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Barksdale a couple of weeks ago..

R

redriver6

Guest
B-17 'Thunderbird'...right to left pass....

b17.jpg


left to right pass...don't think i have ever seen a 'heavy' banked this far over...

b17g.jpg


Mig 17 solo for the Black Diamond Jet Team...

snort.jpg


Heritage flight...

f4p47.jpg


notice anything strange about this gooney bird?:icon_lol:

c47.jpg
 
You wouldn't be talkin' about that little 'ole 7.62mm mini-gun stickin' out the left window, would you ??
The other two were right behind it on the left side.

I was in South Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut AB In January 1968 when the Tet New Year started. The VC/NVA initiated a series of rocket attacks on the flight line to destroy aircraft and probed the perimeter of the air base. I happened to be working the mid shift that night and my fellow USAF-types were staying near the bomb-proof bunker. We heard at least one "Spooky" circling around in the air trying to acquire a target.

Suddenly, there was a flash of soft purple light like a neon tube (a Star Wars light saber) and a rather soft "whirring" sound. It lasted about 5-6 seconds. It was repeated on an irregular basis for the next few hours. Ultimately, the bad guys went away and the show was over.

But I won't forget it. You would definitely NOT want to be on the receiving end of what that little fellow could send your way.
 
glh said:
You wouldn't be talkin' about that little 'ole 7.62mm mini-gun stickin' out the left window, would you ??
The other two were right behind it on the left side.

I was in South Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut AB In January 1968 when the Tet New Year started. The VC/NVA initiated a series of rocket attacks on the flight line to destroy aircraft and probed the perimeter of the air base. I happened to be working the mid shift that night and my fellow USAF-types were staying near the bomb-proof bunker. We heard at least one "Spooky" circling around in the air trying to acquire a target.

Suddenly, there was a flash of soft purple light like a neon tube (a Star Wars light saber) and a rather soft "whirring" sound. It lasted about 5-6 seconds. It was repeated on an irregular basis for the next few hours. Ultimately, the bad guys went away and the show was over.

But I won't forget it. You would definitely NOT want to be on the receiving end of what that little fellow could send your way.
Click to expand...

a cousin of mine was on Spooky back then...might very well have been the one you 'heard'...

this C-47 wasn't a 'historical' Spooky..and they only had two mini guns...i asked the proprietors about that and they said if they put the third one on board no one could get on board through the door. they were charging 3 bucks to go on board so i gave em the money and went in...

spooky02.jpg


spooky03.jpg


spooky04.jpg


spooky01.jpg


spooky05.jpg
 
"this C-47 wasn't a 'historical' Spooky..and they only had two mini guns...i asked the proprietors about that and they said if they put the third one on board no one could get on board through the door. they were charging 3 bucks to go on board so i gave em the money and went in..."
================================================

I borrow and paste some text from the Marine Aviation Museum dba Vietnam War Flight Museum. Seems there were various minigun configurations.

http://www.vietnamwarflight.com/Aircraft/Spooky.shtml


The Douglas AC-47 Spooky was the first in a series of gunships developed by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. It was felt that more firepower than could be provided by light and medium attack aircraft was needed in some situations when ground forces called for close air support.
AC-47-repro-g.jpg
The AC-47 was a United States Air Force C-47 Skytrain 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. Note: Some aircraft were configured with all three guns mounted through windows and none in the cargo door, as is the aircraft pictured below. 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, where he could control the guns either individually or together, though gunners were also among the crew to assist with gun failures and similar issues. Its primary function was for close air support for ground troops, both U.S. and South Vietnamese. Once called into action, it could loiter, orbiting the designated target, sometimes for hours, providing suppressing fire. A three-second burst from all guns, according to Air Force reports, would put one round in every square foot of a football field sized target. As it carried over 24,000 rounds of ammunition, it was highly unpopular with those on the receiving end of its fire and extremely popular with the troops it flew in support of, who gave it the nickname of Puff the Magic Dragon. In addition to the miniguns, it also carried flares, which it could drop at will to light up the battleground.

Excellent pictures of the B-17 also.

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