Description
U.S. Army and Air Force Technical Manual TM 9-1385-9 for Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance, January 1962
Item Overview
This vintage U.S. military technical manual covers explosive ordnance reconnaissance during the early Cold War. Published in January 1962, it carries the Army designation TM 9-1385-9 and the related Air Force designation TO 11A-1-49. The manual was prepared to help trained personnel recognize, locate, mark, and report suspected explosive ordnance. This listing is for the technical manual only. It does not include ammunition, explosives, tools, weapons, or ordnance equipment.
Publication Details
This joint-service publication provided a common reference for Army and Air Force personnel responsible for gathering and reporting basic information about suspected military ordnance.
- Army manual number: TM 9-1385-9
- Air Force manual number: TO 11A-1-49
- Official title: Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance
- Publication date: January 1962
- Issuing services: U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force
- Publication type: Explosive ordnance reconnaissance reference
- Historical period: Early Cold War
- Country of origin: United States
- Item included: Technical manual only
Manual Purpose
Explosive ordnance reconnaissance was the first step in responding to suspected unexploded ordnance. Personnel were trained to observe an object from a safe position, note its visible features and location, mark the surrounding area, and report the information through military channels. This process helped explosive ordnance disposal specialists decide what equipment and support might be required. Reconnaissance personnel were not expected to disarm or dispose of the item.
Scope of Explosive Ordnance Reconnaissance
Military personnel could encounter many forms of explosive ordnance, including aircraft bombs, artillery and mortar projectiles, rockets, missiles, grenades, mines, demolition devices, pyrotechnics, and related components. A reconnaissance reference helped personnel describe unfamiliar items by their shape, size, markings, condition, and surroundings without disturbing them. Standard reports reduced confusion and allowed trained disposal teams to respond with better information.
Historical Background
American explosive ordnance disposal work grew from the bomb-disposal programs created during World War II. During the Cold War, the armed forces handled a growing range of bombs, rockets, missiles, mines, and other advanced munitions. Joint references such as TM 9-1385-9 helped the Army and Air Force use consistent recognition and reporting methods when unidentified ordnance was discovered.
History of Use
Explosive ordnance reconnaissance training was used by military personnel and was also shared with civil-defense and public-safety organizations during the 1960s. U.S. Continental Army Command records show that local civil-defense personnel received this type of training by fiscal year 1963. By fiscal year 1965, more than 8,000 state and local police officers had received explosive ordnance reconnaissance instruction. TM 9-1385-9 was still listed as an official reference in the Army’s 1967 explosives and demolitions field manual, showing its continued value after publication.
Collector and Research Value
This manual is a useful addition to a collection focused on military technical publications, bomb disposal, unexploded ordnance, civil defense, or Cold War training. It also provides researchers and museums with a period reference for studying how the armed forces organized the early identification and reporting of hazardous military ordnance.
Condition
This vintage technical manual may show cover wear, edge wear, folds, yellowing, stains, writing, stamps, punched holes, loose pages, or other signs of age and military storage. Printing details and condition may vary between available copies.
Ideal For
TM 9-1385-9 is well suited for military collections, historical research, museum exhibits, and displays covering the development of explosive ordnance reconnaissance and disposal programs.
- U.S. Army and Air Force manual collections
- Explosive ordnance disposal history
- Cold War military research
- Unexploded ordnance training displays
- Civil-defense and public-safety collections
- Museum and archival reference collections
Approx length 8", Approx width 10", Approx height .25", Approx weight .5lbs.
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