It initially deployed to Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam September 20, 1967, and flew its first combat mission September 27. Spectre was still needed and active in the region, supporting operations in … The gunships attacked Iraqi positions and columns moving south to reinforce their positions north of the city. At the time the aircraft was known as a "Dragonship", "Puff, the Magic Dragon" or "Spooky" (officially designated FC-47, later corrected to AC … On 15 March 1994 over the Indian Ocean (off the coast of Kenya, near the town of Malindi), aircraft 69-6576 (then known as Predator but previously called both Bad Company and Widow Maker) was lost, taking the lives of eight crewmembers. On 28 January 1973, the Vietnam peace accord went into effect, marking the end of Spectre operations in Vietnam. Other roles include air interdiction (pre-planned air-to-ground strikes), armed reconnaissance and force protection (flying defensive patrols over friendly forces / bases). The first combat mission was flown shortly thereafter on 27 September 1967. The last four Spectres lost in the Vietnam War were in 1972. One of the first seven AC-130A aircraft deployed was 53-3129, named First Lady by November 1970. AC-130s missions are often coordinated by JTAC units on the ground, usually by USAF Combat Controllers(CCTs). 1961 to 1964: Civil War in Laos/Early Operations in South Vietnam, 1965: Escalation of the War/Start of Rolling Thunder, 1966: Rolling Thunder Gets into its Stride, 1968: Tet, Khe Sanh, and the End of Rolling Thunder, 1969: Interdiction on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, 1972: The Spring Invasion/Linebacker Campaigns, Losses Due to Accidents on the Ground or Aboard Ship, Abbreviations and Glossary of Operations, Code Names, and Projects. When it was over, it had involved 7 HH-53s (known as Super Jolly Green Giants), 8 A-1 Skyraiders, 3 C-130s, ll sorties of ground-attack jet aircraft, 4 EB-66s (variant of B-66 Destroyer), 6 F-105 Thunderchiefs, 14 NAIL FACs, 3 RAVENs (CIA), Vintage Ac-130 Spectre Gunship Hat - Vietnam War Pilot Mechanic Snapback Cap. USAF Planes (AC-130U Spooky, AC-130W Stinger) in Action During Exercise Emerald Warrior in Florida. The Lockheed AC-130 gunship is a heavily armed, long-endurance, ground-attack variant of the C-130 Hercules transport, fixed-wing aircraft.It carries a wide array of ground attack weapons that are integrated with sophisticated sensors, navigation, and fire-control systems.Unlike other modern military fixed-wing aircraft, the AC-130 relies on visual targeting. All 14 crew members perished. With three side-firing weapons—a 25mm gatling gun, a 40mm Bofors cannon, and a 105mm howitzer—it's easy to see why it got its name. Nov 7, 2015 - I spent almost a year in Vietnam flying as a gunner on "Puff the Magic Dragon", 176 missions. While strafing the trucks, the AC-130 Gunship, from the 16th SOS, was hit by 37 mm AAA, catching fire. Aug 8, 2020 - Explore Ac Pearce's board "AC-130 Spectre Gunship's" on Pinterest. Surprise Package served as a test bed for the avionic systems and armament for the AC-130E. This feature originally appeared in the September 2020 issue of Aviation History. There are a total of [ 14 ] Vietnam War Gunships (1955-1975) entries in the Military Factory. Therefore, the Wright R-3350-powered AC-119 was also selected for the gunship role. Capable of flying faster than helicopters and at high altitudes with excellent loiter time, the use of the py… 3 Air America Helicopters, 4 AC-130 Spectre Gunships, and an F-4 Phantom Fast FAC. Warner Robins Air Logistics Center is responsible for program management and logistics support for all USAF C-130s worldwide. In 1975, after the conclusion of US involvement in the hostilities in Indochina, it was transferred to the Air Force Reserve, where it served with the 711th Special Operations Squadron of the 19th Special Operations Wing. Three crewmen bailed out, but there were no other survivors. The Spectre, 56-0490, named Thor, exploded into flames and only two crewmen managed to safely bail out; the remaining 14 crewmen perished. Spectre-Association: Home of the AC-130 Spectre Gunships. The massive search and rescue operation was eclipsed a few days later by the famous Bat 21 rescue. However, the gunship concept was so promising that work on a successor system started and a number of types were considered. The limitations of the AC-47 as a gunship became apparent soon after the type’s introduction to combat. Each gunship sortie would be accompanied by up to three F-4s, which cycled to and from tankers to provide a continuous presence to increase the firepower available and to help protect the AC-130 from ground attack. His squadron destroyed more than fifteen thousand trucks loaded with war munitions destined for South Vietnam and Cambodia. After the first excavation in 1985, the U.S. and Laos jointly returned to the crash site in February 1986. The AC-130 Spectre Gunship (May 1969) The limitations of the AC-47 as a gunship became apparent soon after the type’s introduction to combat. In 1980 the aircraft was upgraded from the original three-bladed propellers to the quieter four-bladed propellers and was eventually retired in late 1995. River Patrol By Peter Chilelli - Uh-1 Huey Gunship Helicopter - Vietnam Art. This time there were no fatalities from the crew, as they all bailed out of the aircraft safely. © Chris Hobson and David Lovelady. The unit was equipped first with the AC-l30A gunship and later with the more advanced AC-l30E/H model. Ante el éxito del viejo AC-47 se probó la idea con otros aviones en servicio, entre ellos el … Currently there are eight AC-130H and seventeen AC-130U aircraft in active duty service. A surface-to-air missile (SAM) shot down 69-6567, call sign Spirit 03. at Eglin AFB, Florida USA. The AC-130s achieved impressive results due in part to higher operating altitudes and upgraded armaments that … The AC-130A was equipped with two 40mm cannons, two 20mm Vulcan cannons and two 7.62mm miniguns. Known as the Gunship II programme, the first AC-130A test aircraft arrived at Nha Trang on 21 September 1967 for a 10-week operational trial over Laos and South Vietnam. The last Spectre lost in the Vietnam War was during the Linebacker II campaign. By December 1968 most AC-130s were flown under F-4 escort from the 479th TFS (Tactical Fighter Squadron), normally three Phantoms per Gunship. AC-130s also had a primary role during the United States invasion of Panama (Operation Just Cause) in 1989 when they destroyed Panama Defense Force headquarters and numerous command and control facilities. David M. Burns; and Gunships: The Story of Spooky, Shadow, Stinger and Spectre, by Wayne Mutza. There were no survivors. During the Vietnam War, the C-130 Hercules was selected to replace the Douglas AC-47 Spooky gunship (Project Gunship I) in order to improve mission endurance and increase capacity to carry munitions. The aircraft, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel W. H Schwehm, was hit by 57 mm AAA while orbiting at over 6,000 feet. More Items From eBay. Spectre was operationally tested at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., from June to September 1967. On 17 February 1972, the first 105 mm cannon arrived for service with Spectre and was installed on Gunship 570. On 28 March 1972, an AC-130A, 55-0044, named Prometheus, piloted by Major Irving B. Ramsower, from the 16th SOS, 8th TFW, was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile (SAM) while truck hunting over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Deadly AC-130 gunship in action firing all its cannons The AC-130 is the world's biggest flying artillery gunship, nicknamed "Hell in the Sky." The AC-130 has the distinction of never having a base under its protection lost to the enemy. The original AC-130 Spectre, ‘Super Spooky,’ was stationed at Ubon Air Force Base the following year and conducted interdiction raids along the Ho Chi Minh trail. A host of technical and supply problems constantly delayed the delivery of further AC-130s but eventually enough aircraft arrived in Southeast Asia to form a squadron. By 30 October 1968, enough AC-130 Gunship IIs arrived to form a squadron. Because it was highly maneuverable at low speeds and could spend hours in an operational area while delivering a precisely placed stream of withering fire on a target, it immediately proved its worth in combat. During Operation Desert Storm, AC-130s provided close air support and force protection (air base defense) for ground forces, and battlefield interdiction. In 1964, during the Vietnam War, the popular Douglas C-47 Skytrain transport was successfully modified into a gunship by the United States Air Force with three side-firing Miniguns for circling attacks. The primary interdiction targets were early warning/ground control intercept (EW/GCI) sites along the southern border of Iraq. All Rights Reserved. Vietnam Ghost Spectre AC-130 Gunship T-Shirt / Military Vietnam Veteran Patch TShirt / Vietnam War Long Sleeve Tee Shirt /Veteran's Day Gift TheSaltyVeteran. Gunships: The Story of Spooky, Shadow, Stinger, and Spectre tells the dramatic story of transforming military cargo transports into deadly ground-attack aircraft used by the U.S. and other countries in worldwide conflicts from the Vietnam War to the Middle East today. Aboard the AC-130 Spectre gunship, he flew a total of 287 combat missions over Laos, South Vietnam, and Cambodia, in pursuit of … The aircraft now sits on display in the final Air Force Reserve configuration with grey paint, black markings, the four-bladed Hamilton Standard props at the USAF Armament Museum Surprise Package was refitted with upgraded similar equipment in the summer of 1970, and then redeployed to Ubon RTAFB. The AC-130 is flown by USAF Special Operations, mostly in the close air support role. For further reading, try: Spectre Gunner: The AC-130 Gunship, by Master Sgt. The first gunship to enter the Battle of Khafji helped stop a southbound Iraqi armored column on 29 January 1991. Fixed-wing and rotary-wing (helicopter) gunships are both included in this listing. The AC-130 Gunship first arrived in South Vietnam on 21 September 1967 under the Gunship II program, and began combat operations over Laos and South Vietnam that year. Garment Technologies is located in the Northern part of Vietnam with Hai Phong as the main harbour. Therefore, there were a number of firsts that one model or another chalked up for the gunship. The first AC-130A loss of the war, 54-1629, named The Arbitrator, occurred on 24 May 1969 while on armed reconnaissance (a.k.a. Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator. They were going to close the base, and it looked like Blytheville was high on the list. Eventually the C-130 Hercules was selected for a variety of reasons including its better performance, longer endurance, ability to carry more and heavier weapons and better avionics. On 21 December 1972, AC-130A pilot Captain Harry R. Lagerwall was attacking three trucks at nearly 8,000 feet, when he was struck by 37 mm AAA. The 16th SOS was activated at Ubon under the 8th TFW on 30 October 1968 using the original test crews and aircraft as a nucleus. The AC-130A Spectre is a C-130 that was converted to a side-firing gunship, primarily for night attacks against ground troops. On 18 June 1972, a 16th SOS AC-130A, 55-0043, name unknown, was operating approximately 25 miles southwest of Hue, South Vietnam, when a SA-7 struck its number 3 engine, tore off the wing, and caused an explosion. The United States later used gunships during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, and the Iraq War. Late in 1969 modified AC-130s under the code name Surprise Package began to arrive at Ubon. Nose Art - $405.00. However, the SAR (Search And Rescue mission) that had been set in motion, turned out to be one of the largest in US history. In Vietnam, gunships destroyed more than 10,000 trucks and participated in many crucial close air support missions. Oct 20, 2016 - Explore Chuck Farnsworth's board "Gunships, Puff, Spooky or Spectre" on Pinterest. Vietnam. From the Vietnam War onward, well-trained gunship crews repeatedly demonstrated their ability to destroy relatively small enemy concentrations … On 18 August 1968, a gunship flying an armed reconnaissance mission in Vietnam's III Corps was diverted to support a Special Forces base at Katum. Four more AC-130s had arrived at Ubon by the end of 1968 allowing the prototype, 54-1626, to return to the USA for refurbishment. The AC-130 aircrew earned the Lt. Gen. William H. Tunner Award for the mission. Vietnam War Hand Sewn Patch, Us Sog Rt Montana Ccc. Aircrews earned the Mackay Trophy for the most meritorious flight of the year and the Tunner Award for their efforts. From December 1968 many Spectre missions were flown with F-4 escorts provided by the Night Owls of the 497th TFS. While the B-52s of Linebacker II were pounding North Vietnam, the Spectres continued their war against the truck convoys along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. In late 1969, under the code name of "Surprise Package", 56-0490 arrived with solid state laser illuminated low light level TV with a companion YAG laser designator, an improved forward looking infrared (FLIR) sensor, video recording for TV and FLIR, inertial navigation, and a prototype digital fire control computer. Surprise Package was equipped with the latest 20 mm Gatling guns and 40 mm Bofors cannon, but no 7.62 mm close support armament. The remaining AC-130s were refitted with upgraded similar equipment in the summer of 1970, and then redeployed to Ubon RTAFB. While most troops were out of Vietnam by 1972, many aerial operations increased. The AC-130A programme was code-named Pave Pronto but the aircraft was more commonly known as Spectre after the Squadron’s radio call sign. Spectre Garment Technologies is a new factory established end of 2015 with the purpose of maximizing control of our production process and increasing our capacity to meet future demands. "truck hunting") over Southern Laos. See more ideas about Puff the magic dragon, Vietnam, Gunship. This air-to-ground attack aircraft features advanced armament with new computer- … From shop TheSaltyVeteran. Dan Int-Hout 16 th SOS, 1970, 415 SOTS, 1971-1972. AC-130H SPOOKY GUNSHIP - SPECTRE - US AIR FORCE PATCH - Rare - Vietnam W. Ez171 - Patch - NIGHT HAWK - Spectre - HERCULES AC-130 GUNSHIP - Vietnam. Aboard the AC-130 Spectre gunship, he flew a total of 287 combat missions over Laos, South Vietnam, and Cambodia, in pursuit of the truck traffic coming down the Ho Chi Minh Trail. P PATCH - HERCULES AC-130 GUNSHIP, SPECTRE, Vietnam War. Eleven crewmen survived, but Staff Sergeants Cecil Taylor and Jack W. Troglen were killed in action. However, the gunship concept was so promising that work on a successor system started and a number of types were considered. The military has used gunships during Operations Restore Hope and United Shield in Somalia, in the NATO mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and in the 1997 evacuation of American noncombatants in Albania. The 105 was switched to Gunship 571 and was used until 30 March when the aircraft was shot down. AC-130H Spectre gunship’s final mission U.S. amassing Special Operations planes, gunships in the Mediterranean area [Photo] The effect of Florida’s freezing rain on U.S. Air Force AC-130U gunship Despite the threat of SAMs and increasing visibility during the early morning hours of 31 January 1991, one gunship opted to stay to continue to protect the Marines. These aircraft had improved armament including 20mm Gatling guns and 40mm Bofors cannon and a Paveway I laser designator. The aircraft returned to Nha Trang in February 1968 after a brief refurbishment in the USA and continued operational trials until December. On 30 March 1972, the first E-model was lost when AC-130E 69-6571 of the 16th SOS was truck hunting along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Staff Sergeant E. Fields was the only survivor. The latest version is the AC-130U. River Patrol - $99.50. Captain Terry returned to Vietnam in September 1967, this time to test the gunship variant of the C-130 transport. See more ideas about Ac 130, Gunship, Ac 130 gunship. USAF used the AC-130 for close support, area interdiction and force protection. The Lockheed AC-130 Spectre is an armed tactical support version of the C-130 Hercules. Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Lowery is a Korean and Vietnam war veteran. This aircraft had the distinction of also being the first production C-130 built. 26 of them were converted from Air Force Reserve C-119Gs to AC … The AC-130H is produced at a cost of US$132.4 million, and the AC-130U is produced at a cost of US$190 million (fiscal 2001 constant dollars). The AC-130 initially replaced AC-47 and AC-119 in the supporting role during the war in Vietnam. In the summer of 1971, Surprise Package was converted to the Pave Pronto configuration, and assumed its new nickname, Thor. SYNOPSIS: The Lockheed AC130A Spectre gunship first made its trial appearance in Vietnam in late 1967. Spectre Assn # 146 It started when I was a C-130 Navigator instructor at Stewart AFB in Nashville in '69, a year out of Nav school. On 25 March 1971, it took an anti-aircraft artillery hit in the nose over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, in Laos, when a 37 mm shell destroyed everything below the crew deck. Spectre had its beginning when operational testing of a C-130 as a gunship was conducted at Eglin AFB FL from June through September of 1967. Hit by 57 mm AAA, after confirming the destruction of three "killed" trucks, it crashed near An Loc. VIETNAM 1: Do you have photos from Vietnam / Southeast Asia? The bird saw its first combat when a C-130A Task Force was deployed to Nha Trang, Republic of Vietnam, on 20 September 1967. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z). In 2007 US Special Operations forces used the AC-130 in attacks on suspected al-Qaeda militants in Somalia. The Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first notable modern gunship. The retirement also marked an end to the Air Force Reserve flying the AC-130A. During the Invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury) in 1983, AC-130s suppressed enemy air defense systems and attacked ground forces enabling the successful assault of the Point Salines Airfield via airdrop and air land of friendly forces. Even before Spectre was a squadron, it was utilized by Special Forces in Vietnam. See more ideas about gunship, ac 130 gunship, military aircraft. by. One interesting, unrelated side note is that this same AC-130A Spectre gunship aircraft had #3 and #4 props shot off in Nov 1971. The Project Gunship II Lockheed AC-130A Spectre was also in use at the time, but was in short supply due to the Air Force’s need for standard C-130 Hercules airlifters to process the war in Vietnam and meet worldwide airlift commitments. Diary of a Spectre. As the battle damaged Spectre touched down, the right undercarriage collapsed and the Gunship veered off the runway into an obstacle, catching fire. Lockheed AC-130 Spectre Operational History. Since the end of the Vietnam War, the AC-130 Spectre gunship has undergone several major modifications and upgrades in its performance, armament, and electronics. LTC Schwehm had ordered his crewmen to bail out as they approached the airfield, while he attempted an emergency landing at his Ubon Air Base. 5 out of 5 stars (49) 49 reviews. This is the true story of Master Sergeant David M. Burns, an aerial gunner assigned to the deadliest squadron in air force history. On 25 October 1971, the first "Cadillac" gunship, the AC-130E arrived in Vietnam. One day later, three more gunships provided further aid to Marines participating in the operation. Ten crewmen were listed as KIA. Nose Art Panel- Ac-47 Gunship, Puff The Magic Dragon, Vietnam Air War Nap-0123. El prototipo AC-130A Gunship llegó a Vietnam del Sur el 21 de septiembre de 1967. Gunships also were part of the buildup of U.S. forces in 1998 to convince Iraq to comply with U.N. weapons inspections. The second AC-130A Spectre, 54-1625, named War Lord, was lost on 22 April 1970 while truck hunting along the southern portion of the Ho Chi Minh trail, in Laos. 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