July 31, 1969. USAF tactical reconnaissance missions flown in the III CTZ account for half of the missions completed in Vietnam.

The monsoon season prevented the use of high altitude, large format, split vertical cameras. However, low and medium altitude camera systems used the Texas Printer to enlarge the format to 9x9 prints. Extensive use of high acuity Item I and Item II cameras is being requested. These cameras have been improved and are nov designated the KA-82 and 83. The KA-82 has a 4.5 inch by 29 inch format with a 140 degree panoramic sweep, providing stereo vertical and low oblique pictures of the requested target area. The grain size of the photographic emulsion of the film provides excellent resolving power, resulting in more lines per millimeter. Fine detail can be discerned on the surface of the positive print, the positive film base, and the negative. Small areas can be enlarged 120 times without lose of detail. Large areas can be covered with less cloud obstruction with the panoramic rotary lens, and optical bar at lower altitudes. This allows the aircraft to obtain the required percentage of coverage with a minimum of flight lines. Camouflage detection film (CD), although vertically a misnomer here in Vietnam due to the enemy’s use of natural vegetation for concealment, has been found to be excellent for general interpretation when used to supplement black and white photography. III CTZ units have used the film to detect infrared-absorbing enemy fortifications such as mud bunkers where foliage has been cut in dense jungle and along water ways to determine water depth. CD film is an excellent sensor to determine damage caused by air strikes, artillery, defoliation, and Rome Plow operations. The VNAF Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron has made tremendous strides in development of an operational system in the RC 47. The K-17 and K-38 split vertical cameras provide the formats desired (9x9 and 9x18) on 95% of ARVN unit requests. ARVN units and FWF units are now specifically requesting that these VMAP products be provided because of the excellent quality, easier readout, and proper packaging of the photograph. The RS-10-A and AAS-18 Infrared Systems were used to supplement Army Mohawk night surveillance and target acquisition aircraft. The RF4C was used primarily along the northern borders of the corps. Both the RF4 and RB57 flew night photo cartridge strips for both the psychological impact on enemy units and to monitor infiltration routes along known lines of communication. *