History of the 600th Photo Sq. in RVN & Thailand from Jul67 - Dec67

88 Pages·2004·0.26 MB·English

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HISTORY OF THE 600TH PHOTOGRAPHIC SQUADRON

1 JULY 1967 - 31 DECEMBER 1967

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Prepared by o
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1Lt G.D. UPCHUoRCH
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Approved
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ALTERIO GALLERANI
Colonel, USAF
Commander

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CONTENTS
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Table of Contents .............................................................................. ii
List of ILLUSTRATIONS ................................................................ v
I. MISSION AND RESOURCES ........................................................ 1
A. Background ................................................................................ 1
B. Mission ..............................................................................g......... 3
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Combat Documentation ..........................................o................... 3
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Aircraft Gun Camera Photography ...............q........................... 3
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Aircraft Camera Blisters and Pods ....o..................................... 3
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Aircraft Radar Scope Photographoy .......................................... 3
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KA-71 Strike Photography ....................................................... 3
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Motion Picture Laboratory ...................................................... 4
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Base Photography Laboratories ................................................. 4
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C. Command .6.................................................................................... 4
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D. Organiwzation ................................................................................. 4
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E. Personnel ...................................................................................... 5
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F. Equipment .................................................................................... 6
G. Funds ............................................................................................ 6
II. OPERATIONS ...................................................................................... 8
A. Background ................................................................................... 8
B. Combat Documentation Photography ......................................... 8
C. Motion Picture Laboratories ........................................................ 13

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Page
D. Still Photography ........................................................................ 13
E. Film Control ............................................................................... 15
F. Editorial ....................................................................................... 16
G. Film Library ................................................................................ 16
H. Commando Camera .................................................................... 17
III. ADMINISTRATION .................................................................g........... 20
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IV. TRAINING .......................................................................o.................... 23
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V. MAINTENANCE .....................................................q............................ 25
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VI. SUPPLY .........................................................o...................................... 27
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VII. FOOTNOTES ........................................o............................................... 29
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VIII. APPENDIX ........................................................................................... 30
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A. Lineage ......................................................................................... 30
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B. Key Personnel ............................................................................. 31
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C. List of Pro6jects ........................................................................... 32
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D. Organiwzational Charts ................................................................. 37
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E. Detachment Reports ................................................................... 42
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Detachment 1 ............................................................................. 42
Detachment 2 ............................................................................. 42
Detachment 3 .............................................................................. 42
Detachment 4 .............................................................................. 47
Detachment 5 .............................................................................. 49
Detachment 6 .............................................................................. 51
Detachment 7 .............................................................................. 52
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Page
Detachment 8 ........................................................................... 54
Detachment 9 ............................................................................ 42
Detachment 10 ........................................................................... 42
Detachment 11 ........................................................................... 42
Detachment 12 ............................................................................ 42
Detachment 13 .................................................................g........... 57
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Detachment 14 ........................................................o.................... 58
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Detachment 15 ................................................q............................ 60
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Detachment 16 ......................................o...................................... 61
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LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
1. CHARTS Page
600th Photo Sq Organizational Chart ....................................... 37
Operations Organizational Chart ............................................... 38
Administration Organizational Chart ......................................... 39
Maintenance Organizational Chart .................................g............ 40
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Supply Organizational Chart ..................................o.................... 41
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2. PHOTOGRAPHS q
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Montage 600th Photographic Squadroon Activities ..................Cover
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600th Photographic Squadron Heoadquarters at
Tan Son Nhut Air Base ............................................................ 3a
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ComDoc Photography. Cameramen in action on a job
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at Korat RTAFB, Thailand ........................................................ 9a
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ComDoc Photography. The MACV team at work ................ 9b
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Airman at 6 work in Motion Picture Laboratory ........................ 12a

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Still Lwaboratory. Airman checking a print
for quality ..................................................................................... 13a
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Still Laboratory. Airman repairing a Versamat ..................... 13b
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Commando Camera. Airman prepare armament recording
cameras for upcoming mission ................................................. 18a

18b

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600th Photo Sq Airmen at Thu Duc Orphanage .................... 20a

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Awards: Page

Colonel Alterio Gallerani at the 1967 Christmas
Party .................................................................................................... 22a
Airman First Class Johnny Griffin receives the
DFC and Air Medal ......................................................................... 22b
Sgt Roy Williamson receives the Air Medal ................................ 22c
Sgt Lee Marshall receives the Commendation
Medal .................................................................................................. 22d

Maintenance. Airman working on a Super Speed camera .................. 25a

Detachment 4 Complex .....................................................................g......... 47a

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Detachment 4 Complex ............................................................o.................. 49a

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Detachment 7 Complex and ComDoc Trailer destroyeqd in
15 July 1967 rocket attack .......................................s................................. 52a
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Detachment 8 Complex .............................................................................. 55a
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Detachment 14 Complex ........................................................................... 59a
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CHAPTER I

MISSION AND RESOURCES
BACKGROUND
On 8 September 1965, Hq PACAF requested that Hq USAF
provide the equipment and manpower needed to accomplish
seven photographic missions in Southeast Asia. The seven
areas of operation were: g
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A. Gun camera photography o
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B. Increased documentation of air strikes q
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C. Base photographic laboratories o
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D. Increased documentation of Air oForce activities
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E. Color motion picture proceaaing at each fighter
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F. Ka-60 strike photography
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G. Scope cam6era photography. ( 1 )
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Air Force Hweadquarters directed APCS (now AAVS ) to
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develop and submit a study of manpower and equipment
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requirements to meet the PACAF requist and further assure
that these functions would have a single manager. ( 2 ) On
18 October 1965, APCS completed its study of this problem
of establishing a single manager for SEA photography. A
visual briefing was presented to Hq Mats ( now MAC ) on 19
October 1965, and to Hq USAF on 1 November 1965. ( 3 )
This presentation concluded with:
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"in brief, the solution is to establish a photographic

squadron at Tan Son Nhut and nine additional detachments

located at Korat, Bien Hoa, DaNang, Takhli, Ubon, Udorn,

Cam Ranh Bay, Phan Rang and Qui Nhon. The squadron and

nine detachments would consist of a combat documentation

crew, a base photographic laboratory and as many of the

following specialized cells as local conditions require: g

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a. Gun camera cell o

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b. Pod camera cell q
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c. Scope photo cell o
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d. KA-60 strike photo cell o
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e. Motion picture laboratory ( 4 )
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At the 1 November 1965 meeting, Hq USAF directed APCS to
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present initial detailed plans by 5 November for the
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establishment of two 6 photo units in SEA. These two units
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would be an intewrim measure calling for a UMD increase
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of twelve slots for Det 5, 1352d Photo Group. APCS
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formulated a plan, and the UMD slots were authorized. ( 5 )
On 10 December 1965, Hq USAF approved the APCS plan
which detailed the establishment of a squadron with nine
detachments. ( 6 )
On 10 January 1966, the plan, AAVS Operation Plan
501, nick named MORE PIX, was published and distributed, In
addition to nine detachments, Plan 501 also called for
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an operating location consisting of four enlisted men and
one officer who would be operationally controlled by Hq
MACV at Saigon.
MISSION
The mission of the 600th Photographic Squadron was
to provide Headquarters USAF, PACAF, and Seventh Air Force
with all required motion picture and still photographic
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services and products exclusive of reconaissance photo-
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graphy. The mission specifically covered eight areas.
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Combat Documentation ( ComDoc ) was the primary mission
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of AAVS. This included covering all USAF activities as
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outlined in AFR 23-22. ComDoc photography was used for
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historical documentation, command cplips, AAVS film
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projects including the Air Force News Review, information-
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al releases and the Arm0ed Forces Vietnam Report.
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Aircraft Gun Camera Photography was to be obtained
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from most tactical fighter aircraft.
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Aircraft Camera Blisters and Pods recorded, on motion
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picture and still photography, air strike from F-100's,
F-105's, F4C's, A-1E's and B-57's.
Aircraft Radar Scope Photography or radar scopes
used KA-26B and O-15 scope cameras.
KA-71A Aircraft Strike Photography consisted of 70mm
panoramic strip photographs from strike aircraft. The
product of the KA-71A cameras was primarily used by the
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