1946: Vertical Envelopment

The Marine Corps first realized the potential of the helicopter during World War II, but it wasn’t until 1946 that they realized how radically it could improve amphibious strategies. Lieutenant General Roy Geiger was the first to suggest using helicopters in amphibious landings in order to disperse the landing force and reduce the impact of a potential nuclear attack. 
 
LtGen Geiger’s proposal led to the creation of research boards in 1946 and 1947, which combined helicopters and ships to create a doctrine of amphibious vertical envelopment. 
 
Two missions tested the new strategy: Operation Summit proved the effectiveness of helicopters in transporting troops and supplies into combat zones, while Operation Starlite successfully combined a helicopter with an amphibious landing.  
 
When both helicopter operations proved successful, the Marine Air Wing rapidly expanded, supporting multiple missions on land and sea. The vertical envelopment concept shaped the basic structure of similar Marine operations carried out today, and illustrates the technological foresight of Marine Officers past and present.