65 United States Air Force Gunships in the Vietnam
Description
This article is from the Vietnam FAQ, by Brian Ross, John R. Tegtmeier, Edwin E. Moise, Frank Vaughan, John Tegtmeier with numerous contributions by others.
65 United States Air Force Gunships in the Vietnam
by Frank Vaughan
Disclaimer
I am a former gunner on AC-130 Spectre gunships and I thought
I would try and answer some of the recurring questions about gunships.
Please understand the following. I was a gunner, not a pilot,
navigator or other important position. I know quite a bit about
gunships, but in reality, my writing this FAQ is sort of like
having a baggage handler describe the workings of a major airline.
If at any point someone more knowledgeable comes along, I'll gladly
bow to their superior knowledge. In the meanwhile, you're stuck
with me.
Some of this material was posted in various Usenet newsgroups,
and some is from strands of private e-mail conversations.
Helping me in this effort was:
Ralph Hitchens, AC-119K "Stinger" pilot, 71-72. His
contributions are marked with [RH]
Phillips Wheatley <pwheatle@outland.dtcc.edu> former AC-119G
gunner, Jan '69 - Jan '70 [PW]
Karon Campbell <karonc@airmail.net> former USAF [KC]
William G. (Bill) Duckwitz, Col, USAFR, Ret. [DZ]
Dan Ahern, Hostage 46, VMO-2, OV-10 Bronco Driver (ahearns@cris.com)
[DA]
Whenever I use the word "we" in this FAQ, I am using the word is the
broadest possible sense. We, the unit, we the crews, we the gunship
community. Under no circumstances should you think I am referring to
myself, or to actions of the crews that I was on. This FAQ is not
about me, I'm a nobody. This FAQ is about one of the most incredible
weapons platforms ever devised.
First, some history:
Legend says that the concept of the gunship evolved from the way that
mail is delivered in the Australian outback. There, remote settlers
get their mail via small aircraft. Rather than landing and taking off
dozens of times in a day, these light aircraft buzz the home to make
sure someone is there, then take up a shallow orbit overhead. The mail
sack is lowered to the ground, and if the orbit is right, the sack
will lie perfectly still in the center of the orbit (just the opposite
of when you tie a rock to a string and swing it overhead). The
residents could safely approach the mailbag, remove their letters and
insert their outgoing mail. So too, if you are in a perfect orbit, and
fire a gun at the ground from the side of the aircraft, the round will
impact at the center of the orbit (OK, OK, I know it is more complex
that that, but hey, YOU try explaining three-dimensional physics).
Genealogy
"Puff the Magic Dragon" was the nickname given to the AC-47
first-generation gunship. It was also known as "Spooky."
The AC-47 was equipped with three miniguns that were switch selectable
at 4,000 and 8,000 shots per minute (SPM). I have heard, but never
verified that the AC-47's fire control system consisted of a length of
welding rod that was mounted on a wing tip, and an "X" that was etched
on the pilot's side window.
That aircraft was followed by the AC-119G (Shadow) and the AC-119K
(Stinger).
"Reserves from Ohio (still trying to research them and find
them) "brought" their 119's over in late '68 - early
'69...and they stayed their year. They did most of their own
work except a few of us regular USAF were assigned to their
FOL's out of Nha Trang in early '69. A couple of 462's (gun
plumbers) and maybe an electrician. Everyone else in the
early days were USAF Reserves. Somebody in the group had a
printer back home print up business cards and metal hat pins
with "Only the Shadow Knows" and stuff like " We provide
lighting for all occassions" and "Beaucoup Fire Support". I
was proud to be a member of their "family" for a year. I am
going to double my efforts to find out where they were from
and if they still are active. We were the 71st SOS and I
think changed to the 17th SOS." [PW]
"The Reserve guys from Grissom AFB, IN flew the C-119G & K
but in addition the Reserve guys from Clinton Co. AFB, OH
did the pilot training for the RVN. I switched from the
regular Air Force to the Reserves in 1969 and would up as in
IP/Dir. of Safety at Clinton Co. That was the 302 TAW in
those days and the two squadrons were the 355 TAS and the
356 TAS. The training squadron was the 1st TATS. LtCol Frank
Hamilton was the commander. They went out of business in
Clinton Co. AFB was closed in 1971 and the units moved to
Rickenbacher ANGB, OH. The 1st TATS did the pilot training
in the C-119G. When they graduated, the RVN troops went to
Grissom AFB to get their K model indoctrination and actual
gunnery training as we had no guns or range at Clinton Co."
[DZ]
They used a combination of 7.62mm miniguns (4,000/8,000 spm) and
20mm gatlings that fired at 2,500 spm.
"The K had two J-85 jet engines (which, surprisingly, burned
the same aviation gas as the gas turbine engines), a FLIR,
sometimes a side-looking radar (for use with a beacon
transponder held by a ground observer), and 2 20mm Vulcan
cannon. The jet engines cut our mission endurance down quite
a bit-to about 3 and 1/2 hours instead of 5+ on the G's."
[RH]
Those aircraft were followed by AC130A (Spectre) gunships. The first
eight AC-130As were equipped with four 20mm gatlings (2,500 spm) and
four 7.62mm miniguns (4,000/8,000 spm). The ninth 130A was the first
to replace two of the twenties with two 40mm bofors anti-aircraft guns
(about 120 spm) that had WWII naval origins, and to incorporate
digital fire control under the "Surprise Package" program.
Those aircraft were followed by the AC130E (Pave Spectre) which
eliminated one of the 40mm Bofors in favor of an M105-A1 light
howitzer (U.S. Army origins). The 105mm fired a full charge seven
and a good crew could keep three rounds in the air at a time. The
AC-130E was later renamed the AC-130H after an avionics and
flare-based missile suppression system was installed.
The AC-130U, which is a new build, and I understand is equipped with
1x25mm. 1x40mm and 1x105mm. I've not seen or flown in the "U" so all
of that information is third-or-fourth-hand.
Externally, how were the 130Es different from the 130As? Is there any
noticeable features to tell one apart from the other if both were
sitting on the tarmac?
The biggest and most obvious difference was in the props. All of the
A's used a three-bladed prop. All of the E's used a much quieter
four-bladed prop. At some point after Vietnam, I understand that the
remaining A's received the four-blade prop upgrade.
The next thing to look for would be the presence of the 105MM
howitzer. The tube sticks out the left paratroop door and can't be
missed (except when doing a preflight check in a hurry, then it is
entirely possible not to see it until one smacks one's head on it.)
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