Watch The Big Picture - Aerial Mobility

Experience the American Journey through our country's visual heritage in this historical recording provided by the National Archives of the United States. From the U.S. Army's "The Big Picture" television series, 1950-1975. New tactical use of helicopters, equipped with rockets and machine guns, is seen for the first time on film as the helicopters move in and out of ground force positions, firing their weapons at a simulated enemy. Viewers will be taken on a fast-moving, treetop ride in the bubble of a helicopter as it surveys the terrain on a reconnaissance mission. In observance of the sixteenth anniversay of Army aviation, THE BIG PICTURE has produced an episode that dramatically shows the strides taken in this field. As pointed out in the film, Army aviation does not in any sense duplicate the tactical mission of the Air Force. It's function is solely to increase the Army's ability to win the land battle by increasing its mobility within the confines of the battlefield itself.

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The content summary for this video is adapted from an historical description provided by the government agency or donor at the time of production release.