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AC-47 Hỏa Long trong Tết Mậu Thân 1968?

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  • AC-47 Hỏa Long trong Tết Mậu Thân 1968?

    AC-47 HỎA LONG TRONG TẾT MẬU THÂN 1968?


    Trong bài Ngành Vận Tải trong Không Lực VNCH, phần Vận Tải Võ Trang (AC-47 Hỏa Long), chúng tôi viết:

    Ngày 2/7/1969, tại căn cứ không quân Tân Sơn Nhứt, Hoa Kỳ đã chuyển giao 5 chiếc AC-47 của Phi Đoàn 4 Đặc Nhiệm cho KQVN để thành lập Phi Đoàn 817 “Hỏa Long”, nguyên là Phi Đoàn Vận Tải 417.

    Tiếp theo, Phi Đoàn 4 Đặc Nhiệm đã lần lượt chuyển giao tất cả số phi cơ còn lại cho KQVN. Ngày 20/8/1969, Phi Đoàn 817 đã nhận đủ 16 chiếc AC-47 theo bảng cấp số, và bắt đầu hoạt động vào ngày 31/8/1969 – một tháng sớm hơn dự liệu của kế hoạch chuyển giao...


    * * *

    Khi viết bài Ngành Vận Tải trong Không Lực VNCH – gồm Vận Tải, Vận Tải Võ Trang, và Không Thám nói chung, chúng tôi tham khảo hai cuốn South Vietnamese Air Force của Jim Mesko và Flying Dragons của Robert C Mikesh, đồng thời dựa vào ký ức của các vị NT và chiến hữu trong ngành như H.T.C., Trần Đình Hòe, Phạm Văn Cần, Võ Phước Cương, Phạm Hi Oánh, Thái Ngùng, Nguyễn Việt Quốc, Nguyễn Yến Thông, Trương Nguyên Thuận...

    Tuy nhiên, đi vào chi tiết, riêng phần viết về sự thành lập Phi Đoàn 817 Hỏa Long, chúng tôi chỉ biết dựa vào cuốn Flying Dragons của Robert C Mikesh, mà mức độ chính xác của cuốn sách này, như những ai từng tham khảo có thể đã biết, có những đoạn thiếu chính xác, nhất là về các mốc điểm thời gian.

    Chẳng hạn về kế hoạch và chương trình huấn luyện các hoa tiêu UH-1 của VNCH để tiến tới việc nâng cấp các phi đòan trực thăng hiện hữu (H-34) và thành lập các phi đoàn mới, đối chiếu với tài liệu mật của USAF sau này được bạch hóa, thì tác giả Robert C Mikesh đã viết khá ngắn gọn và có những chỗ sai về ngày tháng.

    Mới đây, Yankee-Caribou, một nhà sưu tầm về KLVNCH, đã viết trên website “Không Lực Việt Nam Cộng Hòa” rằng “theo các nhân chứng sống” thì KQVN đã có AC-47 vào thời gian từ giữa đợt 1 và đợt 2 của Tết Mậu Thân 1968, tức là từ cuối tháng 2 tới đầu tháng 5/1968, và đã tham chiến tại nhiều nơi, trong đó có mặt trận Thị Nghè, nguyên văn như sau:

    ...Hoả Long không phải chỉ có từ khi 817. Ban đầu Hoả Long AC-47 do phi hành đoàn 417 bay sau đó mới có 817. Nói Hỏa Long AC-47 của VNAF có từ tháng 7/1969 là một sai lầm rất nghiêm trọng. Vì nói như vậy thì AC-47 của VNAF không đánh trong trận Mậu thân. Ví dụ như chiến công ở Thị Nghè lúc Việt Cộng vượt sông định sáp lá cà với TQLC mà sau này TQLC thường được nhắc đến, thật ra nguyên nhân chiến thắng là do một AC-47 của VNAF đã cắt nát đội hình của Việt Cộng khi chúng bơi sang sông, làm chúng phải đầu hàng . Và VNAF đánh rất đẹp, gần đây Mỹ mới nói đến chữ surgical strike. Nhưng VNAF AC-47 đã làm chuyện này từ 1968 giữa Sài Gòn đánh gần quân bạn TQLC, gần nhà dân chúng mà chỉ đánh trúng mục tiêu, chính xác, không gây ra collateral damage. Khu trục không thể làm như vậy được nhất là trong màn đêm. Đây chỉ là một trận trong hàng trăm phi vụ Hoả Long trong năm1968 khi đó các phi hành đoàn Hoả Long ban đêm có mặt trên toàn miền Nam...

    * * *
    Chúng tôi dự định sẽ bổ túc chi tiết nói trên của Yankee-Caribou vào bài Ngành Vận Tải trong Không Lực VNCH dưới hình thức Chú Thích, tuy nhiên trước đó chúng tôi cũng rất mong được quý NT, quý chiến hữu từng phục vụ tại Phi Đoàn 417/817 Hỏa Long nói riêng, ngành Vận Tải Võ Trang nói chung, lên tiếng xác nhận, hoặc giúp đỡ kiểm chứng để bài viết của chúng tôi thêm sức thuyết phục.

    KQ Nguyễn Hữu Thiện

  • #2
    Air War Vietnam Plans and Operations
    1969 - 1975


    By Dr. Elizabeth Hartsook, and Stuart Slade

    Source: https://books.google.com/books?id=fd...20VNAF&f=false

    Trang 62

    Last edited by khongquan2; 11-24-2018, 09:10 PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Trong clip :"Wings Over Vietnam - Spookies, Spectres and Shadows Documentary",ở phút 21:35 cũng nói về việc chuyển giao Spookies trong năm 1969.

      Comment


      • #4
        The AC-130 Gunship and the Vietnam War
        By Ron Sanders


        The fixed-wing AC-130 gunship started as a “Gooney Bird”
        and became the terror of the skies during the Vietnam War.

        Off in the distance came the faint drone of a large propeller-driven aircraft. The sound got steadily louder, when suddenly a curtain of red fire erupted from the sky and rained down on the rice paddies in front of us. Puff! Puff, the Magic Dragon! When Puff unleashed that first six-second burst every man knew instantly what it was. The sound was indescribable, a deep guttural roar that anyone who has ever heard and lived, will always remember.

        Puff flew back and forth over the battlefield that night in 1967, dropping huge two million-candle-power parachute flares and occasionally lighting up the sky with his fiery red breath. When daylight began Puff’s work was done. The drone of his huge engines faded into the distance and a deathly silence lingered over the battlefield. Nothing moved in the eerie glare of the last flare as it floated slowly to the earth.

        The Evolution of Puff the Mighty Dragon

        The mighty dragon Puff evolved from very humble beginnings. The predecessor of the first fixed-wing gunship used in Southeast Asia was the WWII twin-engined C-47 (DC-3) “Gooney Bird,” which was first brought to Vietnam as a transport and cargo ship in November 1961. Shortly after their arrival, many C-47s were outfitted as “flare ships” and designated FC-47 (“F” for flare) to drop huge parachute flares over enemy positions during night attacks. In November 1963, FC-47s flung more than seven thousand flares over enemy positions.

        Due to increased night activity by the Viet Cong (VC) in 1963, it soon became apparent that a better night air effort was necessary. After much deliberation, and because of the diligence and persistence of several young Air Force Officers, the modern concept of the fixed-wing gunship was accepted.

        The effectiveness of such a gunship was dependent upon its ability to direct concentrated fire on enemy positions in near proximity to friendly forces. The chosen craft also had to have enough power and cargo space to carry the necessary armament and heavy loads of ordnance.


        The flying maneuver that was necessary for this type of precision fire mission was to circle the enemy position in a tightly banked “pylon turn” while firing from side-mounted guns. This would allow the craft to sustain continuous fire on a relatively small area.

        A cargo or transport-type craft was needed for the huge amounts of munitions required, and it had to be propeller driven, because jet aircraft were much too fast for the precision maneuvers necessary. The C-47 was chosen as the test plane.

        The armament chosen for the gunships was the General Electric rotary-barreled M-134 machine gun, known as the “minigun,” which could fire either fifty or a hundred rounds of 7.62-mm ammunition per second. Initially three miniguns per ship would be fixed-mounted in a side-firing configuration. Positioning the aircraft at the proper altitude and angle was the only means of aiming the weapons.

        Using this armament, a C-47 flying at three thousand feet in a tight circle could place a bullet in every square yard of a football-field-sized area (five thousand square yards) in approximately 17 seconds.

        Spooky and Puff

        An Air Force team was dispatched to Bien Hoa Air Force Base outside Saigon in December 1964 to convert two C-47s into gunships for evaluation. The conversion was completed on the first ship in less than two weeks.

        Preliminary tests were run, and the gunship flew its first-day combat mission on December 14, 1964, firing on enemy sampans, trails and staging areas. The gunship scored its first verified enemy kills on December 21, 1964, with 21 VC dead.

        The first night mission was flown on the night of December 23, over an outpost under attack near Thanh Yend. The ship fired more than 4,500 rounds of ammunition and dropped 17 flares, successfully halting the enemy assault on the outpost.

        By then, the two converted gunships had flown 16 combat and 7 training missions. In February 1965, a gunship was sent to Bong Son, killing a hundred VC. Another 150 or so VC are believed to have been killed in that action, but the survivors dragged away the bodies and a total body count was not possible.

        “Gooney Bird” was quickly evolving into “Puff the Magic Dragon.” The armored plane’s fame quickly spread throughout Vietnam. American GIs were comforted by its presence, and the enemy lived in mortal terror of it. Reports have it that, on occasion, just the sound of one of them flying overhead and the dropping of the first giant flare was enough to break off an enemy attack.

        The test of the new gunships was considered successful and the order was given to convert 20 C-47s into gunships. They were now to be designated AC-47 (“A” for attack) “Spooky” gunships. The conversions were to be carried out in the United States, and the planes flown to Vietnam upon completion.

        SOS Arrives Near Saigon for Command Support

        The 4th Airborne Command and Control Squadron (aka SOS, “Special Operations Squadron”) arrived at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, near Saigon, on November 14, 1965, with 16 combat gunships and four others for command support and attrition. Their mission was to respond with flares and firepower support of friendly positions under night attack, convoy escort, armed reconnaissance, close-air support, and interdiction.

        Although designated “Spooky” by the Air Force, the AC-47 was quickly nicknamed “Puff the Magic Dragon” by ground troops. In some areas even its official call sign was changed from “Spooky” to “Puff.” Anyone who has ever heard Puff fire those three miniguns knows the reason for the new name. The guttural roar made by the guns firing simultaneously could only come from a dragon—a very angry one.

        For the next four years, AC-47 gunships distinguished themselves in more than four thousand missions over South Vietnam and Laos. They accounted for at least 5,300 enemy killed, and hundreds of enemy trucks destroyed or damaged. Not a single hamlet or fort defended by Puff was ever overrun.


        AC-47 gunships operated out of bases throughout South Vietnam, including Nha Trang, Bien Thuy, Da Nang, and Pleiku. From November 1965 to December 1969, 53 of them expended over 97 million rounds of ammunition and dropped 270,000 flares.

        By 1969, the old AC-47s were beginning to wear out, and it was no longer feasible to keep rebuilding and maintaining them. On December 1, 1969, a lone AC-47 gunship flew its final mission in Vietnam under American command. The remaining ships were turned over to the South Vietnamese and Laotian Air Forces and continued to fight.

        Creep, Shadow, and Stinger

        In seeking a replacement for the AC-47, the brass settled on the new C-130. Unfortunately there were not enough of them available at the time, so the C-119G Flying Boxcar transport planes would be used until sufficient C-130s were available.

        The first AC-119G gunships arrived in Vietnam in December 1968, as the 71st Special Operations Squadron. Four AC-119Gs were in country by January 1969, but trials revealed that the craft was slow, hard to maneuver, and vulnerable to enemy ground fire; consequently it was not to be used in high-threat situations. Close-air support was the most appropriate use for the “G” model.

        The original designation of the “G” model was “Creep,” but after strenuous protests from their crews, the new gunships were renamed and were redesignated “Shadow.” Although this was its official designation, many GIs (“Ground Pounders”) continued to refer to all gunships as “Puff.”

        By mid-March 1969, all 18 of the original contingent of AC-119Gs were in Vietnam, but these twin-engined ships were so underpowered that, with a full complement of armament and ammunition, their performance was marginal. So a J-85 jet engine was added to each wing of the craft, and this modified version of the AC-119 “K” model was called “Stinger.”

        The first “K” models didn’t start arriving until October of 1969 at Phan Rang Air Base. By January 1970, there were 16 “G” model and 18 “K” model AC-119s in Vietnam.

        FLIR System Enhances Ship’s Abilities

        All AC-119G and K gunships were equipped with four miniguns and a NOD (Night Observation Device) or starlight optical sensor. In addition, all AC-119Ks were equipped with two 20-mm cannon and a side-looking radar. The later addition of a Forward-Looking Infrared Radar (FLIR) system greatly enhanced the ship’s ability to detect and destroy enemy vehicles. Even when stationary and hidden under heavy foliage, the new system could detect heat rising from still-warm engines.

        During May and June of 1970, AC-119s fired more than two million rounds of 7.62-mm ammunition and over 22,000 rounds of 20-mm cannon shells during one seven-week period over Vietnam. Starting in May AC-119s were used over Cambodia, and from May 5 to June 30 they flew 178 sorties. From July 1970 to March 1971 AC-119s destroyed or damaged 609 enemy vehicles and 731 sampans, and killed over three thousand of the enemy.

        In February 1970, AC-119s were assigned to Ubon Air Base in Laos and air bases in Thailand for use over Cambodia. Their primary mission was to destroy enemy shipping (trucks) along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and they proved very effective in this role.


        In September 1971, AC-119s began to be turned over to the South Vietnamese Air Force in preparation for the introduction of the latest model gunship, a converted four-engine C-130 cargo plane. The transfers were completed and Vietnamese crews were fully trained by May.

        AC-130A Prototype Arrives for Testing

        In September 1967, the first AC-130A prototype arrived at Nha Trang Air Base and began its test program. Like its predecessor, the AC-119, the AC-130A carried four miniguns; in addition, it was equipped with four 20-mm cannon with 2,500 rounds of high-explosive incendiary ammunition, advanced electronics sensors, fire control systems, and searchlights.

        Among the advanced technology on the AC-130A was the NOD, side-looking and forward-looking radar, and two steerable 20-kilowatt, variable-beam xenon arc illuminators (spotlights), capable of producing up to 1.5 million candle-power.

        The AC-130A prototype test program ended on December 12, 1967. The final evaluation stated that the AC-130 had three times the combat effectiveness of the AC-47. The AC-130A gunship’s principal advantages were more power (four engines), more cargo space, and more cargo-carrying capability. These advantages permitted the AC-130 to have more and larger armament, more ordnance, and more speed.

        The prototype AC-130A was sent back to the States for refurbishing but was returned to Vietnam in February of 1968, to begin flying combat missions along the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

        From February to November, the AC-130A prototype destroyed 228 enemy trucks, damaged 133, and destroyed nine enemy sampans.

        The AC-130A prototype flew its last mission on November 18, 1968, and was returned to the States once more. During its short combat career, the prototype was determined to be the most cost-effective close-support and interdictive craft in the U.S. Air Force arsenal.

        Six “Spectre” Gunships in Southeast Asia

        By the spring of 1969 there were six AC-130A “Spectre” gunships operating in Southeast Asia. In December 1969, a newly modified AC-130 gunship arrived at Ubon Air Base. Dubbed “The Surprise Package,” the new model sported two 20-mm rapid-firing Vulcan cannon, two 40-mm Bofors cannon, and advanced electronics.

        During its 38-day combat evaluation, the Surprise gunship destroyed 178 enemy trucks, damaged 63 others, and logged 37 vehicles as “results not observed.” In addition, it attacked three antiaircraft sites, destroying one and causing major explosions at the other two. The new gunship was determined to be twice as effective in its interdiction role as previous models.

        The resulting advanced model was designated the AC-130E, and began arriving at Ubon AFB in Laos during October 1970. Between November 1970 and January 1971, six more “E” model gunships arrived in SE Asia.

        In the summer of 1971, six AC-130E gunships were produced with an advanced fire-control computer, higher gross weight limit, and improved countermeasure electronics. In addition, a flare-launching system equipped with 24 chaff flares to counter SAMs (Surface-to-Air Missiles) was installed.

        Before the addition of the flare launcher, the crews of gunships had only two crude but innovative defenses against the heat-seeking SA-7 Strela missiles commonly used by the enemy. The first was for a crewmember to manually fire a handheld flare directly at an oncoming missile while hanging out the open rear cargo bay ramp. The tactic was meant to confuse the missile’s infrared tracking system by giving it another “hot” target to lock onto; sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn’t. The main problem was, you usually only had one shot.

        The second defense against heat-seeking SAM attacks was for the pilot to bank the craft in such a way that the gunship’s wing would shield its engine’s heat signature from the oncoming missile. Neither tactic was effective against more advanced radar-guided missiles, however. As suspected, the flare-launching system was a great improvement over both previous tactics.

        Gunships Destroy, Damage 10,000 Enemy Vehicles

        During the winter campaign of ’71 to ’72, gunships destroyed or damaged over 10,000 enemy vehicles, destroyed 223 watercraft, and damaged 142 others. Most gunship activity in 1972 countered assaults by Communist forces on fire-support bases and provided fire support for troops.

        In February 1972, the first AC-130E Spectre was outfitted with a 105-mm Howitzer in place of one of the 40-mm Bofors cannon. This gave the gunship a much greater firing range and allowed it to fire from a higher altitude. The addition of the Howitzer also made the gunship a much more effective spotter aircraft.

        The fixed-wing AC-130 gunship started as a “Gooney Bird” and became the terror of the skies during the Vietnam War.

        The ground explosion from the 6.5-pound artillery shell was much easier to spot by escorting jet fighter-bombers carrying napalm. F-4 jets often accompanied gunships on missions; three was the usual complement. This allowed two jets to stay with the gunship at all times, while one left for refueling by air tanker. The combination was very effective at suppressing antiaircraft fire.

        The truce of January 1973 ended American gunship operations in Vietnam and Laos. The last combat mission for American gunships was flown over Cambodia on August 15, 1973. Unquestionably gunships played a vital role in America’s efforts in Vietnam and were responsible for saving thousands of American lives.

        The Gunship Post-Vietnam

        The end of the Vietnam War did not mean the end of the gunship, however. It has been an active participant in defending American ground and air forces in Grenada, Panama, Operation Desert Storm, Somalia, and Bosnia.

        During the Granada invasion of October 1983, AC-130s suppressed enemy air-support systems and attacked ground forces, according to the Air Force. Gunships were especially helpful during the assault on the Point Salines Airfield.

        In Panama in 1989, gunships destroyed the Panamanian Defense Force Headquarters and numerous command and control facilities by what the Air Force called a “surgical employment of ordnance in an urban environment.”

        During Operation Desert Storm, Spectre gunships provided close-air support for ground forces and defended air-base installations against enemy attack.

        During operations Continue Hope and United Shield in Somalia in 1992–1995, Spectre gunships flew reconnaissance missions and helped defend NATO ground forces. In recent years, Spectre gunships have provided support for NATO ground forces in Sarajevo.

        Major Modifications, Upgrades to the Spectre Gunship

        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. The latest version is the AC-130U.

        This air-to-ground attack aircraft features advanced armament with new computer- directed gun systems. No longer stationary, or fixed-mounted, the guns now have computer-driven, trainable mounting systems, integrated with fire-control avionics. These advanced fire- control systems are fed target coordinates from infrared and radar sensors.

        Two 20-mm Vulcan cannon have been replaced by one General Electric GAU-12/U 25-mm Gatling gun. The new gun can fire five rounds per second, has greater range, has a much more powerful projectile, and is much more accurate than the 20-mm Vulcans. Other armament includes one 40-mm Bofors cannon with 256 rounds of ammunition, and one 105-mm Howitzer with a hundred rounds.

        The new gunship can fire on two separate targets from an altitude of 20,000 feet, with a slant range of 25,000 feet (more than four nautical miles). This new capability greatly improves its standoff firepower and has improved its survivability.

        The “U” also has an advanced array of sensors including forward- and side-looking radar, low-light television, infrared sensing devices (ISDs), a global positioning system (GPS), and inertial navigation systems. This gives the gunship, according to the Air Force, “a method of positively identifying friendly ground forces as well as effective ordnance delivery during adverse weather (and night) conditions.”


        Source: https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/da...e-vietnam-war/
        Last edited by khongquan2; 11-25-2018, 05:41 PM.

        Comment


        • #5

          Gunships

          There were many pre-Vietnam gunship-like aircraft -- not only in the USA -- and even more helicopter during and after this war. I will concentrate here on USAF and USMC fixed-wing gunships, starting with the early '60s.

          Project Tailchaser: Convair (A)C-131B

          First test flights with armed C-131B, serial 53-7820, at Eglin AFB, 08/1964, with General Electric 7.62 mm SUU-11A/A Gatling Minigun.

          Project Gunship (I): Douglas C-47, FC-47D, AC-47D

          Tests were continued with a similar armed C-47D 44-8462 _Terry_&_Pirates_ at Eglin AFB in 1964. The first real FC-47D was 43-48579 _"Puff"_ (often called Puff the Magic Dragon), ferried back from Nha Trang to Bien Hoa, and fitted with 3 GE Miniguns, a Mark 20 Mod 4 sight (from A-1E Skyraider), VHF/UHF/FM radios, TACAN, IFF, 45 flares (200,000 candlepower) and 24,000 rounds of ammunition. Converted in 10/1964, and used by the 4th Air Commando Squadron. In Spring 1965 a second C-47D was converted in the same way. Four other were later armed with ten .30 calibre machine guns, Type M-2 Browning air-cooled. One of them was 43-48491 _'Git-Em'_Bullet_, another was _Grunt_2_ and one may have had the serial '36440' (?).

          Three were operational with the 4th ACSq. and one was used for crew training at the Forbes AFB. All 6 original FC-47D were later redesignated AC-47D. Air International at Miami, FL, converted 20 more C-47 to AC-47D, which were used from Fall 1965 by the 4th ACSq. The early six were returned to Clark AFB, refitted and camouflaged. The 4th ACSq. became part of the 14th SOW, which was known as 'Antique Wing'. AC-47s were flown by the 3rd SOSq. (tailcode EL) and 4th SOSq (tailcode EN), both part of the 14th SOW, and by the 432nd TFW at Udorn RTAB (tailcode OS).

          Their call sign in Vietnam was _SPOOKY_.

          Known serials are: 43-48072, 43-48491 _'Git-Em'_Bullett_, 43-48579 _"Puff"_, 43-48701, 43-48801, 43-49274, 43-49852, 44-76534, 44-76985, 45-927.

          Partially known serials are: 'OS 43-010', '43-263', 'EN 770' _Spooky_, 'EN 354', 'EN 859', and '717' _Delta_Queen_, and 10 other serials are missing. Also the first armed C-47D was 44-8462 _Terry_&_Pirates_.

          One reported serial '36440' may be wrong (couldn't find any, it is not one of the following 42-36440, 43-36440, 44-36440, 43-x6440).

          18 AC-47D were given in 1969 to the VNAF, and at least 11 went to the Royal Laotian AF.

          Other C-47, working close together with AC-47Ds were four types of EC-47s: EC-47D, which were C-47D, converted to ECM / ELINT aircraft, EC-47N, which were C-47A converted as ECM / ELINT aircraft, with R-1830-90D or -92 engines, EC-47P which were C-47D, converted to ECM / ELINT aircraft, with R-1830-90D or -92 engines, and EC-47Q which were C-47A and C-47D, converted to ECM / ELINT aircraft re-engined with R-2000-4 engines. These aircraft were also used as sensor relay aircraft, and to monitor and home on to VC radio traffic. After pinpointing a target, they called the _Spooky_ gunships. USAF units using EC-47s during the Vietnam conflict were the 14th SOW "Antique Wing", with the 5th SOSq. (tailcode EO) and the 9th SOSq. (tailcode ER), the 432nd TEWS (tailcode AN) and the 360th TEWS (tailcode maybe AJ ?).

          Partially known serials were: EC-47N 'AN 42-645', EC-47 'AJ 331'.

          Nose arts seen were: EC-47N _Beep!_Beep!_

          Some EC-47s were later given to the VNAF.


          Project Gunship II: Lockheed AC-130A

          The prototype for the best known gunships at all, was a C-130A 54-1626 named by the crew _Vulcan_Express_, equipped with four 7.62 mm General Electric XMU-470 Minigun Modules, four 20 mm General Electric M61 Vulcan Gatling cannons, a Night Observation Device (NOD) or Starlite Scope, a 'bread board' computer, and a 20 kW searchlight at Wright-Patterson AFB, and redesignated JC-130A. It was later known as _Super_Spooky_ and served also with the 4950th Test Wing.
          This aircraft, a short nose Hercules, was tested at Eglin AFB from 06/1967 to 09/1967, and was then deployed to Nha Trang AB at 09/20/1967. It flew its first operational mission seven days later.

          The aircraft was a great succsess, and LTV E-Systems at Greenville, TX, got a contract to modify seven early model JC-130A to similar AC-130A, but equipped with better Texas Instruments AN/AAD-4 FLIR, Singer-General Precision fire control computer and a Texas Instruments Moving Target Indicator (MTI), and other equipment to reach current C-130A production standard.

          Four were finally deployed to Vietnam in late 1968, and the other went to the 16th SOSq. (tailcode FT) at Ubon RTAB in 05/1969. These seven aircraft were painted black overall and also known as _Plain_Janes_, to distinguish them from the single _Surprise_Package_ AC-130A and the _Pave_Pronto_ AC-130As. The 4413th CCTS, 4410th CCTW (tailcode IH) was later redesignated the 415th SOTSq., 1st SOW at Hurlburt Field, FL (tailcode AH) and was charged with the training of all AC-130 crews.

          Apparently, some of the _Plain_Jane_ aircraft were later updated to the _Pave_Pronto_ standard, including 54-1630 and 56-0490.

          _Gunship_II_ JC-130A-LM serial was: 54-1626 _Vulcan_Express_ / _Super_Spooky_, (first painted white over grey, and later in three-tone camouflage).

          _Plain_Jane_ AC-130A-LM serials were: 53-3129, 54-1625, 1627, 1628, 1629 (the first AC-130 casualty -- two crew member killed 05/24/1969 when she crashed at Ubon after being hit over Laos), 1630 _Azarel_-_Angel_of_Death_ (3 mission markings during _Desert_Storm_).

          _Plain_Jane_ AC-130A-7-LM serial was: 56-0490 _Thor_.

          Other nose arts were: _Mors_de_Caelis_ (Death from Above).

          Project Surprise Package: Lockheed AC-130A

          A single AC-130A was equipped by the Gunship System Program Office at Wright- Patterson AFB with two 40 mm Bofors cannons in place of the aft pair of 20 mm Vulcans, General Electric ASQ-145 Low Level Light TV (LLLTV) and a Konrad AVQ-18 laser designator/rangefinder, and a new AYK-9 digital fire control computer. The aircraft was an even greater success!
          _Surprise_Package_ AC-130A serial was: unknown, see _Project_Pave_Pronto_.

          Project Pave Pronto: Lockheed AC-130A

          LTV E-Systems was awarded another contract, covering nine more AC-130As, all based on the _Surprise_Package_ design. The only additional equipment carried was an AN/ASD-5 _Black_Crow_ Direction Finder Set to find the emissions of the ignition system of Russian truck engines. These aircraft were first painted in the typical Vietnam three-tone camouflage scheme, but later the underside and the sides were painted black. AC-130As often carried ALQ-87 ECM pods or SUU-42A/A Ejector Pods (starboard for flares, port for chaff) under the wings.

          During _Operation_Desert_Storm_, six AFRES AC-130A of the 711th SOSq., 919th SOG, from Duke Field, FL, were deployed (probably under _Operation_ Proven_Force_ to Turkey: 54-1623, 1630, 55-0011, 0014, 0029, and 56-0509.

          _Pave_Pronto_ AC-130A-LM serials were: 54-1623 _Ghost_Rider_, 55-0011, 0014 _Jaws_of_Death_ (20 mission markings during _Desert_Storm_), 0029 (the first loss, crashed at Ubon RTAB after AAA hit on 05/29/1969), 0040, 0043, 0044.

          _Pave_Pronto_ AC-130A-20-LM serial was: 55-0046.

          _Pave_Pronto_ AC-130A-6-LM serial was: 56-0469.

          _Pave_Pronto_ AC-130A-7-LM serial was: 56-0509.

          One of the serials belongs to the original _Surprise_Package_ aircraft.

          Three AC-130A were lost during the Vietnam conflict, one to AAA, on to a shoulder launched SA-7 _Grail_ over South Vietnam, and one over Laos to an SA-2 _Guideline_. With F-4 Phantom driver, the AC-130 Hercules gunships was known as the _Fabulous_Four_Engined_Fighter_.

          Other interesting C-130As were the so called _Blind_Bat_ night FAC aircraft, which initially tested all the FLIR, LLLTV and _Black_Crow_ systems, later used on AC-130A gunships. Serials for C-130A _Blind_Bat_ flareships: unknown.

          Project Pave Spectre (I): Lockheed AC-130E

          Because of the airframe limitations of old C-130A Hercules, a new program evolved, using low-time C-130E as basis for the gunship conversion. Eleven C-130E were converted with the same equipment and the same armament as the _Pave_Pronto_ AC-130A, becoming the _Pave_Spectre_ AC-130Es. The first aircraft arrived in Ubon on 10/25/1971, and they were operational with the 16th SOSq. their whole operational life. In 1973, some aircraft began arriving at Ubon in a new overall Flat Black paint scheme in place of the old gloss Black and camouflage scheme. One AC-130E, 69-6571, was lost in combat, before the _Pave_Spectre_II_ program started, probably shot down over Laos by an SA-2 _Guideline_.
          _Pave_Spectre_ AC-130E-LM serials were: 69-6567 to 6577.

          Project Pave Aegis: Lockheed AC-130E

          Under the _Pave_Aegis_ program, all AC-130Es were supposed to be equipped with an 105 mm howitzer, replacing one 40 mm L-60 Bofors, but many where updated directly to _Pave_Spectre_II_, including the _Pave_Aegis_ modifications.

          Project Pave Spectre II: Lockheed AC-130H

          Beginning in 1973, all but one AC-130E were re-engined with new Allison T56-A-15 turboprops, equipped with the latest radio and avionics gear, and redesignated AC-130H _Pave_Spectre_II_. During _Operation_Desert_Storm_, five AC-130H of the 16th SOSq., 1st SOW, Hurlburt Field, FL, were deployed to Saudi Arabia: 69-6567 (which was lost on 01/31/1991 probably to a hand-held SAM, using the callsign _SPIRIT_03_ - all 14 crew killed), 69-6569, 69-6570, 69-6572, and 69-6576.
          The last one mentioned (69-6576), was lost on 03/14/1994 over the Indian Ocean, due to fire caused by a 105 mm round exploding in the barrel during a test firing. The aircraft was at this time part of _Operation_Restore_Hope_ in Somalia, and was on a 8.5 hour reconnaissance flight, using the callsign _JOCKEY_14_. Of the crew of 14, only 6 survived.

          The cockpit crew survived, and evacuated from the cockpit after the crash landing (ditching near the shoreline), and was rescued:
          Capt. John Palen - Aircraft Commander (A/C, pilot), 33
          Capt. Kevin Thompson - Co-pilot, 31
          Staff Sgt. Steve Anderson - Flight engineer, 33
          Four of the crew bailed out before the crash, but only three were found and rescued later:
          Tech. Sgt. Raul Savedra - Lead gunner, 33
          Tech. Sgt. Bruce Grieshop - Gunner, 36
          Staff Sgt. Dave Ceurvals - Gunner, 31
          The other 8 crew members did not survive:
          Capt. David Mehlhop - Navigator (Nav), 30
          Capt. Tony Stefanik - Fire Control Officer (FCO), 31
          Capt. Mark Quam - Electronic Warfare Officer (EWO), 27
          Master Sgt. Roy Duncan - Loadmaster (LM), 40
          Tech. Sgt. Bobby Daniel - Infrared sensor (IR), 34
          Staff Sgt Bill Eyler - TV sensor, 32 - first to bail out, but he was never found even though he was a jumpmaster
          Staff Sgt. Mike Moser - Gunner, 32
          Staff Sgt. Brian Barnes - Gunner, 26
          _Pave_Spectre_II_ AC-130H-LM serials were: 69-6567 to 6570, and 6572 to 6577.

          Starting in 1973, all AC-130A, and AC-130H were painted overall gunship Grey, and were sometimes referred to as _Grey_Ghosts_.

          The call sign for most AC-130 during Vietnam was _SPECTRE_.

          Project (Pave Spectre III ?): Lockheed AC-130U

          In 1986, another Hercules gunship program was initiated, and the resulting aircraft was designated AC-130U. Thirteen aircraft, including 1 as attrition for an AC-130H), were procured from Lockheed, (originally as C-130H) and modified by Rockwell International with improved guns, AN/AAQ-117 FLIR, new ALLTV, better ECM systems, GPS, sat-coms and AN/APG-180 strike radar. They were tested by the 418th TESTS at Edwards AFB, CA. The AC-130Us are also known as _U_boats_. Besides the FSD aircraft, which is permanently assigned to Edwards, all should be operational by now with the 4th SOS _Ghostriders_, 16th SOG, 16th SOW, at Hurlburt Field, FL.
          Serials of AC-130U: 87-0128 (FSD aircraft), 89-0509 to 0514, 90-0164 to 0167, 92-0253, and maybe others. Several have the well known _Spectre_ (or _Ghostrider_) nose art markings, and 90-0166 was named _Hellraiser_.

          Most gunships were built and used during Vietnam, but AC-130 Hercules served also:

          1979 in Iran: _Operation_Eagle_Claw_,
          1983 in Grenada: _Operation_Urgent_Fury_,
          1989 in Panama: _Operation_Just_Cause_,
          1990/91 in Iraq: _Operation_Desert_Storm_,
          1993/94 in Somalia: _Operation_Restore_Hope_,
          1993/95 in Bosnia-Herzogowina: _Operation_Deny_Flight_, and
          1994 in Haiti: _Operation_Uphold_Democracy_ right now.
          Project Gunship III: Fairchild AC-119G, AC-119K
          (This project, or one of their deployments, might be also known as _Project_ _Combat_Hornet_, but none of my sources, listed below, mention this, so I am not definitly sure.)

          Fairchild-Hiller (later Fairchild-Republic) converted 26 C-119G to AC-119G at St. Augustine, FL. Armed with four 7.62 mm SUU-11A/1A minigun pods. Later aircraft got General Electric MXU-470 minigun modules. They were also fitted with an AVQ-8 20kW Xenon light, Night Observation Sight, LAU-74A flare launcher, armor, APU, fire control computers, APR-25 and APR-26 radar warning receiver / ECM-gear. They were used by the 71st SOSq. from 05/1968, until they became part of the 14th SOW as the 17th SOSq.

          Their call sign in Vietnam was _SHADOW_.

          Known serials were: 52-5892 _Charlie_Chasers_, 5898, 5905, 5907, 5925, 5927, 5938, 5942, 53-3136, 3145, 3170, 3178, 3189, 3192, 3205, 7833, 7848, 7851, 7852, 8114, 8115, 8123, 8131, 8155 and two others.

          Other nose art was: _City_of_Columbus_ /_Indiana_/_Shadow_, _Midnite_Special_.

          Fairchild also converted 26 C-119G to AC-119K. The prototype was 53-3187. They were first brought to C-119K standard (including J85-GE-17 jet engines in underwing pods) then brought to AC-119G standard and then two M61A1 20 mm Gatling guns, AN/APN-147 Doppler terrain following radar, AN/AAD-4 FLIR, AN/APQ-133 side-looking beacon tracking radar, and AN/APQ-136 search radar was added specifically for the truck-hunting role. After testing, the first was delivered 11/03/1969 to the 18th SOSq. at Nha Trang and were part of the 14th SOW. The 1st SOW (tailcode AH) flew also AC-119K.

          Their call sign in Vietnam was _STINGER_ (after the two M61A1 Vulcans).

          The serials were: 52-5864, 5889, 5910, 5911, 5926, 5935, 5940, 5945, 9982, 53-3154 _Good_Grief_The_Pea-nut_Special_, 3156, 3187, 3197, 3211, 7826, 7830, 7831, 7839, 7850, 7854, 7877, 7879, 7883, 8121, 8145, and 8148.

          Other nose art was: _The_Super_Sow_, _The_Polish_Cannon_, _Fly_United_, and _Montezuma's_Revenge_ (sp).

          Some AC-119G and a few AC-119K were turned over to the VNAF in 1971.

          Project Black Spot: NC-123K, AC-123K

          Fairchild-Hiller modified 183 C-123B to C-123K with two additional J85-GE-17 jet engines in underwing pods. Two of them were then modified for a test program by LTV E-Systems in 03/1966 to NC-123K. The nose was extended by 57.75 inches to house an X-band Forward Looking Radar (same as in F-104J). Just aft of the new radome was a turret with FLIR, LLLTV and laser range- finder / illuminator. Also a low-level Doppler navigation radar and weapons release computer were installed. The aircraft were equipped with 12 chute dispenser in a container in the aft cargo compartment. (The aircraft was supposed to carry two of these stacked over each other, but the heavy load reduced the range nearly to 'Zero'). Each chute could carry three CBUs. Depending on the type of CBU loaded, 2,600 to 6,300 one pound bomblets were carried. The first aircraft, 54-691, was delivered to Eglin AFB in 08/1967 and the second, 54-698, incorporating an AN/ASD-5 _Black_Crow_ direction finder set (engine ignition sensor), was delivered in 02/1968.

          The _Black_Spot_ aircraft were often referred to either as AC-123K or as NC-123K. They became operational in 1968 and flew 28 operational missions between 08/19/1968 and 10/23/1968 in the South Korean Sea, trying to stop infiltration from North into South Korea by sea. But no bad guys were caught. From 11/14/1968 to 05/11/1969 the aircraft were used in Vietnam to fly night missions over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. During this time, they flew 186 missions, destroyed 415 trucks and damaged 273 more. They also attacked boats in the Mekong Delta. They were later assigned to the 16th SOSq. at Udon RTAB. On 05/11/1969 ECM and RAHW gear was installed, and the first aircraft, 54-691, got also a _Black_Crow_ system. They continued their mission from late 1969 till 06/1970 from Udon, often with night fighter escorts, because of heavy anti-aircraft fire.

          Both aircraft were later refitted to standard C-123K at Monthan-Davis AFB, AZ (the storage code 'CP024' was assigned to 54-698). Both aircraft retained their unique wrap-around camouflage and served as normal transports. Serials were: 54-691 and 54-698.

          Other interesting special operations (test) Provider were:

          Several C-123B were used as 'Flare Ship's by the 14th SOW, using the call sign _CANDLE_. One (55-4577), (tailcode TO), was painted black on the underside with standard three-tone camouflage on top.

          One NC-123B 'Light Ship' with 28 very big, very bright retractable lights in the cargo compartment, which could light a 2 mile diameter area on the ground from 12,000 ft altitude.

          One NC-123B (55-4528) with a radome above the cockpit and infrared sensors mounted under the fuselage, to detect trucks on the Trail. Used also the wrap-around camouflage of NC-123Ks.
          One NC-123B (54-652) with a nose mounted infrared sensor. This was the first "anti-trail" aircraft to operate over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Painted Dark Gull Gray, and carried VNAF insignia in a placard holder.
          One C-123B (54-683) was equipped with a "Fulton Device" mounted on the nose. The aircraft was assigned to the 4410th Special Operations Training Group, Hurlburt Field, FL, 1968.

          Project Pave Gat: Martin Marietta RB-57G

          One _Tropic_Moon_3_ RB-57G 'Night Intruder' (ex B-57B) was equipped with a three-barrel 20 mm cannon under the belly. The system was not deployed to SEA for operational tests. The serial was: 53-3906.

          The Lockheed SP-2H AP-2H, OP-2E

          In 1967 four SP-2H were field modified with multiple Miniguns mounted at various angles in the bomb bay, which created a spray effect when fired. BuAeros: unknown.
          The only other known thing is that one was overall black, one was green, and the two others were overall grey.

          In 1966 Lockheed started to modify four SP-2H under the TRIM (Trails and Road Interdiction, Multisensor) program as gunships. The ASW radome and the MAD tail were removed, and in place of the MAD boom, a twin 20mm cannon was installed. The place of the ASW radar was occupied by an AN/APQ-92 search radar in an external pod / radome. LLLTV and FLIR were mounted in a chin fairing under the nose. A removable, large SLAR (Side-Looking Airborne Radar) was mounted in a pod, like on an OV-1D, on both sides of the aircraft, aft of the wing trailing edge on the fuselage. Also an Airborne Moving Target Indicator, DIANE (Digital Integrated Attack and Navigation Equipment), and an AN/ASD-5 _Black_Crow_ truck ignition sensor were employed, of which much was later used by A-6C TRIM Intruders.

          Two forward firing 7.62 mm SUU-11A/1A Minigun pods, two Mk.82 500 lb. GP bombs, and two Mk.77 incendiary bombs were mounted on the wings, outside the engines. They also used special 'sound suppression muffler pipes' for the J34-WE-36 jet engines and flame dampener at the piston engines.

          Between 09/01/1968 and 06/16/1969 the four aircraft flew over 200 missions with VAH-21 from Cam Rahn Bay against road and river traffic in the Mekong Delta area. Some missions were flown against the Ho Chi Minh Trail, and inside Laos and Cambodia. They returned back to ConUS in 1969 and were placed in storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, after being demodified. All but one (displayed at the Pima AFB Museum) were scrapped.

          BuAerNos: 135620 ('SL 1'), 148353 ('SL 2'), 148337 ('SL 3') _Napalm_Nellie_, and another ('SL 4') _Iron_Butterfly_.

          Lockheed also prepared twelve SP-2E for conversion to OP-2E, by updating them to SP-2H standard. They were then converted at China Lake into OP-2Es, by removing the MAD tail and installing a blunt bulkhead with AN/ALE-29 Chaff Dispenser in it. Under the tail were a rearward looking camera, and under the nose was mounted a large radome housing an AN/APQ-131 radar.

          The mission of the OP-2E was to drop ADSID seismic sensors over the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which were carried on multiple ejector racks under the wings and other sensors were carried in the bomb bay. The aircraft were also equipped with SUU-11A/1A Minigun pods under the wings.

          The aircraft were deployed with VO-67 at Nakhon Phanom AB, Thailand, and the sensor drop missions were part of _Project_Igloo_White_. Acoustic sensors like _Spikebouy_ and _Acoubouy_ were dropped too, and the signals were relayed by QU-22B or EC-121R aircraft to gunships. After the OP-2Es were retired and sent back to the US, where they were scrapped, F-4D Phantoms were used to drop the sensors under _Project_Igloo_White_.

          BuAerNos: 131423 ('MR 10'), 131455 ('MR 6'), 131462, 131525, 131528 ('MR 1'), and 7 others.

          Several AP-2E (ex P2V-5F) ECM / SIGINT Neptunes were used by the US Army 1st Radio Research Company, out of Cam Rahn Bay from 07/1967 to 04/1972, and also relayed sensor data.

          BuAerNos: 131429, 131458, 131485, 131492, 131496, 131526, 131531, and others.

          The North American YOV-10D NOGS

          Two OV-10A were converted to YOV-10D NOGS (Night Observation GunShip) for the night FAC and interdiction role. The nose was extended about three feet to fit a Hughes FLIR and a laser target illuminator / rangefinder and the fuselage hardpoints were removed and a General Electric XM-197 three-barrel 20 mm Gatling gun was mounted in a ventral turret. The turret could turn around 360 degree, but the FLIR and the laser were fixed in the forward looking position. Both were test flown and accepted by the USMC in 1970. They were tested at China Lake and later (1971/72) by VMO-2 at Da Nang in Vietnam. Both aircraft used a three-tone camouflage, but were first flown in the standard green over grey camouflage of the USMC.
          BuAerNos: 155395 (#2) and 155660 (#1).

          The test results are not known, but at least 18 OV-10A were converted to OV-10D NOS (Night Observation System), but without the cannon, even though the turret might be an option.

          BuAerNos: 155395, 155396, 155409, 155410, 155436, 155451, 155466, 155468, 155470, 155472, 155473, 155479, 155482, 155489, 155492, 155493, 155494, 155502 and maybe others.

          Another OV-10A was tested with an Emerson Electric turret housing a GAU-2B minigun under the fuselage. (BuAerNo: ?)

          The USAF tested 1973 fifteen OV-10A under the Pave Nail program as laser designator (Night FAC) aircraft, modified by LTV E-Systems with a Martin laser pod under the fuselage. One of the aircraft used by the 23rd TASS was 67-14623.

          Project Credible Chase: Fairchild AU-23A and Helio AU-24A

          The Fairchild AU-23A was a modified Pilatus PC-6 Turbo-Porter, with either a single General Electric XM-197 three-barrel 20 mm Gatling gun, or two General Electric 7.62 mm MXU-470 Minigun modules. In addition, several bombs, napalm or rocket pods could be carried on four underwing and one fuselage hardpoint. The aircraft was dubbed 'Peacemaker'. Fifteen of the 17 converted were sold to the Royal Thai Air Force for COIN missions.
          Serials were: 72-1304 to 1318, c/n 2050 - 2064, and two others.

          Of the other 21 aircraft, I have serials for (73-1699, and 74-2073 - 2092), 13 were later (not under the _Project_Credible_Chase_) delivered to the Thai Air Force, and 5 to the Thai Air Police.

          The Pilatus Porter was also planned to be built in license by Fairchild under the OV-12A designation (20 for USN were cancelled), and 2 Pilatus built UV-20A Chiricahua (79-23253 and 23254) were used by the US Army in Berlin.

          The Helio AU-24A was the gunship version of the H550A Stallion, with a PT6A-27 turboprop, equipped with a General Electric XM-197 three-barrel 20 mm Gatling gun was mounted in the left cargo door. It also had 5 underwing and fuselage hardpoints. Of the 17 built aircraft, fourteen or fifteen were sold to the Cambodian (Khmer) Air Force.

          Serials were: 72-1319 to 1333.

          The two prototypes were civil registered 'N9552A' and 'N9551A', of which the second was carrying _four_ AIM-7 Sparrow air-to-air missiles!

          The Helio Stallion was also built as U-10 Super Courier (ex L-28). Over 120 were built: L-28A (2, later redesignated U-10A), U-10A (26), U-10B extended range and paratrooper doors (57), U-10D heavier (36), but no U-10C.

          All _Project_Credible_Chase_ aircraft were tested at Eglin AFB, and had US serials and markings prior to delivery to the SEA countries. They were first natural silver and later overall Olive Drab. The RTAF later flew with a two-tone camouflage. The program was conducted around 1970/71.

          Project Little Brother: O-2A gunships

          Another gunship project, which was not realized, was the conversion of O-2A _Sleeptime FAC_ to _Little Brother_ gunships, with a cannon not unlike the _Project_Credible_Chase_ aircraft. As far as I know, none was converted.

          On the other hand, some O-2A were used (as were OV-10s, AC-130s and others) for laser illumination of ground targets with AN/AVQ-12 _Pave_Spot_ laser designators, and not only to mark targets with smoke rockets.

          Sources:

          United States Military Aircraft since 1909
          by Gordon Swanborough, Peter M. Bowers
          Putnam, 1989
          ISBN 0-85177-816-X
          United States Navy Aircraft since 1911
          by Gordon Swanborough, Peter M. Bowers
          Putnam, 1990
          ISBN 0-85177-838-0
          U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909
          compiled by John M. Andrade
          Midland Counties Publications, 1979
          ISBN-0-904597-21-0, Softcover
          ISBN 0-904597-22-9, Hardcover
          Lockheed Aircraft since 1913
          by Rene J. Francillon
          Putnam / Naval Institute Press, 1982 and 1987
          ISBN 0-87021-897-2
          Gunships - A Pictorial History of Spooky
          by Larry Davis
          Squadron Signals Publication - 6032, 1982
          ISBN 0-89747-123-7
          Air War over Southeast Asia - A Pictorial Record - Vol.1 1962-1966
          by Lou Drendel
          Squadron Signals Publication - 6034, 1982
          ISBN 0-89747-134-2
          C-123 Provider in action
          by Al Adcock
          Squadron Signals Publication - 1124, 1992
          ISBN 0-89747-276-4
          P2V Neptune in action
          by Jim Sullivan
          Squadron Signals Publication - 1068, 1985
          ISBN 0-89747-160-1
          C-130 Hercules - Special Purpose Aircraft - C&M Vol.7
          by Ray Leader
          Detail & Scale / TAB Books Inc., 1987
          ISBN 0-8306-8531-6 (Paperback)
          US Navy & Marine Corps - Air Power Directory
          World Air Power Journal
          Editors: David Donald and Jon Lake
          Aerospace Publishing London / Airtime Publishing, 1992
          ISBN 1-874023-26-3 (Aerospace)
          ISBN 1-880588-02-1 (Airtime)
          United States Air Force Yearbook 1994
          Article: Spectre Stalks the Night
          by Tim Ripley
          RAFBFE Publishing, 1994
          (c) 1995 by Andreas Gehrs-Pahl

          Source: http://www.ais.org/~schnars/aero/gunships.htm

          Comment


          • #6
            KẾT LUẬN SAU CÙNG:

            Xin cám ơn khongquan2dnchau đã bỏ công sưu tầm và cung cấp tài liệu liên quan tới thời điểm phía Hoa Kỳ chuyển giao các gunships AC-47 cho KQVN. Về phần chúng tôi cũng tìm hiểu thêm qua 3 nguồn tài liệu sau đây:

            - WARFARE HISTORY NETWORK, MILITARY HISTORY, Vietnam War Weapons: The AC-47 Gunship

            - Tạp chí VIETNAM MAGAZINE, 5/10/2017

            - Website VNAF Aircraft - VNAF MAMN


            Theo nội dung các tài liệu kể trên (video clip của dnchau + 3 tài liệu do khongquan2 cung cấp + 3 tài liệu do chúng tôi sưu tầm) việc Hoa Kỳ chuyển giao các gunships AC-47 cho KQVN đã diễn ra trong năm 1969.

            Một cách chi tiết, việc này khởi sự từ cuối tháng 6/1969 và hoàn tất trong tháng 8 cùng năm.

            Điểm khác biệt duy nhất là trong khi một tài liệu chúng tôi tham khảo viết việc chuyển giao diễn ra vào ngày 2/7/1969, thì tập tài liệu Air War Vietnam Plans and Operations 1969 – 1975 lại viết là ngày 30/6/1969.

            Theo suy đoán của chúng tôi, rất có thể ngày 30/6/1969 là ngày ký văn kiện, giấy tờ, còn ngày 2/7/1969 là ngày bàn giao phi cơ.

            Bên cạnh đó, hai tác giả của Air War Vietnam Plans and Operations 1969 – 1975 đã sơ sót khi viết “Phi Đoàn Vận Tải 47” và “Phi Đoàn Vận Tải Võ Trang 417”, thay vì “Phi Đoàn Vận Tải 417” và “Phi Đoàn Vận Tải Võ Trang 817”.

            Tới đây, chúng tôi có thể kết luận như sau:

            Vào cuối tháng 6 đầu tháng 7/1969, Hoa Kỳ đã chuyển giao 5 chiếc AC-47 đầu tiên cho Phi Đoàn Vận Tải 417 để thành lập Phi Đoàn Vận Tải Võ Trang 817 (Hỏa Long). Trong tháng 8/1969, Phi Đoàn 817 đã nhận đủ 16 chiếc AC-47 theo bảng cấp số, và bắt đầu hoạt động vào ngày 31/8/1969. Việc xuyên huấn các phi hành đoàn đã hoàn tất trong tháng 9/1969, và qua đầu tháng 10, tất cả đã được “xác định hành quân”.

            Như vậy, phần viết về AC-47 trong bài Ngành Vận Tải trong Không Lực VNCH của chúng tôi không có gì cần sửa đổi, chỉ bố túc thêm câu “Việc xuyên huấn các phi hành đoàn đã hoàn tất trong tháng 9/1969, và qua đầu tháng 10, tất cả đã được “xác định hành quân”.

            KQ Nguyễn Hữu Thiện
            Last edited by Nguyen Huu Thien; 12-02-2018, 01:45 PM.

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