zippome

Thanks for the guess Hound Dog, I was beginning to think I broke the internet........Again.
But unfortunately, not the aircraft in question.
So, here we go again..
1. Built in a country that did not use it as it was intended to be used.
2. One of the reasons was a design feature that made it be very good at its intended job.
3. It was used by at least one air force successfully .
4. The wing had a couple of unusual features for the time. One was by design, one was a fix a mistake.
5. Of more than 1900 manufactured only 1 is still around on display. (as far as I can tell)
6. The aircraft was originally built to a standard of an air force foreign to the nation of manufacture.
7. This aircraft did not suffer heavy losses from enemy aircraft.
8. Later models "fixed" the earlier problems of poor forward visibility, but the fix made it harder to do it's job.
9. Single engine. Crew of two.
10. First ordered by France.
11. Made in America.
12. Used most effectively by the Brits.
13. Due to the losses of other aircraft of this type, it was relegated to theaters of operations where there was either air supremacy established, or a lack of opposition .
14. Several variants were built to test engines for other designs. Including the B-29.

Thanks!
Zip

zippome

So, here we go again..
1. Built in a country that did not use it as it was intended to be used.
2. One of the reasons was a design feature that made it be very good at its intended job.
3. It was used by at least one air force successfully .
4. The wing had a couple of unusual features for the time. One was by design, one was a fix a mistake.
5. Of more than 1900 manufactured only 1 is still around on display. (as far as I can tell)
6. The aircraft was originally built to a standard of an air force foreign to the nation of manufacture.
7. This aircraft did not suffer heavy losses from enemy aircraft.
8. Later models "fixed" the earlier problems of poor forward visibility, but the fix made it harder to do it's job.
9. Single engine. Crew of two.
10. First ordered by France.
11. Made in America.
12. Used most effectively by the Brits.
13. Due to the losses of other aircraft of this type, it was relegated to theaters of operations where there was either air supremacy established, or a lack of opposition .
14. Several variants were built to test engines for other designs. Including the B-29.
15.

Thanks!
Zip

racer639

Vultee A-31 vengence

zippome

We have a winner!
Racer 369 is up!

racer639

if anyone else has a question feel free to post it, I don't have one ready and will be traveling the next few days. thanks

rick

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

If no one else has a question I do an easy one .... What was the dreaded ORI

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

I'm guessing you mean the Strategic Air Command's (SAC) Operational Readiness Inspection (ORI). ORI's were tough; and the consequences of failing one were pretty rough. More than one SAC Wing Commander was walked out of his office on the spot. Thanks; Ernie P.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Ernie U are exactly correct ... What SAC base might U have been stationed at and when.
K.I.Sawyer may '65 thru 9 Sept '68 for me. In fact the day I got there I stood on the 2nd floor barrakes fire excape and watched the B'52 launch then the Tankers. looked like a few B'52's and the tankers were getting a good ride from the wake turbelance from the previous planes.

Looks like U are up to bat. Make it a good one.

F106A

My Feedback: (2)

I was stationed at Kincheloe AFB in the UP of Michigan, where snow flurries were 6-8", from '66-67 as a weapon loader. We had B-52H's that were armed with nukes and Hound Dog missiles.
Even though ORI's were supposed to be a "no notice inspection" word would filter down that you were next on the list although not the exact date.
When Bunker Hill had an ORI or special alert flights, they'd fly their B-58's to our base.
B-58- now there was an airplane-nothing like the sound of four J-79's going into burner at the same time!
Also had a squadron of F-106's. Most of us SAC types were really yearning to work on the SIX- in those days operated by ADC.
Volunteered to be a gunner on AC-47's and left the Kinch Sept '67 and went to England AFB, LA for training.
Jon

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Spent half my time at K.I. as a Hound-Dog 2nd shift Hanger Rat 44. and a year and a half running the HI Bay at combined systems where we did a full check out of the AGM-28B before it was hung on a B-52 where it spent 30 or so days on alert the flew before comig back to the hanger If it broke. Did U get to Nam on a PUFF? probably should PM me.

Looks like U are STILL up to bat.

F106A

My Feedback: (2)

I was a gunner on AC-47's, "RVN's premier fly by night outfit", stationed at Bien Hoa, just north of Saigon.
Was an instructor gunner on AC-119G/K's at Lockbourne AFB, Columbus, Oh.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

OUCH! Pretty amazing duty. now it's question time. Maybe something on "Puff the Magic Dragon"?

F106A

My Feedback: (2)

OK,
The AC-47 was called by two names, "Puff the magic dragon" and "Spooky".
What's the difference between the two names.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Actually, I think I am supposed to be up; but I'd much rather have a lot of people asking questions, so no harm, no foul. I was at Pease AFB from early 1968 until mid 1969, my only tour with SAC; although I was actually Communications Service (Crypto). As to Spooky and Puff; they were actually the same aircraft. Originally, "Spooky" was the name and "Puff" was a nickname; but later on the armament changed and some people called them one thing, others something else. Shortage of miniguns caused some to be armed with maching guns; but that didn't work out all that well. Thanks; Ernie P.


The Douglas AC-47 Spooky (also nicknamed "Puff, the Magic Dragon") was the first in a series of gunships developed by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. More firepower than could be provided by light and medium ground-attack aircraft was thought to be needed in some situations when ground forces called for close air support.

The AC-47 was a United States Air Force C-47, (the military version of the DC-3) that had been modified by mounting three 7.62 mm General Electric miniguns to fire through two rear window openings and the side cargo door, all on the left (pilot's) side of the aircraft, and the modified craft's primary function was close air support for ground troops. Other armament configurations could also be found on similar C-47-based aircraft around the world. The guns were actuated by a control on the pilot's yoke whereby he could control the guns either individually or together, although gunners were also among the crew to assist with gun failures and similar issues. It could orbit the target for hours, providing suppressing fire over an elliptical area approximately 52 yd (47.5 m) in diameter, placing a round every 2.4 yd (2.2 m) during a three-second burst. The aircraft also carried flares it could drop to illuminate the battleground.

The AC-47 had no previous design to gauge how successful it would be because it was the first of its kind. The USAF found itself in a precarious situation when requests for additional gunships began to come in because it simply lacked miniguns to fit additional aircraft after the first two conversions. The next four aircraft were equipped with 10 .30 caliber AN/M2 machine guns. However, these weapons, using World War II and Korean War ammunition stocks, were quickly discovered to jam easily, produce large amounts of gases from firing, and, even in 10-gun groups, only provide the density of fire of a single minigun. All four of these aircraft were retrofitted to the standard armament configuration when additional miniguns arrived.

The AC-47 initially used SUU-11/A gun pods that were installed on locally fabricated mounts for the gunship application. Emerson Electric eventually developed the MXU-470/A to replace the gun pods, which were also used on subsequent gunships.

In August 1964, years of fixed-wing gunship experimentation reached a new peak with Project Tailchaser under the direction of Capt. John C. Simons. This test involved the conversion of a single Convair C-131B to be capable of firing a single GAU-2/A Minigun at a downward angle out of the left side of the aircraft. Even crude grease pencil crosshairs were quickly discovered to enable a pilot flying in a pylon turn to hit a stationary area target with relative accuracy and ease. The Armament Development and Test Center tested the craft at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, but lack of funding soon suspended the tests. In 1964, Capt. Ron W. Terry returned from temporary duty in Vietnam as part of an Air Force Systems Command team reviewing all aspects of air operations in counter-insurgency warfare, where he had noted the usefulness of C-47s and C-123s orbiting as flare ships during night attacks on fortified hamlets. He received permission to conduct a live-fire test using the C-131 and revived the side-firing gunship program.

By October, Capt. Terry's team under Project Gunship provided a C-47D, which was converted to a similar standard as the Project Tailchaser aircraft and armed with three miniguns, which were initially mounted on locally fabricated mounts—essentially strapped gun pods intended for fixed-wing aircraft (SUU-11/A) onto a mount allowing them to be fired remotely out the port side. Captain Terry and a testing team arrived at Bien Hoa Air Base, South Vietnam, on 2 December 1964, with equipment needed to modify two C-47s. The first test aircraft (43-48579, a C-47B-5-DK mail courier converted to C-47D standard by removal of its superchargers) was ready by 11 December, the second by 15 December, and both were allocated to the 1st Air Commando Squadron for combat testing. The newly dubbed "FC-47" often operated under the radio call sign "Puff". Its primary mission involved protecting villages, hamlets, and personnel from mass attacks by VC guerrilla units.

Puff's first significant success occurred on the night of 23–24 December 1964. An FC-47 arrived over the Special Forces outpost at Tranh Yend in the Mekong Delta just 37 minutes after an air support request, fired 4,500 rounds of ammunition, and broke the Viet Cong attack. The FC-47 was then called to support a second outpost at Trung Hung, about 20 miles away. The aircraft again blunted the VC attack and forced a retreat. Between 15 and 26 December, all the FC-47's 16 combat sorties were successful. On 8 February 1965, an FC-47 flying over the Bong Son area of Vietnam’s Central Highlands demonstrated its capabilities in the process of blunting a Viet Cong offensive. For over four hours, it fired 20,500 rounds into a Viet Cong hilltop position, killing an estimated 300 Viet Cong troops.

The early gunship trials were so successful, the second aircraft was returned to the United States early in 1965 to provide crew training. In July 1965, Headquarters USAF ordered TAC to establish an AC-47 squadron. By November 1965, a total of five aircraft were operating with the 4th Air Commando Squadron, activated in August as the first operational unit, and by the end of 1965, a total of 26 had been converted. Training Detachment 8, 1st Air Commando Wing, was subsequently established at Forbes AFB, Kansas. In Operation Big Shoot, the 4th ACS in Vietnam grew to 20 AC-47s (16 aircraft plus four reserves for attrition).

The 4th ACS deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base, Vietnam, on 14 November 1965. Now using the call sign "Spooky", each of its three 7.62 mm miniguns could selectively fire either 50 or 100 rounds per second. It can be seen in action here. Cruising in an overhead left-hand orbit at 120 knots air speed at an altitude of 3,000 ft, the gunship could put a bullet or glowing red tracer (every fifth round) bullet into every square yard of a football field-sized target in potentially less than 10 seconds. And, as long as its 45-flare and 24,000-round basic load of ammunition held out, it could do this intermittently while loitering over the target for hours.

F106A

My Feedback: (2)

Correct, "Spooky" was the radio call sign, Puff the nickname, although Puff was never used when I was there.
There were 8 flights (locations), the 4th was up north ( south of the DMZ), the 3rd down south. Bien Hoa was C flight. We had 5 airplanes, four of which flew every night. Spooky 7-1 and 7-3 flew alert over Saigon and Bien Hoa from 7PM-12:30 AM.
Spooky 7-2 and 7-4 stood ground alert. At 12:30, the roles were reversed and landed at 7AM.
If there was a target, the airborne planes would proceed to the target and the ground alert planes would be scrambled to fly alert over Saigon or Bien Hoa.
We rarely put all 3 guns on fast fire, I can remember doing it about 3 times. We wanted to keep up a steady rate of fire to keep Charlie pinned down. With 3 guns on fast fire, there was a delay in reloading the guns.
Once, Charlie was overrunning a Special Forces camp and we put all three on fast fire and hosed them. The flight engineer was firing a M-16 out the back door hoping the tracers would fool Charlie that we still had guns. I don't think may were left, certainly not after the second pass. The Special forces troops sent us an AK-47 from the fight and it had 5 bullet holes in the stock!
My room mate, John Levitow, who was a loadmaster, got the MOH about a week after I left "Nam". He was the first enlisted AF member to get the MOH in Viet Nam.
Sadly, he passed away years ago from cancer.
Jon

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Quite a bit of History, Jon. Some of us have lived interesting lives, for better or worse. I'll post my question this afternoon. Thanks; Ernie P.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Okay; I was asked to make this question a good one. Let's see if I do. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Afternoon clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

(3) His victories were historic for at least three, maybe four, reasons.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Maybe it was Paul Warfield Tibbets, Jr. Pilot of Enola Gay the B-29 that drooped the first A-Bomb on Japan.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

No, not Tibbets. Good thinking, though; but this pilot was, among other things, a fighter pilot. Here's an evening clue to aid your search. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

(3) His victories were historic for at least three, maybe four, reasons.

(4) Completed high school in Los Angeles, California.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

And an extra evening clue, just so you all know I like you. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

(3) His victories were historic for at least three, maybe four, reasons.

(4) Completed high school in Los Angeles, California.

(5) Became an flight cadet, but was dismissed because he was underweight.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

(3) His victories were historic for at least three, maybe four, reasons.

(4) Completed high school in Los Angeles, California.

(5) Became an flight cadet, but was dismissed because he was underweight.

(6) He persevered, and eventually completed both primary and advanced flight training, all in a North American AT-6 Texan.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Afternoon clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

(3) His victories were historic for at least three, maybe four, reasons.

(4) Completed high school in Los Angeles, California.

(5) Became an flight cadet, but was dismissed because he was underweight.

(6) He persevered, and eventually completed both primary and advanced flight training, all in a North American AT-6 Texan.

(7) He ultimately became both a flight instructor and chief of training.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Evening clue. THanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

(3) His victories were historic for at least three, maybe four, reasons.

(4) Completed high school in Los Angeles, California.

(5) Became an flight cadet, but was dismissed because he was underweight.

(6) He persevered, and eventually completed both primary and advanced flight training, all in a North American AT-6 Texan.

(7) He ultimately became both a flight instructor and chief of training.

(8) He was an active operational pilot, and flew many patrols.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Morning clue. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He was not an ace.

(2) However, the victories he recorded were, indeed, historic.

(3) His victories were historic for at least three, maybe four, reasons.

(4) Completed high school in Los Angeles, California.

(5) Became an flight cadet, but was dismissed because he was underweight.

(6) He persevered, and eventually completed both primary and advanced flight training, all in a North American AT-6 Texan.

(7) He ultimately became both a flight instructor and chief of training.

(8) He was an active operational pilot, and flew many patrols.

(9) He flew troop transports on active missions.