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What if an operational leader told you that he had such conflicting demands that he was in a "no-win" dilemma? He could satisfy either demand but not both -- and to fail to satisfy either would exact great professional and personal cost. General John D. Lavelle faced such a dilemma toward the close of the Vietnam War. When General Lavelle assumed command of Seventh Air Force in Saigon, South Vietnam, on 1 August 1971, he inherited rules of engagement (ROE) that had evolved over three years. The ROE maintained the basic restrictions of a 1968 agreement by the Johnson administration defining the conditions under which U.S. aircraft could attack enemy aircraft or weapons systems. Aircrews could not fire unless they were threatened. Enemy surface-to-air missiles (SAM) or antiaircraft artillery (AAA) had to "activate against" aircrews before they could respond with a "protective reaction strike." Warning gear installed in the planes alerted aircrews that an enemy SAM firing site was tracking them. American aircrews lost this advantage late in 1971, when the North Vietnamese vastly improved their tracking capability by integrating their early warning, surveillance, and AAA radars with the SAM sites. This integrated system allowed them to launch their missiles without being detected by the radar warning gear of U.S. aircraft. General Lavelle later testified to Congress that he "alerted his superiors to the enemy's netting of his radars and advised them that the North Vietnamese now possessed the capability of firing with little or no warning." The air war had changed. General Lavelle made repeated and futile attempts to get the ROE changed to reflect the new threat to his aircrews and planes. Not only did Washington refuse to change the ROE, but the Joint Chiefs of Staff severely criticized General Lavelle for a lack of aggressiveness in fighting the air war. The general had a problem. What took priority: the ROE or the safety and effectiveness of his command?, Published in Airpower Journal, v10 n3 p87-94, Fall 1996.

In light of the Gulf War, in which airpower played a more dominant, effective, and visible role than in past military conflicts, many nations in the world seem likely to increase their emphasis on airpower. To better understand the potential implications of such a shift in military strategy, Project AIR FORCE at RAND has launched a multiyear effort that addresses the emergent role of airpower. The analysis is divided into two main efforts. The first portion explores the probable future position of the United States in the global balance of airpower. The second portion of the research analyzes the air forces of various major powers to see how these nations and their air force leaderships think about the past, current, and future role of airpower in support of their national security objectives. This report, written in support of the second element of this research effort, provides an overview and assessment of China's large and diverse air arm-the People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Analysis of the PLAAF has traditionally focused on air order of battle enumerations and projections about equipment procurement. Until the past few years there were very few available primary source materials about the PLAAF. Virtually nothing was written in China to give the air force-or other Chinese military institutions-a detailed identity. As a result, only two books have been published in the West devoted to the PLAAF (Bueschel, 1968; Allen, 1991). This study, which draws extensively upon newly disseminated Chinese-language sources, should help to fill this gap in our knowledge. (KAR) P. 4-5

The USAF Wild Weasel mission was born in 1965 during the Vietnam conflict. The purpose of the mission was to counter the serious radar-directed threats that were decimating the US fighter arsenal. While the current F-4G Wild Weasel aircraft has effectively met the threat into the 1980's, its capabilities reflect the aircraft's 1950's design. Meanwhile, the Soviet Union is fielding many technologically advanced radar-directed threats that bring the adequacy of the F-4G into question. This study investigated what characteristics will be required to defeat the threat of the 1990's. Next, the F-4G, F-15WW, and F-16 Wild Weasel proposal were compared against the aircraft characteristics needed (as determined b a poll of experiences officers) to survive the threats in the 1990's. This thesis concludes that the F-15WW possesses the most desirable characteristics to serve as the Wild Weasel aircraft for the 1990's.

In a tracer-directed fire mode, the gunner plays the role of a conventional tracker and a lead angle computer. Tracer rounds are fired continuously by the gunner to provide an additional observation channel. In the event of repeated observation interruption, via blanking the target from the optical display, the gunner's performance is considerably degraded. In this report, a gunner model is designed which consists of a reduced-order observer, a linear feedback controller, and a remnant noise element. The effect of observation interruption is modeled by degrading the model parameters related to the observed states. An exponential decay form is assumed for these parameters. Model parameters and associated time constants are identified from empirical data via a least-squares minimization algorithm. Model predicted tracking and tracer errors are compared with empirical data and found in general agreement with each other. From these results, it is concluded that the gunner model can be used accurately and efficiently in the analysis of the effectiveness of AAA weapon systems under observation blanking. (Author)

Following the official conclusion of the Leyte-Samar Operation, X Corps was relieved of further offensive missions on the two islands; however, minor garrison and police missions continued. In late January, the Americal Division arrived on Leyte and was assigned to X Corps. The Corps was directed to relieve the XXIV Corps of further mopping up operations. Information gleaned from prisoners and captured documents indicated that several thousand Japanese remained on Leyte, and that they were attempting to reach the hills near Villaba, from which point they hoped to be evacuated from the island by surface craft or submarine. The assembly of a portion of these forces near Villaba was effected, and small scale evacuation efforts were made; but these were disrupted by combined air and MTB patrols. The Americal Division, in a three-pronged offensive, encircled and destroyed the greater portion of the remaining hostile forces in the Villaba-Sulpa-Hibuluangan-Jinagnatan area, with the 164th Infantry advancing from the south; the 182d Infantry from the east; and the 132d Infantry from the north. Seizure of Capul Island on 19 February and Biri Island on 20 February, cleared the southern entrances to San Bernardino Strait (between Luzon and Samar), the first step in opening the shortest main shipping route from the United States to Manila. X Corps was relieved of its assigned missions and responsibilities 24 February 1945. Subsequent to this release, and prior to its departure from Leyte on Friday, 13 April 1945, the Corps was engaged in planning and preparing for the Victor Five Operation. The Victor Five Operation encompassed the Island of Mindinao, exclusive of the Zamboanga Peninsula, a total of 30,037 sq. miles, occupied by an estimated 35,000 to 40,000 Japanese. Principal highways represented an approximate 790 miles. An abundance of short, fast-running streams necessitated the repair of construction of a large number of bridges initially, and then their maintenance.

Photograph from Gus Nelson's service with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, 26th U.S. Infantry Division; title from separate cropped version of the photograph (gnelson-ph-028) with caption: "Anti-aircraft guard enroute from Lizy sur Ourcq to Poincon, Aug. 15-16, 1918. This trip took us along the south bank of the Marne through the heart of country replete with evidence of hard fighting.", Title from a caption by Gus Nelson. Gustaf "Gus" Nelson entered Norwich University as a member of the Class of 1919; he left school to serve in World War I and served with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion of the Yankee Division. After the war, he returned to Norwich University and graduated in 1924.

Photograph from Gus Nelson's service with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, 26th U.S. Infantry Division; complete caption by Nelson reads: "Anti-aircraft guard enroute from Lizy sur Ourcq to Poincon, Aug. 15-16, 1918. This trip took us along the south bank of the Marne through the heart of country replete with evidence of hard fighting.", Title from a caption by Gus Nelson. Gustaf "Gus" Nelson entered Norwich University as a member of the Class of 1919; he left school to serve in World War I and served with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion of the Yankee Division. After the war, he returned to Norwich University and graduated in 1924.

Position of Polish anti aircraft artillery unit in 1939 campaign.

Photo 007 shows Arct digging an anti-splinter trench. Photo 008 depicts on of the airdromes in North Africa used by "Skalski's Circus." Horbaczewski is seen pouring something out of a barrel in Photo 011.

Field orders 1 through 7 (30 December 1944 – 5 June 1945), and administrative orders 3 through 7 (11 April 1945 - 5 June 1945) for the 564th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion detailing supply, evacuation, traffic, personnel, and miscellaneous items (like sanitation and status reports).

The use of the 60 inch, 800 million candle power AAA searchlights for battlefield illumination is the topic of discussion. In order to sell the advantages of battlefield searchlight illumination to the front line troops, a brief resumé of its advantages was cited and distributed to divisional units. The following questions are listed. A: What do you mean by artificial moonlight? B: Why use searchlights on the battlefield? C: Have searchlights ever been used in battle? D: What do front line troops think of battlefield illumination? E: What happens when you use lights? F: How do you employ and use the lights? G: Can you use searchlights directly to blind? H: How do you keep the lights from being knocked out by artillery? Lastly, there is a final summary of important points.

The objective of this Board is to obtain for War Department and for theater records complete and accurate analytical information on equipment and material of the Japanese military forces used in antiaircraft, seacoast, and submarine mine defenses. Part I: general; personnel; organization; training; materiel; technique; and tactical employment. Part II: naval seacoast artillery. Part III: controlled submarine mines.

Photograph from Gus Nelson's service with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, 26th U.S. Infantry Division; title from separate cropped version of the photograph (gnelson-ph-028) with caption: "Anti-aircraft guard enroute from Lizy sur Ourcq to Poincon, Aug. 15-16, 1918. This trip took us along the south bank of the Marne through the heart of country replete with evidence of hard fighting.", Title from a caption by Gus Nelson. Gustaf "Gus" Nelson entered Norwich University as a member of the Class of 1919; he left school to serve in World War I and served with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion of the Yankee Division. After the war, he returned to Norwich University and graduated in 1924.

Photograph from Gus Nelson's service with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, 26th U.S. Infantry Division; complete caption by Nelson reads: "Anti-aircraft guard enroute from Lizy sur Ourcq to Poincon, Aug. 15-16, 1918. This trip took us along the south bank of the Marne through the heart of country replete with evidence of hard fighting.", Title from a caption by Gus Nelson. Gustaf "Gus" Nelson entered Norwich University as a member of the Class of 1919; he left school to serve in World War I and served with the 102nd Machine Gun Battalion of the Yankee Division. After the war, he returned to Norwich University and graduated in 1924.

German 88 mm anti-aircraft and anti-tank artillery gun, in Cherbourg, France, as photographed by Dr. Edgar Hyde of the 91st Evacuation Hospital, approximately June-July 1944., Title by Edgar Hyde from the original negative enclosure.

Antiaircraft bomb thrower on display at the Allied War Exposition, possibly in Waco, Texas, in 1918., Title from handwritten note on photograph. The Allied War Exposition was a World War I traveling exhibit sponsored by the U.S. Government Committee on Public Information.

Photograph of pontoons, taken by Dr. Edgar Hyde of the 91st Evacuation Hospital during the Allied invasion of Sicily in 1943., Title by Edgar Hyde from the original negative enclosure.

Allied invasion of Sicily as photographed by Dr. Edgar Hyde of the 91st Evacuation Hospital in 1943., Title by Edgar Hyde from original negative enclosure.

Anti-aircraft artillery ("ack-ack") from LST (Landing Ship, Tank) during the Allied invasion of Sicily as photographed by Dr. Edgar Hyde of the 91st Evacuation Hospital in 1943., Title by Edgar Hyde from original negative enclosure.

The 49th AAA Brigade was activated on the 1st of December, 1942, at Camp Davis, N.C., U.S.A. In the initial period of activation, the Brigade pursued its MTP training with enthusiasm and gradually filled its T/O strength of officers and enlisted men. Brigadier General O. H. Longino assumed command on the 8th of January, 1913, and was relieved by Brigadier General L. L. Stuart on the 24th of February, 1943. On the 30th of April, 1943, General Stuart was relieved by Brigadier General B. L. Milburn.

The use of the 60 inch, 800 million candle power AAA searchlights for battlefield illumination is the topic of discussion. In order to sell the advantages of battlefield searchlight illumination to the front line troops, a brief resumé of its advantages was cited and distributed to divisional units. The following questions are listed. A: What do you mean by artificial moonlight? B: Why use searchlights on the battlefield? C: Have searchlights ever been used in battle? D: What do front line troops think of battlefield illumination? E: What happens when you use lights? F: How do you employ and use the lights? G: Can you use searchlights directly to blind? H: How do you keep the lights from being knocked out by artillery? Lastly, there is a final summary of important points.

These instructions govern the conduct of the local air defense of bases under the control of the Thirteenth Air Force effective 1 November 1944. All matters pertaining to coordination between aircraft and anti-aircraft artillery are contained herein. Sections include: conduct of the defense; IFF procedure; approach procedure; emergency approach procedure; AA searchlights used as landing beacons; and briefing pilots and instructions to AAA fire units.

Field orders 1 through 7 (30 December 1944 – 5 June 1945), and administrative orders 3 through 7 (11 April 1945 - 5 June 1945) for the 564th Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion detailing supply, evacuation, traffic, personnel, and miscellaneous items (like sanitation and status reports).

The objective of this Board is to obtain for War Department and for theater records complete and accurate analytical information on equipment and material of the Japanese military forces used in antiaircraft, seacoast, and submarine mine defenses. Part I: general; personnel; organization; training; materiel; technique; and tactical employment. Part II: naval seacoast artillery. Part III: controlled submarine mines.

The seminar was convened at RAF Station Mildenhall on 20 February 1953 for the purpose of discussing problems peculiar to the joint integration of smoke and anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) in the defense or air bases. The aims of the seminar were as follows: to acquaint those with what was being done in the integration of smoke-AAA in air base defense; to determine the circumstances under which the various smoke tactics should be employed; to determine methods of improvement of present tactics; and to obtain fresh ideas and viewpoints and to crystallize current tactics and techniques into the form of recommended Army doctrine. Index: development of smoke tactics, smoke haze operations, deceptive smoke, effects of smoke tactics on AAA A fire, and future developments.

A conference of flak analysis officers and others interested in German antiaircraft artillery was held at Headquarters USSTAF (Rear) from 1 June to 11 June 1945. The purposes of the meeting were: to review the measures taken to reduce flak loss and damage in the European and Mediterranean Theaters, in the light of information obtained since the cessation of hostilities in Europe on German materiel, tactics, and the technique of fire control; to reexamine Japanese flak capabilities, as affected by German-Japanese liaison, now definitely established; to discuss possible improvements in the methods of obtaining and interpreting air photographs of flak positions; to compare the success of various methods of "flak suppression"; to discuss the various techniques which have been evolved in Europe for analyzing flak defenses; and to draw such conclusions from AAF experience against German flak as may be of value to flak intelligence officers operating against Japanese flak.

This article based on reports of the 37th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division -- as consolidated by the XIV Corps -- is presented to demonstrate the general features of the fight for Manila. Contents: Manila victory; British tanks in Burma; AA artillery in support of ground troops on Luzon; by land, by air, by water; vary for victory; employment of screening smoke by ground units; and save the bridges.

Report of board of officers convened to study the Japanese antiaircraft and seacoast artillery. The Board met on 7 November 1945 and after organization, examined documents and material pertinent to the study, heard witnesses, and visited various Japanese antiaircraft and seacoast artillery installations and organizations. The purpose of the Board, as outlined in detail in supplementary instructions, was to study and report upon matters connected with organization, training, materiel, technique, tactics, supply, administration, and operations of the Japanese Antiaircraft and Seacoast Artillery. Based upon its study, the Board submits its findings in two separate reports, one covering Antiaircraft Artillery and the other covering seacoast artillery. In covering each of these subjects, two separate and complete reports have been prepared: a brief summary, covering only the salient points and a detailed report. The Antiaircraft Artillery Report is presented in two parts, as follows: Army Antiaircraft Artillery - Part One and Naval (Shore-Based) Antiaircraft Artillery - Part Two. The Seacoast Artillery Report is presented as a separate report, in three parts, as follows: (1) Army Seacoast Artillery - Part One. (2) Navy Seacoast Artillery - Part Two. (3) Submarine Mines - Part Three.

This document presents factual information gathered from authentic sources pertaining to the tactical employment of Japanese land, sea and air elements against Coast Artillery forces and installations in the Manila-Bataan Campaign during the period December 8, 1941 -March 11, 1942. Subjects include antiaircraft artillery, seacoast artillery, submarine mines, and enclosures.

Task Force 45 was a task force of American and British antiaircraft gunners acting as infantry, with Italian Partisans, Brazilians and African American troops fighting by their side. Explains the organization and committing of TF 45. Gives information regarding the Arno River Phase and the advance from the Arno, the holding of the Apennine segment, the attack on M. Belvedere, and continued operations in the Apennine segment, commendations and casualties. Some pages are blurred, original document unavailable for redigitization. Digitized by the Military History Institute.