low altitude, would release

its reentry capsule in the vicinity of the Royalism Islands-.= area that,

in time, came to be known as the Pacific Ocean "ball park". In support

of this portion of the prograu4 a nineoman photographic crew from Orlando

Air Form Base was dispatched, in April 1959, to Elam AFB Bewail.

. Using that installation as a base, this team. and its replacem ents, in

turn*L.worked in close cooperation. with scientific, technical and flying

units concerned with recovery of space vehicles. It therefore was not

surprising that a 1365th camerinenwas amomg those decorated for the first

"aerial snatch' of a DISCOVIRIR capsule.. on the basis of the documentary

footage that he obtained at that time (19 August 1960).*** Wore the

close of 1960, the 1365th Photographic Squadron was relieved of this duty,

which was then transferred to Detachment 3, 1352d Photographic Squadron, stationed in Hawaii. Ay mid.Ootober 1961, cameramen of that unit had

photographed, in the long 01SCOV1818 series, the plucking of the sixth

caceule from the sky (DoconsuotxxXII) and the recovery of the third

(DSCCN MX) from the sea by:USAF SCUBA divers." remaining

.111011=IIMMIIIMM

*Although none of these three satellites was placed in orbit, the PIC8818

launched on 11 October 1958, traveled about 79,000 sap sore than

one-third of the distance to the moon. Sims instruments within the

satellite radioed beak data an the earth's magnetic field, uieramiteorites

and radiation intensities, the flight was regarded as a notable scientific

achievement. .

**Since each teen spent 179 days in the area, several were stationed there

in the course of this assignment.

***Most notion.picture and still photography was accomplished from the

0-119, fray which the 'catch' was made. Perched on the open tail of the

aircraft,-high above the Pacific, the cameraman (SSgt Wendell King) was

tied to the plane by a single strap attached to his parachute harness.

****8004 . An abbreviation for Self.Contained Underwater Breathing

Apparatus.
r

24

months of that year, coverage of the capture of three others was obtained.*

This program, which has been highly successful in testing space equipment,

procedures and techniques, is sti11 in progress -- with APCS units supplying photographic services.

Experimental Manned Space - Vehicles

In the last six or seven years, APCS photographic units have provided

still and motion-picture doisumentation of the many experiments conducted by

the Air Force in continuation of its historic efforts to reach kliber 41tiWes, increase the spode Of airdraft, and lengthen the duration ox flights --

projects that have contributed substantially to the advancement of various

phases of the manned spacecraft progran. In October 1958, for oxmeraes

cameramen of the 1352d /trashed film coverage for Project =HIGH III. a

research program designed to study environmental factors undempacs equivalent conditions during a high-altitude manned balloon flight. Recording'

of the initial features of the experiment -- the outfitting of the pilot

Lieutenant McClure, for the flight; the readying of the capsule; and the

sealing of the officer within --was accomplished at the contractor's

plant in Minneapolis, Minnesota. When high winds and heavy rain repeatedly

delayed the launching of the balloon from ,an open-pit, iron-ore mine at

Crosby, Minnesota, the project was'trensferred te Holman AFB, New Mexico.

Upon arrival there on 7 October, the cameramen, found that piety winds again

caused postponement of the ascent. However, on the following limping, when

a successful launching was accomplished, both motion-picture and still coverage of the event Was obtained.

In the following year, when Captain Joseph W. Kittingp Jr., of the Air

Force, on'll December 1959, accomplished a freefall of 74, 00 feet from the

gondola of the balloon "Excelsior," a camerman from the 1352d recorded the

incident at the White Sands Range, Holleman AFB,A0rMexico. This parachute

jump and previous ones made by Captainlrittinger'T were part of an ARM

high-altitude survival project.

Toward the end of April 1959, additional responsibilities of a continuing

nature were delegated to the 1352d -- the furnishing of motion-picture and

still-photo documentation of the X.-15 flights, designed to further research

in aerodynamic heating, stability and controluand providing of film depository

*The last of these was the capsule f‘te DISCOVERER XXIVI, which was recovered

from the sea by Air Force frogmen on 16 Deoseher 1961. By that time, the C-130

was being employed for aerial snatches, and a more elaborate, remote camera

system was used for photographing in-flight sequences and recovery activities.

**MANHIOH III was similar to the two previous balloon ascents in the series,

recordedty the 1352d in June and August 1957, when altitudes of 96,000 and 101,000 feet were reached. In this instance, however, more instrumentation

was used and a loftier penetration was attempted. (Actually, an altitude of

101,000 feet was again attained.)

#14Ht•

About a month earlier (16 November 1959), Captain Eittinger had made a record

parachute leap of 76,400 feet.
25

services for all I-15 footage. Also assembled, by request, was a 35mm color

film, giving the complete history of this pioneering manned space-vehicle,

from the drawing-board stage through its first full-powered flight.

In mihsevientyears, the unit's cameramen filmed the succession of

spacecraft that replaced the orginal X-15. At Edwards AFB, California, they

photographed preparations for departure of the 1-15 borne by its mother plane;

and later, from the B-52i they recorded, at the moment of launch, the drop-off

and breakaway of the glider. From chase aircraft, they took aerial photographs.

of various features of its flight ani documented • its behavior during all

phases of its return to earth. They also supplied generous coverage of the

activities of the individual 1-3,5 pilots, who had established high-altitude

records and developed techniques that greatly assisted in formulation of the

newer 1-20 (Dyna-Soar) program.

However on 18 July 1962, when President Kennedy presented,,the Collier

Trophy for 141 to Major Robert White and his three colleaped, -- it was

cameramen from Detachment 1, 1365th Photographic Squadron, at Andrews AFB,

that recorded the event. On the following deb members of the same unit

documented the awarding of Astronaut wings to Major White for his tan-octants

flight in an 1-15 to a height of 314,750 (59.6 miles) on 1? July 1962.'w

ProJectICEROUR/

•

During the fifteen months preceding the launching of an astronaut into

orbital flight, APCS photographic . units participated blether programs related

to Project MERCURY. At the Aeromedical Field Laboratory, Hallman AFB, Naw

Mexico, cameramen from the 3352d Squadron recorded the training of chimpanpee*

for space travel and, in a series of short sequences, Whored the psycholgsibal

proparation of the animals for such operations. When, in the testing of a

VinvnnIrcapsule, the first of these chimpansoes - Ham - was rocketed into space

from Cape Canaveral on 31 January 1961, members of the 1365th Squadron, located

at Patrick Air Force Base, documented the firing of the launching vehicle and

trwOmmiliarrange toward Bermuda, where the capsule was plucked from the

Atlantic.

*The other x-15 pilots were Comdr. Forrest Petersen (USN); Joseph Walker (NASA),

and Scott Crossfield (North American Aviation). Three of these pilots -- White,

Walker, and Crossfield -- had jointly won the Hen* Trophy for 1960, in recognition of their outstanding achievements in establihhing, in the 1-15, speed and

altitude records in the course of that 'ear.

**At the Air Force Association's national Convention, held at Las Vegas, Nevada,

4,8eptember 1962, Major White -- as 1-15 pilot and the first winged astronaut

received the David C. Schilling Trophy, an AFA award.

***Established in 1952 i. with a Space Biology Branch.

See next page for **** footnote.
26

In support. of PrOject-Mercuri activities which NASA was conducting at its

rocket station on Wallops Island, Virginia, the agency, in October 1960,

requested APCS to provide motion-picture coverage of variousimportant spacevehicle launches from that installation. This responsibility was jointly

assumed by the 1352d and ]..'65th within a short time -- and, in the case of

the second unit, documentation' was supplied on a continuing basis throughout

the following year.*

In February 1961, photographers and sound technicians of the 1365th

participated in documenting an interview of the astronauts by representatives

of national news media. Three months later (5 hey 1961), when Comdr. Alan B.

Shepard, Jr. (USN) crossed the frontier into space in the course of his 362-•

mile flight down the Atlantic Range, the 1365th l e detachment at Patrick AFB

furnished tracking mounts and cameramen to the TV pool that provided nationwide coverage of the event. Similar photographic service was provided forthe flight of Capt. Virgil J; Grissom ;USAF), who, in his Liberty Heil 7

capsule, was boosted to an altitude of 118 miles, attained a speed ot-olo

mm in the course of his flight, and les parachuted to a safe landing some

300 idles downrange, on 21 July 1961."

To insure documentation of the orbital flights of Lt. Col. John R. Glenn, Jr.

(tENC) and Comdr. Malcolm Scott Carpenter (USN) on 20 February and 24 May 1962

respectively, cameramen from various APCS photographic units were flown to Project-Mercury sites around the globe. Included in the list were stations along

the Atlantic Range; in Hawaii; at Salisbury, Rhodesia; Nairobi, Kenya; Kano,

Nigeria; and Benguerir, Morocco. If, foram reason, these a.-ponauts had been

forced to abort, documentation of their reentry would have been possible. On

3 October 1962, when, at the end of six orbital flights, Comdr. Walter M. Shirrs, Jr.

(USN), in his Sigma 7 capsule, was parachuted into the Pacific near Midway Island,

his landinund transfer to the carrier U.S.S. rearsage were recorded by APCS

cameramen.

***From ;425) • The return of Ram to the Holltman labbratory was recorded by

MATS photographers. Afterward one of the group -- SS ►t Kenneth A. Smith --

submitted, whin contribution to the APCS monthly photographic contest, an

amusing photograph of Ham looking, from his training couch, at the picture of

himself displayed on the cover of LIFE for 20 February 1961. This entry was

later selected as the blabk-and-whlWeinner in the APCS photo-of-the-year cowtest for 1961.

*The service rendered by the 1365th was performed by the Squadron's detachment

at Patrick AFB.

**A year later (19 June 1962), Capt.Grissom was awarded the first General Thomas

D. White USAF Space Trophy for his outstanding contribution to the Nation's progress

in aerospace during 1961. Presentation of the trophy by Mr. Eugene M. Zuckert„

Secretary of the Air Force, was photographed in Washington by a cameraman from

the 1365th l s Detachment 1.

***In this instance, steps were again taken to provide for documentation of the

astronaut's landing and rescue from the sea, in case the operation had not

progressed, according to plan.
27

Joint-Service Operations

In recent years, APCS unite have furnished photographic support for

numerous special programs carried out by major commands. Many of these

assignments were connected with massive joint-service exercises. For

example, BIG SLAM/PUERTO PINE (FR 127),* a combined Air Force-Army operation

of March 19b0, in which MA75 airlifted approximately 21,000 troops and 22

million pounds of equipment from various ZI bases to was

uglily didumented by 1352d and 1365th cameramen and photographers.

Material furnished included approach-slide kits for five of the primary

insular airfields to be used, coverage of the entire operation, and short

stories filmed for newsreel and TV release.

In June 1960, motion-picture and still photography was accomplished

for MOBILE YOKE (SFP 1052), *** a goodwill training exercise in which a TAC

Composite Air !strike Force was deployed to Southeast Asia. Coverage included

prel inA nary and deployment phases of the program at George APB, Califorria,

staging through airfields in Hawaii and the Philippines, arrival at Bangkok,

Thailand, and operations of the Strike Force in that area.

In February - March 1961, documentatimps furnished by the 1352dIs

cameramen for Exercise LANG PASS (FR 168), a combined Army-Air Force

logistic maneuver to teat contingency plans regarding strategic deployment

of troops over long ocean hauls. Involved in the operation was the movement of 120 aircraft from ten USAF bases to Clark Air Base, in the Philippines.

During the remainder of 1961, photographic coverage for a series of other

joint-service exercises was furnished. Among them were Operation SWIFT• STRIKE,

an extensive Army-Air Force training maneuver conducted in the Fort ragg-Fort

Jackson area of the Carolinas in August, and CHECK MATE/SCRAP IRON, a NATO

training exercise, concluded in late September in so astern Europe, after

a period of intensive mock.'warfare, in which thousands of American, Greek,

and Turkish soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines participated. Also recorded

*Not all footage pertaining to joint-service operations was reworked into FRa

or SFPs.

**MATS also furnished airlifts in other operations in which such service was

required.

4**The film was designed to give ZI and oversee military and civilian personnel

a better understanding of USAF and TAC objectives; and to increase the operational

effectiveness of military personnel participating in similar exercises by reducing

instructional time through use of the film medium.

Filming of the departure of a contingent from Pope AFB, N.C. was done by

cameramen from the 1365th Squadron.
28

photographiCaLly was an air-defense test -- Nilliam Tell III (FR 196) — in

which outstanding fighter-interceptor teams were assembled at Tyndall APB, Fla.,

for participation in a realistic defense exercise.

In 1962, APCS cameramen again traveled thousands of miles to record combined-service operations. For documentation of LONG THRUST III (FR 183),* a

maneuver involving the transatlantic airlift of almost 5,300 American troops

frosts United States to West Germany in January, 20 cameramen at the 1365th

Squadron were on %Tr for 25 days (January-February).** Photographic locations

were Charleston APB, S.C., McGuire APB, N.J. Iajes Field,-Asores; and ShamMain, Germany. During a similar period of Tor in February, members of the

same unit recorded various phases of BANYAN TREE III an exercise in which

TLC and STRAC units, under direction of the U.S. Strike Command, conducted

annual war games in the Canal Zone, in'conjunction with the Caribbean Air

Command. Motion-picture and still photography was accomplished at Pope Air

Force Base, S.C., the deployment station; at . Bamey APB, the Puerto Rican

staging area; and in Panama, C.Z., there the exercise was conducted.

In early May 1962, Operation QUICK KICK, one of the principal Atlantic

Command exercises of the year, again took cameramen of the 7365th to the

Carolinas, where the latest methods and weapOns of warfare were being tested

in a combined-service operation involving Air Force, Army, Navy,rand Marine

cOmPonents. Conducted from Shaw AFB, S.C., by the Com manders Nineteenth Air

Force, the operation included a coordinated land-sea-air triphibious assault

on a Carolina beachhead.

Also documented by APCS cameramen during the remainder of the year were

several other exercises'of importance. Exercise LONG THRUST IV, another air

mobility operation to test command and iogistical capabilities for reinforcing

NATO defenses in Europe was held 9-11 July. FbOtographic coverage included

departure of the C-130 1 a from Forbes APB, Kansas, and arrival of the planets

at Frankfort, Germany.• In this instance, MATS aircraft not only transported

about 2,000 infantrymen from the United States to Germany, but brought back

from Europe oneirwthe battle groups flown there in January 1962 during

LONG THRUST LEL .

In early August 1962, motion-picture teams of the 1352d Photo Group were

deployed to Camp Carson, Colo., to coveronloading operations for SWIFT STRIKE II.

Documentation of the exercise - offloading, deployment, and strike phases - were,

however, accomplished by cameramen of the 1365th Photo Squadron dispatched to

Sumter, S.C.

*LONG THRUST II, a large - scale NATO mobility emercise s in which combat troops

were to be airlifted from CONUS to Europe,was planned for the late spring of

that year. Because of a tense international situation at that time, the

operation was cancelled on 29 April. For that reason, LONG THRUST III is

sometimes listed as LONG THRUST III.

Cameramen from Detachment 3, 1365th Photo Squadron at Lindsey Air Station,

Germany, also participated in documentation of this exercise.

411-k*

LONG THRUST IV was the first exercise in which rotating.Army units were

flown to Europe and back to CONUS, by using the same aircraft in each direction.
64. 29

Another large photographic project, undertaken by APCS cameramen was William

Tell IV, the Tactical Air Command's dorld-Wide Weapons Meet and air demonstrations, held at Nellie AFB, Nevada, in early September 1962 - at the time

of the annual Air Force Association Convention in neighboring Las Vegas.

Major events - including features of the AFA sessions - were recorded photographically and a televised version of the significant activities presented.

Included in the military operation was air-to-ground, air-to-air, and groundto-air televised coverage of weapons delivered at ranges located forty miles

from Las Vegas.

Projects Requiring Quick Response

In addition to their programmed workload, APCS photographic components

often have been called upon to provide documentary coverage of unforeseen

event:: -- a time of fmrvide which their world-wide locations and the demonstrated coaluf readiness,* their operational capacity have always enabled

them to furnish etkaataCtorily.

Alerts

Lebanon Crisis: When soon after midnight on 15 July 1958, the

1363d Photographic Flight* at Lindsey Air Station, Germany, was informed of

the critical situation in Lebanon, arrangements were promptly made for a

camera crew to depart for the troubled area at 0400 that morning. Traveling

aboard . an air-evacuation plane carrying the VSAFE Task Force Commander, the

cameramen were in place prior to arrival of the airborne and Tactical Air

Command unite. Initial footage covered movement of Army personnel from

Farstenfeldbruck, Germany, to Adana, Turkey; and from the staging area there

to Beirut. later sequences'showed paratroopers hurrying front heir planes

with packs and gear; the unloading of heavy equipment from 0-130's; the visit

of the American Ambassador to the troop area; and the Air Force advance party

digging ditches. Since the decision to send paratroopers of the 1st Battle

Group to the Middle East apparently had caught most commercial media by

surprise, the coverage supplied by the 1363d Photo Flight was reported to

be the most complete documentation of this maneuver available.

Taiwan Alert: A similar project, undertaken by the 1352d Photographic Flrernirriikota Air Base, Japan, resulted from the crisis that

developed in the late summer of 1958 from diaturbance fomented in the

Formosa Strait by Communist Chinese. At the beginning of this emergency,'

a camera team was immediately dispatched to Taiwan, to mover all activities

connected with the Air Force buildup at Chinese Nationalist airfields. A

few days later, a second team was furnished; and a cameraman was loaned to

the Fifth Air Force, to aid its information aersonnel sent on TD/ to the island. To the Taiwan effort, the 1352d Motion-Picttre Squadron*** also

contributed a small group that joined the 1362d's teams in Formosa and spent

ten days in assisting them in documenting events related to the crisis.

Throughtout the emergency, other cameramen of the Flight were, at various

times, recording activities at bases on Okinawa, Korea and the Philippines.

'*This unit was replaced in mid-1960 by Det.3, 1365th Photo Squadron.

* In existence until 30 June 1960.

16**Designation later changed to 1352d Photographic Group.
30

Berlin Crisis: Another project of a slightly different character

arose in April 1959, when Headquarters MATS had immediate need for routebriefing films during the Berlin Crisis. This undertaking, recorded on five

reels, was completed by the 1365th Photographic Group (later Squadron) in

seven working days of intense effort, which included initial release of the

required blick-and-white prints. Although production of the four classified

projects taxed the endurance and drill of the unit i es operational personnel,

the assignment illustrated the type of demand that would be made 111,01ft the

organization in case of a national emergency - and illustrated the capability

of the unit to meet such a test.

Cuban Crisis: When the Cuban Crisis arose, it was understood that

the Air Photographic and Charting Service, by the . very nature of its mission,

would provide, for historical purposes, still and nation picture documentation

of events connected with this emergency. As a secondary responsibility, its

photographic teams would also satisfy the need of SOO' and other authorized

agencies for coverage of perishable news.

During the thirty--odd days that the alert was in effect (22 October -

28 November 1962), the 1365th Photographic Squadron deployed camera teams

to 15 key positions in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, and

Indiana. Greatest effort was, however, expended at the airbases in central

and southern Florida, where the buildup of aircraft, men, supplies, and

equipment was concentrated. Smaller teams were also sent to Bermuda and the

Azores, to photograph the aerial surveillance of Cuba-bound shipping. To

meet an emergency, remote camera pods were fabricated in short order and hung

on other aircraft -- a critical situation that provided an excellent opportunity

to test their effectiveness.

Through courier service established on a daily basis, exposed film was

delivered to the 1365th Photographic Squadron, and supplies and equipment were

forwarded to crews on location. To help the unit in meeting these demanding

needi, a contingent of 26 airmen and 5 civilians from the 1352d Photographic

Group arrived at OMB on 25 October, to assist in motion-picture and stillphoto laboratories, and in maintenance and camera divisions. Although its

workload was extremely heavy during the alert, the 1365th, with this support,

was able to discharge its responsibilities speedily and efficiently.

Mercy Missions and Humanitarian Projects

In recent years, the alert status of APCS camera crews was also shown

in their prompt procurenent of footage concerning goodwill missions of historical

significance, flown for humanitarian purposes or the alleviation of suffering

caused by unpredictable national disasters.

In 1960, for example, numerous projects of these types were documented

by the 1365th Photographic .:‘,...adron, Cameramen from its detachment at Lindsey

Air Station, Germany, recorded the airlift of food, blankets and medical supplies

to a cyclone and tidal-wave devastated area of East Pakistan; and the delivery

of medical supplies and equipment to Dr. Albert Schweitzer in French Equatorial

Africa. Two sergeants from its component at Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, in January

1960, filmed the evacuation of personnel and equipment froi Ice Station Charlie,
oe, 31

a scientific :-esearoh post located on a disintegrating ice floe in the

Arctic Ocean. Meanwhile. one 1365th proter had responded, on two-hoer notice,

to a requirerent for documentation of the USAF airlift of stoplies and emergency equipment- to Chile, daring the earthquake disaster in May of that -:oar.

In 1961, a camera team frtl Linizey AS was sent on two occasions, tc

record USAF relief measures er;ehded to flood victims in widely separeted

regions -7 in Kenya- and in the,Seville area Of Spain. At Christmas-time of

that year, cameramen from the same'enit visited the small Greek island of

Antiparos, to film the landing of a USAF amphibian plane laden with clothing,

toys and candy for the islanders, most of whom were very poor. These gifts .

from Americans in Beirut, Lebanon, and Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, represented

a goodwill, people-to-people mission, which resulted from a continuin g correspondence that developed, by chance, between two school boys -- one from each

of the groups concerned.

In 1962, a four-man photographic crew from Detachment 3, 1365th Photo

Squadron, covered rescue activities•of Air Force unite at HaMbure, Germany,

during calamitous floods, which resulted in.enormous loss of life and destruction of property. Cameramen also filmed Air Force personnel unloading and

distributing relief supplies, collecting clothing, and participating in eerie'

survey flights over the devastated area. In the sprine, a three• Man crew

traveled some 3,000 miles in planes and helicopters to document a mercy mission

to Tanganyika. Upon arrival in the critical area, they filmed the paradeooping

of food and relief sunpliee and the distribution of these resources to famine-

.stricken tribesmen; isolated in their villages by rampaging waters.

On two occasions in Septeeher 1962, camera crews from the same . Detachment 3

were dispatched-to Teheran, to photograph the arrive' and distribution of

medical and relief supplies for victims of a severe .erthquake in central Iran.

On the second trip, they photographed scenes of devastation, the erection of

temporary housing, the operation of a field hospital and a visit to the area

by the Shah of Iran.

In early Docember, When the United States sent from Europe 14,000 blankets

to Tunisia, to aid people made homeless by floods in the southern part of that

country, cameramen from Detachment 3, 1365th PhotO Souadron, were flOwn to Tuhis.

There they documented the arrival of the two G-130's with their much-needed cargo

and the immediate transfer of the gift by the American Ambassador to Tunisia to

a representative of the Tunisian Oomits1 National du Secours.

On the other side of the mnrld„ Detachment 3, 1352d Photographic Group,

located in Hawaii !, also engaged in a disaster mission late in the year. After

it was learned that Guam had been struck by a typhoon on the night of 11 Nov7

ember, a four-man crew began coverage of the stricken island two days later

(13 November). The results of their work included still and motion7picture

photography of damages and the beginning of rehabilitation. • In this case --

&s in the other instances described e- footage from the project was released

to nation-wide news-media and was alec used in the appropriate Air Force News Review.
32

AWARDS AND OINIR • TYPES OF NSCOONITUN

In the following paragraphs are noted a number of the awards won by APCS

and component units. The compilation is, by design, representative rather than

all'inhlusive. The list also serves as a-commentary on the fields.of endeavor

in which such honoirs are given. (Arrangement of the material is largely chronological.)

Airpower Trani!' •

The excellent performance of APCS photographic units and t he value of their

work received public recognition when the Air Force Association, at Us Dallas

(Texas) convention in September 1958, announced that its Airpowsr 1110047 had

been awarded to the Air Photographic and Charting Service "for the most °itstanding . contribution to airpover and national security in the field of Arts .

and Letters". during the previous year.

mateveAsemenstatifynitA UNAFOtstandrrds

13706 Photo-Mapping Winn (rormerlv Croup) 

It December 1956, the 3370th Photo-Mapping Group earned the Air Force

Outstanding Unit Award for completion Of the North. Atlantic Aeriil tlectronio

Survey Tie . dnring the period June 1953-august 1956. (DAP, 00 Tlo 6 Dec 1956.)

In April 1960, the Department of the Air Farce announced that the

370th Photo-Mapping Wing had been given the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award

(First Oik Leaf Cluster) for the accomplishient of a highly important project

be:twee:p i Septeiber 1956 and •I July 1959. (DAT, 00 23, 17 ft 1960.) • •

To 1352d Notion Picture Sohadren

. For exceptional services rendered from 10 DeOember 1956 to 13 April

7.9$9., the 1352d Nbtioh Picture SqtadrOn . received the Air Force outstanding Unit

Award. .In the muse of . thiaveried, the. Squadron provided key photographic

support to the Air ?wee Ballistic Missile Division (ANDO) during operations at

. Cape Canaveralirleridat and furnished total photographic :support for meowing, *1st and latisch operations it Vandenberg Air Force Base, California. (DAF,

00 56, 16 October 1959.) •

To 1365th Photographic Squadron

In recognition of exceptionally meritorious service of great national

significance during the pericid 1 January 1959-1 March 1961, the 1365th Photo.

grephic Squadron was awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award. (DAF, 80

0.59, 26 June 1961.)
33

AWARDS FOR PHOTOMRAPHIC ACHIEVEMENTS

Diploma and Certificate Awards- .Tor participation in film exhibitions abroad.

...._..._.

For two films -- "The Thunderbirds" (SPP 412) and "Aero-Medical Research"

(SF? 390) -- produced by the 1352d Motion Picture Squadron, diplomas were

awarded to the United States Air Force by the Jury for the International Exhibition of Documentary and Short Filings, held at Venice, Italy. in August 1957.*

'The Thunderbirds' was also exibited at the international film festivals

I that took place in Edinburgh and Berlin in the late summer of that year. For

I inclusion in these showings, certificates of participation were received by

APCS.

"Supersonic Thunderbird." (SFP 637), a spectacular film produced • by the

1352d Motion Picture Squadron for initial showing at the World Congress of

Flight in Las Vegas, Nevada, in . April 1959, was selected for exhibition a few.

months later at international film festivals held in Edinburgh and Venice.

Certificates, showing representation of the film in both of these events, were

later sent to APCS.

•

In 1960, two APCS films were shown at the International Exposition of

Cinematographic Arts in Venice. "Survey of Astronautics" (TP 14292)," produced by the 1352d Motion Picture Squadron, was given a Certificate of Merit;

and the "Air Force News Review * No 49, the first film in this series presented by the 1365th Photographic Squadron in color, received a diploma of

participation. Excellence of these productions as'a whole was recognised by

inclusion of AFAR No 61, the second annual color production, in the films

shown at the same Venice Film Festival in 1961.

Technical. Film Festival Awards

At the First Annual Technical Film Festival held during National Engineers'

Week in February 1963, two films of the 1352d Motion Picture Squadron received

recognition. '"The Sandia Story," (LML 90-10), a film shówing the activities

of the Sandia Corporation, was awarded a Gold Certificate; and "Living with .

Radiation' (1ML 90,11) in a 01ase-C Certificate of Merit.

401The Thunderbirds" was awarded special mention for photographic excellence --

the only film so honored at the festival.

"this film --based on present Air Force concepts of space exploration and

man's progress in mastering rocket flights -- was adopted by the US Information

Agency as an official motion picture to be translated into various foreign

languages and shown in other countries, as an outstanding example of the United

States space effort.
314

Zalgr41eal • Annually the Industry Film Producers Association recognises outstanding

productions in this field by presentation of its *CINDY* (i.e. Cinema and

Industry) awards. At the yearly IFPA National Conference and Film Festival,

films produced by APCS components have in the last two years, won a number

of these awards in the vericuscategories-established:

Vier 1960 , (Awards presented in 1961)1

First Award

(Indoctrination) •

Finalist AwysNi

(Public Relations)

Finalist Award

(redhnical Reports)

Finalist Award

(For berating)

Finalist Award

(For Recruiting)

For 1961 (Awards presented in 1962)

First Award

(Public InfOrmation)

First Award

(Indoctrination)

Finalist Award

(technical Information)

*Taiwan --_Island of Freedom"

(ATV 103)7 (A file in the

People-to People series.)

*Air Force Missile Mission"

(SFP 608). (An explanation of

the current Air Force *wale

o3ncept, with the actor Mr.

James Stewart as expositor.)

"Oas Cooled Reactor Experiment*

(LML 90-18).'' (Produced for the

Idaho Operations Office of AEC.)

*Air Farce News Review**

(Especially AFMR No 61.)

"%boa of the Sky' (SFP 493)!

(Portrays activities at the

Air Force Academy.)

"Aerospace Medical Research

at Heileman Air Force Base*

(SFP 1020%

*Korea -- Battleground for Liberty"

(AFIF 106). (Filmed as part of.

the People-to-People Program.)***

*Photography in the USAF Optical

Instrumentation at Vandenberg Air

Force Bass" (SFP 1028).

(Depicts one phase of the 1352d'e

Mission.)

*Produced by 1352d Photographic Group (then Squadron).

it*Film made by 1365th Photographic Squadron.

In recognition of the outstanding contribution made by the 1352d Photographic

Squadron in production of this DOD -- CINCPAC lrientation film and *Taiwan --

Island of Freedom: the Squadron received a certificate of commendation from the

Department of Defense, in Angus. 1961.
35

Finalist Award

(Out-Plant Category)

Award of Merit

(Technical Reports)

Nomination For An "Oscar"

. . 

"Aerospace Communications --

Reins of Command" (SFP 1021).*

"Basic Principles of Power

Reactors" (LML 90-10A).

"Breaking the Language Barrier" csrP 2041), which shows the Air ?tans

demonstration team The Thunderbirds on tour around the world, was nominated

for an Academy Award (Documentary Short-Subject Clas p) fOr 1961. Although

the film failed to win an "Oscar" when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts

and Sciences presented its annual awards on 9 April 1962, Headquarters APCS

and the 1352d Photographic Group received plaques honoring the nomination

of the film for consideration in the competition.

Industrial Photofraphy Award

In the 1962 competition held by the magazine Industrial". Photogra0 ,4, for

motion pictures in the In-Plant Category, "Breaking the Language Barrier"—

selected as the USAF entry -- tied with "The Idea of Michigan" (Univ. of

Michigan Television Center) as the beat general public-relations films.

Announcement of the award was made in September 1962.

From Industrial Photography, the 1365th Photographic Sluadron received

A Certificate of Merit for "Measuring and Mapping the World," a film entered

in the 1962 awards competition.

San Francisco International Film Festival

The 1352d Photographic Group received an Award of Participation for its

production "Catch a Falling Star", entered at this festival in 1962."

Safety Film Contest Awards 

In 1959, for production of "Nightmare for the Bold" (TF 1-5101), a motion

picture dealing with the tragic consequence of careless driving, the 1365th

Photographic Group (later Squadron) was awarded a citation by the National

Committee of Films for Safety, in recognition of the pictorial excellence of

the film.

Two years later (1961), the 1365th received Certificates of Merit for

two other films -- "Aircraft Accident Investigation" OF 1-5348) and "Be Water Wise -- Boating" (TF 1-51920.

In 1962, the 1352d Photographic Group also was voted a Certificate of

Merit for its film 'dater Safety -- Guam" (TF 1-5416), produced in the

previout year.

*Film prepared and supervised by the 1365th Photographic Squadron, but produced

commercially. The other productions winning awards for 1961 were accomplished

by the 1352d Photographic Group (then Squadron).

Two productions of the 1365th Photo Squadron -- "Aerospace Communications --

Reins of Command" and "You in Turkey" (AFIF 111k) - also were shown at the San Francisco Film Festival in 1962.
FLYING AND GROUND SAFETY AWARDS

Calendar Year 1960 

For its accident-free record during the first six months of 1960, the

1370th Photo-Mapping Wing was awarded the USAF Flying Safety Plaque.

TO the 1370th Photo-Mapping Wing, the MATS Outstanding Unit Award for

Flying Safety was Presented, in recognition of its conduct of accident-free

flying operations throughout the calendar year 1960.

For achieving similar accident-free records for the year 1960, MATS

Flying Safety Plaques were presented to three components of the 137bInhotoUsqmLng Wing -- the 1371st and 1375th *Wing and Charting Squadrons and the

1376th Consolidated Aircraft Maintenance Squadren -- and to two units af the

1360th Air Base Group -- the 1360th Air Base Squadron and the 1360th Materiel

Squadron.

The Air Photographic and Charting Service received the MATS Outstanding

Unit Award in Flying Safety for having achieved a command- wide, accident-free

record in 1960.

This award is usually reserved for a unit of wing or comparable level.

The presentation was, however, made to APCS because of the high rating accorded

to the Command in the annual competition for the MATS Trophy -- an honor won,

in 1960, byWESTAF.

Calendar Tear 1961

The MATS Accident-Free Award for Flying Safety during the year 1961 was given

to the 1371st Mapping and Charting Squadron (1370 P-K Wing).

The 1372d Mapping and Charting Squadron (1370th P41 Wing) won the MATS Outstanding Unit Award for Ground Safety during the calendar year 19 61. This

award carries with it the presentation of an engraved plaque and $300 in cash

for the Squadron Unit Ftnd.*

For eighteen months of accident-free operations ending 30 June 1961, the

1370th Photo-Mapping Wing, for.the second time, was a recipient of the USAF

Flying Safety Plaque.

*Actually, the 1373d had been credited with no reportable disabling injuries

since the fall of 1959. This accomplishment was extremely significant, since

the mission of the squadran required all personnel to spend six months on TDY

in foreign countries. Many of the overseas areas were in remote locations,

where customs, vehicle operation, and living conditions differed widely from

those at Tuiner AFB, the unit's home station.
(140 37

Per its accident-free record during 1962, the 1371st Mapping and Charting

Squadron (1370th P-K Wing) received a MATS Flying Safety Plaque -- the third

consecutive year in which the squadron had won this award.

The MATS Outstanding Unit Award for Oround Safety was given to the 1375th

Mapping and Charting Squadron in 1962.

In recognition of his competence in coping with an in-flight emergencyithat

arose. on a return trip from &cape, Brasil, to Atkinson Field, British Guiana,

on 31 March 1962, Captain Tilian C. Burks, Jr. (1370th P- Wing) was presented

the EATS Individual Outstanding Safety Achievement Award. (He was the first

=lbw of APCS to win this award.)•

*After take-off from a rough, dirt-and-gravel airstrip at Macapa,, it was

discovered that the nese-gear deer of the C-130 had not fully retracted and

could not be opened by normal or emergency means. However, upon reaching

Atkinson Field, Captain Burks completed such a successful "nose-up" landing

that damage to the aircraft was relatively alight, and no injuries were

sustained by passengers or members of the crew.