This chapter provides the causes for the decline in recognition skills in the past, the reasons for visual aircraft recognition today, and an overview of the potential threat.
Aircraft are as much a part of the battlefield as tanks and artillery.
These aircraft add a vertical dimension and their presence must be accepted and dealt with by every soldier in the field. On today's battlefield, a soldier must recognize and identify both threat and friendly aircraft. Since there may be many of each type, aircraft recognition training is necessary for every soldier in the combat force. The substitution of guided missiles for large antiaircraft guns. The assumption that US forces would continue to maintain air superiority.