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daily mission requirements by 1800 hours on the previous evening. However, standing operating procedures were such that a mission could be initiated in less than an hour if necessary.

If time permitted, an aerial reconnaissance was conduced by the airmobile company commanding officer, a representative of the aviation battalion, and a representative from the supported unit. During the reconnaissance, approach and departure routes were selected, condition and size of the landing zone were noted, and flight formations, check points, and altitudes to be flown were determined. Reconnaissance air traffic over the intended landing zone was closely controlled in order to achieve the element of surprise.

Various companies used different helicopter formations enroute to a combat assault. A major consideration in the selection of a formation was the size and shape of a landing zone and the company commander's requirements for disembarking his troops after landing. A modified trail formation was sometimes used when an uninterrupted flow of troops into a small landing area was desired. The formation most frequently used was the "V". This formation proved to be versatile, easy to control, and permitted landing of the fight in a minimum of time without bunching. Helicopters normally flew about 45 degrees to the side and read of the lead ship and high enough to be out of the rotor wash. Armed helicopters operated at the same altitude as the escorted force. A reconnaissance element of two or four armed helicopters preceded the transports by one to five minutes while the remaining escorts normally flanked the transports in a trail formation. If additional armed ships were available, they were positioned in the rear of the transports to engage targets under the flight.

The helicopter companies always attempted to plan return routes that were different from the approach routes. For subsequent lifts routes were varied slightly to avoid flying over a given area more than once. If one landing zone was used several times, the final approach and entry for each lift was varied if at all possible. In mountainous areas and in some jungle areas, it was not possible to vary the route of approach. Consequently, every attempt was made to land the troops in the shortest possible time to minimize danger.

Any deviation from the original air movement or landing plan was co-ordinated with the commander of the air-lifted force prior to execution. If the landing zone was heavily defended the mission commander could notify the commander of the air-lifted force and proceed to a pre-planned alternate landing zone.