United States Air Force Uses Big Bomb to Clear Helicopter Landing Zones, South Vietnam

Description

OF DEPARTMENT DEPARTMENT NEWSFILM RELEASE OFFICE OF ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF DEFENSE (PUBLIC AFFAIRS) NITED WASHINGTON, D.C. - 20301 STATES OF PLEASE NOTE DATE IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 19, 1970 OXford 76161 Number 101-70 Footage: 43 16mm Color Master Room 2E 773 Time: 1:12 U. S. AIR FORCE USES BIG BOMB TO CLEAR HELICOPTER LANDING ZONES IN SOUTH VIETNAM (Official U. S. Air Force Film Released by the Department of Defense) In early 1969, the 834th Air Division began using the M-121 10,000 pound bomb to create instant landing zones for U. S. Army field units in South Vietnam. These huge devices were highly successful in increasing the Army's mobility in the dense jungles of the Republic of Vietnam. Early this year, a new bomb was introduced to replace the dwindling supply of the World War II surplus stock of 10,000 pound bombs. The new device was the BLU-28/B, a high-yield, low fragmentation bomb weighing 15,000 pounds. In effect, it clears a helicopter landing zone slightly larger than that created by the M-121. The major advantage of the larger bombs is their ability to create a cleaner landing zone requiring less work on the part of the Army engineers who clean the area of three stumps a debris after the blast. When an Army unit requests a landing zone be made, one of the 15,000 pound bombs is put on an Air Force C-130 Hercules and flown to the designated spot. When it arrives in the area, a forward air controller takes over and guides the aircraft to the target. Large parachutes drag the bomb out of the cargo area of the Hercules and the bomb strikes the jungle floor, detonating the device. After the smoke has cleared, the opening in the jungle is visible. The forward air controller flies in close to take a look at the landing zone which has been created in the heavy growth. The information describing the landing zone is transmitted to the Army field commander who made the request for an immediate helicopter landing area. Within an hour or so, the area is capable of handling several helicopters landing simultaneously in the newly created landing zone. - MORE -

Collection

Records of the Office of the Chief Signal Officer

Series

Filmed News Releases