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LIAISON AIRCRAFT HISTORY- FIRST AIR OP
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It was the 5th of November, snow was on the ground, it was windy, and the flight crew was stiff from the bitter cold. The battalion report stated, “The target was about 3200 yards from the battery. It was a dark day, a dark target and a dark background.” In spite of dark overcast, aircraft #10 very easily picked out the target and transmitted the coordinates back to the battery commander. After the first volley the observer reported the position of the shots with reference to the target. He then adjusted two more ranging shots and then the guns destroyed target on the fourth volley. Mission accomplished, the frail fabric-covered machine returned to the ground.
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The place? Fort Riley, Kansas. The year? 1912! The pilot from the 29th Infantry Division was none other than 2nd Lt. Henry H. Arnold, future head of the Army Air Forces. His observer that day was Lt. Follett Bradley who earned a Silver Star and the French Croix de Guerre in WWI and later retired as a Major General. This was the very first use of an airplane as an “Air OP” (Aerial Observation Post) by the U.S. Army to adjust artillery fire. The corrections were sent using Morse Code via the first two-way “wireless” aircraft radio which had been first successfully tested the previous day.
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In 1946, ‘Hap’ Arnold wrote, “Artillery liaison planes did a great job in the war just won. Some feel, and with good reason, that the exploitation of the capabilities of the Air OP was the outstanding artillery development of World War II. In these dynamic times, no man can foresee with any certainty the shape and form that artillery may take, if war comes again. It seems to me, however, that regardless of the type of artillery machines employed, the primary battle role of the artillery will remain substantially unchanged — namely, to support the foot soldier and to deepen the battle area. In any event, I am profoundly convinced now—even as I was in 1912—that the airplane can, and will, facilitate immeasurably the successful accomplishment of the artillery mission.” -
Before I became an Army Officer and aviator, I was an enlisted Aeroscout Observer in OH-58Cs. As Aeroscout we did the navigation, observation (with binos) and calls for fire while the warrant officer pilot flew. We also had to be able to take off and land as well as handle emergencies to include 180 deg auto rotations. I did not know these two great men started it all in 1912. Thanks for sharing.
By the way glad I did not have to depend on Morse code to send my calls for fire!
Matt
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