 
Military communications: from ancient times to the 21st centuryBy Christopher H. Sterlinga review Reviews
Editorial Review - Library
Journal vol. 133 iss. 3 p. 136 (c) 02/15/2008
Edited by Sterling (media & public affairs, George Washington Univ.; Shaping America's Telecommunications ) and written by more than 30 academics and experts in the fields of military history, media, political sciences, and communications, this reference work offers over 300 entries on the subject of communications technologies and their applications in the military field. From fires and flags to satellites and blackberries, military communications have evolved side by side with technological breakthroughs. Ranging from ancient times to the current Iraq War, this authoritative reference work takes a comprehensive view of the evolution, development, and progress of military communications and communication technologies and techniques that have proven vital to the military throughout history. Included are examples from armed forces around the world, with a focus on the United States, where many of the most dramatic advances in communications techniques and technology have taken place. Numerous entries focus on specific battles where communications superiority helped decide the outcome. Cross-references, additional readings, and sources are provided at the end of each entry. BOTTOM LINE Although not intended as an exhaustive resource for communications technologies, this volume delivers an abundance of information on the topic. Accessible and ideal for military aficionados and military history researchers, it is recommended for medium to large public libraries and individuals with large military history collections. [Ebook ISBN
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http://www.afvn.tv/ProjectJenny/history.html
1960-1962 (?) Under contract to US Navy, A
NorthWestern US University builds and tests the first airborne TV
broadcast test platform using an R-5 (DC-5) aircraft and VHF broadcast
frequencies. This effort becomes the "Proof of Concept" for
future Project Jenny efforts.
Welcome to the Blue Eagle Nest
To the amazing Blue Eagle Crews and
the History they made
In October 1965, a US Navy aircraft equipped as an
airborne broadcast station performed an airborne radio relay broadcast
of the World Series over South Vietnam becoming the worlds first
operational airborne broadcast station. In February of 1966, television
arrived on the scene in South Vietnam and another new page went into the
broadcasting history book. TV shows were broadcast on Channel 11 for
AFVN (the American Forces Vietnam Network), and on Channel 9 for THVN TV
(the official station of the Republic of Vietnam). TV was broadcast from
U.S. Navy NC-121J (Super Constellation) aircraft. These aircraft were
known as Blue Eagles and operated as Project Jenny. The aircraft were
assigned to the U.S. Navy aviation squadron VXN-8 (originally OASU) home
based at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Md. Two Blue Eagle
aircraft were based at Tan Son Nhut AB in Saigon to provide TV broadcast
services for AFVN and THVN. A third aircraft was based at DaNang AB to
provide airborne PSYOPS radio broadcast services for MACV-SOG. This web
page is dedicated to the guys who designed, built and flew those Blue
Eagle aircraft from 1965 to 1970 and to Captain George Dixon USN
(deceased), the founding father of Project Jenny.NOTE: When viewing the Blue Eagle Video below, please use browser BACK or RETURN button to get back to this page. Video requires RealPlayer rev. 8 or greater installed on your computer. If you don't have a RealPlayer, a link is provided to obtain a free one.
This web page is in the early stages. If anyone
has any additions or corrections, please contact Steve
"Robbie" Robbins RMC(AC), USNR, Ret. (Project Jenny 1965
thru 1969). Last Update 26 Mar 03 SJR
HISTORY OF PROJECT JENNY
NOTE: The intent of this section is to document the OFFICIAL as well
as the UNOFFICIAL - BUT MORE FUN aspects of the History of Project
Jenny. Please provide any stories to Steve Robbins at midivet@erols.com
A great deal of information is missing about the real history of
Project Jenny, and most of the unofficial stories remain to be told. All
articles posted in (red) are not necessarily backed up by written
history. For instance, the 1960-1962 entry comes from information
provided by Mr Neil Vanderdusen, RCA Project Manager at RCA Camden
during a briefing that he gave to the 1st tech crew in training in
early 1965 and is dependent upon the memories of the author. All
articles printed in (black) are backed up by official written material
from the 1960's such as squadron papers, Official DOD AFVN History,
etc etc. All articles printed in (blue) are the
Unofficial - But More Fun type stories told by crew members as
filtered through the years of fading memories and possibly a few Bah-Mui-Bas'
at the time of the incident.
1962 US Navy temporarily installs RCA radio/TV broadcast equipmentin two R6D (C-118) aircraft with the intent of using the capabilities during the Cuban Missile Crises. Installation not completed in time to use, but aircraft put in storage for use at a later date. Aircraft were assigned to VR-1 and were nose numbers 611 and 429. Late 1964 (?) DOD formulates plan to develop airborne radio/TVbroadcast capabilities to be used in the Southeast Asia conflict in Psychological Warfare Operations. Nov/Dec 1964 Navy Capt. George Dixon recalled to active duty to become Project Manager. Capt. Dixon had previously retired from The Office of Director of Naval Communications and was functioning as a Vice Presidentof TMC Corp. in New York. Capt. Dixon was an ex navy RM and WW II enlisted pilot who was commissioned (but not in the aviation field) after crashing a seaplane. He went on to become one of the founding fathers of the current naval communications system. Capt. Dixon holds discussions with RCA concerning the feasibility of building Project Jenny. RCA states that the project is probably not feasible, but that they will provide equipment and technical expertise to support project completion. Initial plans are developed to start the project with technical assistance from TMC and RCA but primarily using navy enlisted crews to build the project. Jan- 1965 Construction of the first Blue Eagle aircraft started at (? - Andrews AFB, Lockheed JFK or NAS Patuxent River). Blue Eagle I (BUNO 131726) provided by the AEWTULANT Pax River becomes the first project aircraft and is configured to do only radio broadcast missions (AM, FM and SW). At the same time two R6D's (BUNO's 131611 and 131429) provided by VR-1 Pax River, temporarily configured as TV Test Platforms are used to test the design of various TV broadcast antennas. Initial fabrication efforts for Blue Eagle I were provided by enlisted ET's and SK from Naval Communications Systems HQ and by aircrew members from AEWTULANT and VR-1. Footnote - looking for info on exactly where the first birds were built and names of the crewmen who were involved. Those remembered are ADRC George Orlandi, ET1 Bruce Parett, ET2 Herbie Braun, AT1 Kelly Goode, SKC Jim James, ATC Doug Naylor May 20 1965 Technical training begins. Two groups of navy personnel are ordered to factory schools to train as crew members for ProjectJenny. One group of 6 EM's and EN's are assigned to the TMC plant in Alexandria VA to learn the diesel generator that was initially used as a power source aboard the aircraft. One group of 6 officers and approximately 20 enlisted were assigned to go to broadcast engineering school at RCA CamdenNJ/RCA Meadowlands PA. Of the officers selected, two were Intelligence types from the Naval Security Group in DC and 4 were NFO's from VW-4. The enlisted selected to attend broadcast engineering school were primarily ET's mostly from the Nuclear Power School at Groton CT, 3 RM's who had commercial FCC licenses and 2 navy photographers. Footnote: all orders were issued on a 24 hour notice. The crew going to RCA Camden received orders to"Report to Mr. Neil Vanderdusen on the corner of Front and Cooper streets, Camden NJ prior to 0800 the next morning" No other info was given on the orders, and by 0800 the next morning there were a bunch of very confused sailors standing on a street corner in Camden NJ. The officers decided that they didn't like not knowing what was going on, so Lt. Harris (from theSecGru) immediately turned over control of the group to ETC Lucas who was the senior enlisted. During the whole training period the crew was not told why we were learning broadcast engineering, however given the labor mix, we rapidly determined that we were going to be flying spy missions on a nuclear powered aircraft. The project mission was explained the day we graduated from the school on 13 June 65, and our inital estimate of what the mission was to be was not toooooo far off. June 14 1965 Initial schooling completed and crews report to VR-1 at Pax River to begin operational training and flight testing on the two R6D's that are configured as temporary broadcast platforms. Local PaxRiv area flight testing begins supported by RCA Tech Rep Mr. Bill Daugherty. July 1 1965 AEWTULANT becomes OASU (Oceanographic Air Survey Unit) July 1965 Pax River tech crews detached from VR-1 and report to NAF Andrews AFB to commence work on construction of Blue Eagle II(BUNO 128444) and Blue Eagle III (BUNO 131641). Equipment is stripped off the R6D's to be repackaged for installation on BE II and III. Crewsa re transferred to OASU, TDY to Andrews AFB. Sept 1965 Blue Eagle I ordered to NAS Roosevelt Roads Puerto Rico to fly PSYOPS missions in support of the revolution going on in the Dominican Republic. BE I flys' radio broadcast missions when the radio station in the country is taken over by rebels. Aircraft on station for approximately 2 weeks and then returns to Andrews AFB Oct 1965 Blue Eagle I ordered to Saigon to fly first broadcast mission (broadcasting the world series) out of Tan Son Nhut AB in Saigon RVN in support of AFVN operations on Oct 6 1965. Footnote: not sure if BEI returned to the US at the end of this broadcast mission...or whether it stays in Vietnam to commence the DaNang Psyops mission. Oct 1965 Aircraft BUNO 313 is used to fly the tech crews from Andrews AFB to RCA Meadowlands Pa to observe transmitter construction techniques. The PPC lands at the wrong airport outside of Pittsburgh PA and sets a record for the only 4 engine aircraft to land at this small airport. Nov 1965 Fabrication of Blue Eagle II complete and first test flight of a TV mission takes place. WRC Channel 4 Washington DC goes off the air at midnight and the remaining reel of a black and white film is broadcast from BE II flying an orbital path around the DC beltway. During the test flight the 4 channel VFTG Teletype equipment is also tested in a termination with NSS (NavComSta Washington). Dec 1965 Blue Eagle II departs for Saigon to begin operations. Problems occur when the Vietnamese govt. changes the frequency allocation for TV Broadcasts and the TV transmitters have to be retuned. ET2 O'Donnell is dispatched to Saigon to help with the conversion and becomes known as "Shaky" O'Donnell when he is badly burned with RF while working on the TV transmitters. Jan 1966 Fabrication of Blue Eagle III complete and aircraft departs for Tan Son Nhut. On 21 Jan 1966, OASU Det Westpac is officially established at Tan Son Nhut AB in the Republic of Vietnam. First test flight of a Blue Eagle aircraft (BE III) in Vietnam occurs on 23 Jan 66. LCDR E.C. Henderson becomes the first OIC. Feb 1 1966 (approximately) Blue Eagle III moved to TSN base operations building to tape the opening broadcast message from Premier Nguyen Cao Ky, US Ambassador Lodge and Gen Westmoreland. Feb 7 1966 First successful dual channel AFVN and THVN TV broadcastis completed. Blue Eagles are on the air. Blue Eagles II and III flying TV broadcast missions in South Vietnam and Blue Eagle I flying PSYOPS missions in the Gulf of Tonkin over North Vietnam. April 13 1966 First mortar attack at Tan Son Nhut AB. Blue Eagles I and III receive minor damage from shrapnel, however Blue Eagle II receives two direct hits, one above the aft cargo hatch going directly into the GTPU that powered the broadcast systems and one in the aft vertical stabilizers. Blue Eagles I and III are repaired within days...and Blue Eagle II completes repairs within the next month. Three officers and one enlisted receive purple hearts for wounds received during attack. May 11 1966 All Blue Eagle repairs completed and full broadcast schedule resumed. Oct 25 1966 AFVN and THVN Ground Stations in Saigon become operational. Blue Eagle TV broadcasts are shifted from the Saigon Area South into the "Delta Region" April 1967 Blue Eagle I (BUNO 627) returns to Vietnam from PAR at JFK airport, shifts their base to the Naval Air Facility at DaNang airbase and VXN-8 Det DaNang is established with LT Gidge as the first OinC. July 1 1967 OASU redesignated as VX-8 (Air Development Squadron 8) Jan 31 1968 Vietnamese Tet offensive starts. AFVN Station at Hue under attack for next 4 days by North Vietnamese Regulars and VC. Feb 4 1968 AFVN Hue is overrun and CO and four enlisted are taken POW and two enlisted are executed by VC. VOA/USIA broadcast station in Hue also destroyed with many employees taken POW. Additional damage was received at the DaNang AFVN station which received over 800 hits putting it out of commission. Northern AFVN/THVN TV operations now off the air and are rapidly replaced by Blue Eagle TV birds flying broadcast missions in the I Corps Area. Footnote: I recently had a conversation the ex CO of AFVN Hue and he and his 5 troops were all returned when the POW's came home. Jan 1 1969 VX-8 redesignated VXN-8 Sept 30 1970 Blue Eagles fly last regular TV broadcast missions Note, according to information received from Mr Jim Andrews, AFVN Broadcast Engineer 1970-1971, Project Jenny personnel stripped off some of the broadcast equipment, and left it in Saigon for AFVN/THVN use. However, one aircraft was left behind to support contingency operations. This may have been Blue Eagle VI, however am not exactly sure. Disposition of the aircraft left behind may have been to turn aircraft over to US Air Force and it eventually became a part of the Air Force Project Coronet Solo, the forerunner of Project Commando Solo (the 193 Special Operations Wing the PA Air National Guard) that provided PSYOPS radio broadcast services in Afghanistan.
RELATED WEB SITES
AVIATION WEB SITES
The Willy Victor Roster This great web site contains information on all US Navy Willy Victor, EC-121 and C-121 Squadrons. It includes a section on OASU/VXN-8 VP NAVY This web site contains information on VXN-8. The site focuses on the newer P-3 based VXN-8 but also contains information from our time with this great squadron Willy Victor Page Wes Mortensens' great Willy Victor page that includes info on reunions at Pax River for Willy Victor/C-121 flight crews. MILITARY BROADCASTING (VIETNAM WAR ERA) RELATED WEB SITES Dr Bob Moorecooks' AFVN Web Site This web site contains a Project Jenny section and includes many hours of on-line audio files of AFVN broadcasts from Vietnam Bruce Wahls' AFVN WebSite Homebased in Chesapeake Beach Md, and the master site for this webpage, this page also contains hours of audio files broadcast from AFVN Oldies 104/WHTT Buffalo This online Oldies radio station in Buffalo NY has great sounds from the Vietnam era. Listen in on Sunday 10AM to 3pm EST to Hank Nevins (former AFVN DJ) spinning the favorites, along with a few AFVN sounds VIETNAM VETERANS RELATED WEB SITES Vietnam Veterans Home Page This web site, by far the largest Vietnam Vets web site in existance provides a great walk down memory lane and contains among other things, stories by Vietnam Vets, interactive Vietnam War History and PTSD forums, information of all types related to Vietnam Vets, a PX section and a also includes a GoodMorning Vietnam MIDI music section hosted by Project Jenny vet Steve Robbins The Virtual Wall This web site provides a great overview of "The Vietnam War Memorial" located in DC and also provides a great way to leave a tribute to those who gave their all in the Vietnam War. This is a DON'T MISS web site for those with an interest in the Vietnam War. MACV-SOG This web site provides an overview of MACV-SOG, the organization that Project Jenny flew the DaNang airborne PSYOPS missions for. It also contains the write-up for the Presidential Unit Citation awarded to MACV-SOG personnel. Department of Veterans Affairs This government web site contains a wealth of information on Veterans Benefits
Note: Please use your browser back or return
button to get back to this page after viewing pages of articles Blue Eagle Crew List  Officers
DIXON, GEORGE CAPT USN (DECEASED)
Project Jenny Founder
BAGEMIHL, C.R. LTJG (PURPLE HEART) BRENNAN, JOHN LCDR BROWN, T.A. LT BROWN, MARION LCDR CLARK, CARL J. LT COULON, MAURICE W. LTJG DEFRENTAS, FRANK LT DESJARDIN, J.W. LCDR DOBBINS, ENS DUKES, CHARLES G. LT FERRIS, DONALD L. LCDR GALLAGHER, JAMES A. LT GAUL LT GIDGE, ROBERT N. LT GIRTMAN, J.C. LTJG (PURPLE HEART) GOBEAUX, R.F. LCDR (PURPLE HEART) HAMPTON, TOM LT HENDERSON, E.C. LCDR (PURPLE HEART) HOPKINS LT HOGARTH, THOMAS E. LTJG HUNTER LT HYDE, J.D. LTJG JANULIS, GEORGE (N) CDR JORDAN, JAMES H. LTJG KNOLL, JOHN LT KOOZER, RALPH LTJG MC KINNEY, GALE W. LCDR MC MICHAEL W.A. LTJG METZ, FORREST L. CDR MONROE, CHARLES LCDR PATTERSON, DALE W. LT PIERCE, JULIUS S. LTJG PULLEN, ELLIS M. LT QUINN LT RHATIGAN, J.T. LT ROLLINS, RICHARD A. LTJG SCHMIDT, LTJG SMITH, CHESTER R. CDR STADELHOFFER, LCDR TRIPLETT LCDR WADDELL, J.W. LCDR WILSON, CLARENCE E. LCDR  Enlisted AHAND, TONY ASHLEY, DENNIS ADRAN BARNHILL, ADRC BATSON, "RED'' ADR1 BELODEAU, LAWRENCE K. AE1 BERRY, RONALD ET3 BITTLESON, ROY ETN3 BORDEAUX, JAMES L. RM3 BOURN, DENNIS J. ATN2 BOWHUS, TERRANCE ADC BRANHAM, JERRY AN BRAUN, HERBERT L. ETN2 BROWN, J.T. ADR1 BROWN, W.L. AE2 BUELWICH, TED AMH2 BURKE ADC BURR, R.J. AE3 BUSHMAN, JERROLD L AEC CALDWELL, JAMES T. ADR2 CALHOUN, C.W. ETC CARNEY, JOHN ET2 CERVANTEZ, ESEQUIEL AMS1 CLOUTIER, R.J. ADR2 COHEN, ZAK. (N) ET1 COLLINS, C.M. ETN3 CONNOLY ET2 CONRO, EARL J. AMH1 COUCH, WILLIAM CRAMER, WAYNE W. ADRC DEAN, JOHN ATN2 DIVITO, GEORGE AN DOM, STUART N. ETN2 DUHR, RUDY A. EN1 EATON, BILL ADRAN EMERSON, N.V. ATR2 ENGLISH, CHARLES T. AEC ERICSON, BRUCE ESTRADA, RON ETN2 FARKAS, DON ADR1 FIELDER, JACKIE L. ADR2 FISH, JERRY PO1 FISHER, JACKIE L. ADR3 FERGUSON, DAVID ATN3 FLORA, BILL ADRC FLOWERS, ATC FREESE, C.L. ADRC FURR, ROY ADC GALANEDES, TONY ETN2 GARBOSKI, E.F. AN GODAT, (?) AN GOODE, KELLIE.D. AT1 GRENON, ALMON J. JR. ETN2 GIBSON, C.W. AMH1 HACKBARTH, JAMES L. ATR3 HAGWOOD, TOM (N) ADRC HALEY, CHARLES R. ET1 HANNUS, M.F. AT1 HARVEY, I.M. AE2 HICKS, JAMES ET1 HILTON, BOBBY EM3 HONEYCUTT, A.E. AK2 HORNING, A.S. AE1 INGOLD, PAUL K. ETR2 JAMES, JIMMY SKC JONES, E.L. ADR3 KEISOW, WAYNE ADC KELSEA, O.G. ADR1 KEPPEL, D.D. AMS1 KENNEY, JOHN AMH1 KERNS, ROLLIN F. AMC KERRIGAN, W.P. ADR2 KOLODJAY, EDWARD.T. AMH3 (PURPLE HEART) KOVICH, JOHN AMS1 LASSITER, JIMMY AN LENTZ, G.A. AMS2 LEROY, BILL AE? LEWIS, (?) ADR3 LINFORD, RON AK2 LIVELY, JAMES A. EM1 LUCAS, JOHN R. ETC MACINTOSH, SCOTT I. RM3 MANN, EARL L. ADR2 MAST, FRED ADR1 MCCARTHY, JOSEPH AE1 MCGRATH, LARRY J. AMHC MILLER, DOUGLAS W. ATN3 MILLER, MIKE AT3 MILLER, GERALD M. AE2 MISKELLEY AT1 MONTEST, R.E. EN2 MOORE, R.W. ATR2 MOORE, THOMAS A. PN2 MORRISSETTE, BOB AMHC/WO1 MOSCATELLO, CHARLES JR. ATN3 MURPHY, GREG ET2 MUSZYNSKI, BILL ABH2 NASON, DON RM2 NAYLOR, DOUGLAS J. ATC (DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS) NEWLIN, A.J. RM1 ORLANDI, GEORGE M. ADRC OSTER, W.A. ET1 OVERSHIMER, E.E. ADR2 PADGETT ATC PARET, BRUCE P. ET1 PENNINGTON, STEVE ADRAN PHILLIPS, CECIL.W. AMH1 PIERCE AMH2 PRENTISS, R.L. ADRC RAINES, ART AE3 REMAILY, J.B. JR. AMH3 RENOLDS, CHARLES ADC RICHARD, SIMON L. ATR2 RIGG, JERRY PR3 ROBBINS, STEPHEN J. RM1 ROBERTS, JOHN C. ATN3 ROBERTS, JOHN D AZ2 ROSS, T.R. ADR3 SAILORS, R.L. ADR2 SCHLANSER, J.P. AMH3 SCIDA, JOHN T. ET1 SCOTT, D.V. RM1 SELTZER, C.A. AE3 SHETLER, L ET2 SMITH, A.D. ADR2 SMITH, "SNUFFY" ATCS SMITHERS, WILLIAM ETC SPAK, STEPHEN AT2 STAIR, R.C. ATN2 STALEY, BILL ADC (DECEASED) STANCAVAGE, RONALD (N) RM1 (DECEASED) STEPONAVICH, WALTER STREALY ATN3 STROGEN, PAUL ET1 STRUMFELS, WILLIAM ADR2 STURDEVANT, J.S. ADR3 TERSICH, S. (N) AMS3 THOMAS, L.R. ADR1 THOMPSON, TOMMY AT1 TODD, "BUZZ" ADRAN TROTTER, JERRY EN2 TRUE, E.V. ADR2 TURNER ADRAN ULMER, BOB ADRAN VOGELZANG, BOB AK3 VONPOPPENHEIM, ERIC ADR2 WALKER, NORMAN L. ETN2 WALKER, KEITH AMH1 WALLACE ADCS WALLICK, ROLAND ET1 (DECEASED) WARNER, JAMES ET1 WATKINS, J. (N) ADR1 WATTS, RICHARD A. ATNAN WELCH, E.C. ADR2 WIDOWSKI, TOM WILKINS, BROZIE AM1 WILLIAMS, WILLIE ADR2 WILLIS R.A. AMH1 WILSON, AMOS ADR(?) WOOD, ROBERT K. EN2 WOOTRESS, WILLIAM C. EM2 WRIGHT, DAVE EN1 YODER, VICTOR P. ET1 TONEY, R.D. EN1 VON POPPENHEIM, J.C. ADR2 VITO, JOHN ET1 ZIMMERMAN, ROY ADR1 RCA TECHREPS DOUGHERTY, WILLIAM
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