July-August - Air Defense Artillery

guides representing the normal maximum
allowable loads. As a result, cargo
loads are actually established for each
operation. Familiarity with c3rgo pbnes
alone is not enough.
OFFICERS' of your unit should receive
training in planning procedures for
departure and arrival airfields to include
necessary instructions in the establishment
and maintenance of security regulations
at the departure airfields. The action
of a unit at an arrival airfield is
extremely important to the success of an
operation. Planes and troops on an airfield
in or near hostile territory present
a very lucrative target for the enemy.
Prompt consolidation and reorganization
of a unit upon completion of a move by
air are necessary. Your officers and noncommissioned
officers should know
where to place the cargo in the aircraft.
An aircraft in flight must be balanced
correctly. Incorrect balance will result
from improper placement of cargo. Consequently,
the proper placement of cargo
prior to flight becomes of utmost concern
to every individual flying in the aircraft.
The solution to the problem of load
placement is not difficult.
The principles of weight and balance
can be found in T.M. 71-210 and in
Special Text 71-210 published by the
Infantry School, Fort Benning, Georgia.
The center of gravity of wheeled vehicles
and weapons is determined by the army
unit.
Information concerning unloaded vehicles
can be found in T. M. 9-2800, but
it is advisable for each unit to determine
the center of gravity of each weapon and
vehicle, since no two units will combat-
The dual use of antiaircraft artillery,
as a weapon against aerial attack and as
a weapon against ground targets, was
featured in demonstrations given at Fort
Bliss during the two-day intensive training
and orientation program for visiting
cadets of the United States Military
Academy Class of 1952, in June.
The cadets witnessed demonstrations
62
load their vehicles alike. Placing the
load in the correct place in the aircraft
is not enough.
The load is secured so that it will remain
in position. Therefore, instruction
in the computations of lashing is necessary.
The number of lashings required
to keep any vehicle, weapon or piece of
cargo in place can be computed. These
computations reflect the weight of the
cargo to be lashed, the angles at which
the lashings are tied, and the strength of
the tie-down fittings of the particular aircraft
and the strength of the lashing m3terials
used. Many types of lashing materials
may be used.
Rope was the old stand-by and can still
be used for light loads. However, chain
deYices have been developed which are
better for securing heavy equipment
such as the 90mm AA gun and the M19.
Other devices available include strap
webbing, steel cable and the Evans Skyloader
Kit.
Rope is the easiest of all securing devices
to obtain. All personnel in your
unit should receive instruction in the
care of rope and the tying of the knots
used in air transportability. Just any knot
won't do.
The knots used to secure cargo in aircraft
are: the double half-hitch, which
is used to secure the lashings to the tiedown
fitting in the aircraft; the baker
bowline, used to provide a method of
tightening the lashing; and the slippery
half-hitch, used to secure the lashing,
These knots are not difficult to learn and
a large number of men can be trained
to tie them in a very short time.
In addition you will want your troops
to be familiar with the operations of the
other securing devices, now standard
West Pointers Visit Bliss
of light antiaircraft artillery aerial firing
on Hueco Range No.2, a demonstration
of medium and heavy AAA aerial firing
on Hueco Range No.4, and a demonstration
of AM surface firing in close
support of infantry at Dona Ana Range.
The visitors also made a trip to the
1st Guided Missile Group area, to the
guided missile department of the Anti-
equipment for modern cargo aircraft.
They should be provided with the opportunities
to practice securing typical
loads utilizing all devices.
Usually it is impossible to obtain cargo
aircraft for practice loading. l\lock-ups
of the cargo aircraft can be used for training
in loading and lashing and 'will accomplish
essentially the same results.
l\lock-ups of the C-1l9 and C-124 aircraft
should be available at every training
center to allow troops to practice loading
and securing equipment in the medium
and heavy cargo aircraft.
AFTER your unit has completed this
phase of training and has become proficient
in loading and lashing equipment
on the mock-ups, cargo aircraft should
be obtained for an indoctrination flight.
This flight should be made with typical
loads for your unit, the troops loading
and securing the equipment, and then
flying '!I'ith the load they have secured.
Before you take your unit to an airfield
for the indoctrination flight, you will
want to see that they are instructed in
flight safety.
Flight safety instruction should cover
conduct of the personnel at the airfield
as well as in flight. Because the parachute
is standard equipment for everyone
participating in a flight, the procedure
for proper adjustment of the parachute
is taught to each man. An incorrectly
adjusted 'chute can result in
serious injury if one has to jump.
When your unit has successfully completed
its indoctrination flights, then, and
not until then, can you say that your
unit is fully trained and ready to take
its rightful place in the army of today.
aircraft and Guided Missiles Branch of
The Artillery School, and to the radar
park of AFF Board No.4 where they
viewed new AAA equipment.
The West Pointers, traveling by plane,
arrived in two increments, one on June
16 and the other on June 17. After their
two-day instruction period, they departed
on June 20.
ANTIAIRCRAFT JOURNAL