Spooky ac47 in combat role, 80 years after dc3s maiden flight. The douglas ac47d gunship was developed in the early 1960s for use in antiinsurgency operations, and combined a longstanding aerial manoeuvre the pylon turn with the use of sideways firing weapons. The ac47 was an attack version of the famously versatile c47 cargo plane. The mission of our spooky brotherhood is to fraternally support all who remain, and to always remember those who gave all.
Douglas ac47 spooky, magic dragon night owl patch vietnam. The hercules cargo airframe was converted into aca project gunship ii because it could fly faster, longer, higher. The story of spooky, shadow, stinger, and spectre by wayne mutza, page 45. The days of the ac47 spooky gunship lasted for long, even in 2015, they. This photos above depict unmistakably the silhouette of the douglas dc3 c47 dakota, a vintage aircraft of which the last one was built in 1946, 70 years ago. Terry selected an ancient airplane, the douglas c47. Vintage original vietnam war incountry machineembroidered patch, size is 3 by 3. Spooky is defined as douglas ac47 gunship somewhat frequently.
On a typical black starless night in july, 1973 spooky lifted into the sky over bien hoa. Utilsing flares that the aircraft dropped to light up battlegrounds, the ac47 was a gunship of the usaf operating out of udorn air base thailand and tan son nhut, saigon and nha trang. Build your own douglas ac47 spooky gunship historynet. Living warbirds is your largest aircraft and aviation resource. Jan 15, 2015 ac 47 spooky gunship vietnam patch afb dc 3 us air force puff the. The ac47 gunship, commonly referred to as spooky, packed a trio of miniguns in the cargo hold of a wwii transport and could churn out 6,000 rounds per minute, with spent brass streaming out the. Douglas ac47d spooky gunship us air force museum attack. Douglas ac47d spooky aka puff, the magic dragon elsa eliezer. It was an asymmetric war fought against an opponent who often could afford to sit and out wait attacking aircraft loiter time and most likely to assault at night. Douglas ac47 spooky airplane videos and airplane pictures over 10,000 airplane videos and growing. Quite possbily the most successful aircraft ever developed, approximately,000 c47 variants were produced. More firepower than could be provided by light 372739089897. The douglas ac47 spooky also nicknamed puff, the magic dragon was the first in a series of fixed wing gunships developed by the united states air force during the vietnam war. Jun 25, 2016 ac 47 spooky gunship vietnam patch afb dc 3 us air force puff the magic dragon ebay saved from.
The sheet of red raining down from the night sky represents only one of. At the same time, the aacs ac47 was redesignated ec47. Douglas ac47 spooky airplane videos and airplane pictures. No matter what youre looking for or where you are in the world, our global marketplace of sellers can help you find unique and affordable options. Development of the gunship the ac47d combat record. The illicit business made the local drugs lords as. Douglas ac47d spooky gunship aka puff the magic dragon report. Here is image 12 of our photo walk around of the douglas ac47 spooky gunship. Despite its service entry in 1941 and an american military career spanning across both world war 2 19391945 and the korean war 19501953, the douglas c47 skytrain transport saw renewed life during the american involvement in the vietnam war 19551975 as the converted ac47 spooky gunship. Douglas ac47 spooky puff, the magic dragon dragon dak. With the vietnam conflict escalating in intensity and the aging ac47 unable to keep pace with operational demands for longer air loiter. A beautiful example of the classic douglas aircraft under a setting sun. The usaf douglas ac47 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.
Usaf1966usdept of agric, mission, tx 1971 world acft museum. From 1964 to 1969, the ac47s successfully defended 3,926 hamlets, outposts or forts. In the early 1960s, air force systems command began experimenting with sidefiring weapons systems for possible use in vietnam in point defense and night close air support cas roles. See photos of worlds only veteran aircraft of 3 wars, built 75 years ago, and still in active military service. Despite heavy antiaircraft fire due to the close proximity to the border, the ac47 stemmed the attack and was credited with 168 kills and with preventing the base being overrun. Jan 2, 2014 ac 47 spooky gunship vietnam patch afb dc 3 us air force puff the magic dragon ebay saved from ebay. That south american nation has a reputation for its production, trade, and smuggling of cocaine and marijuana. Usaf converted 53 c47s for use as gunships during the vietnam war. American douglas ac47 spooky gunship aircraft usaf. Spooky gunship operations in the vietnam war historynet.
Douglas ac47 spooky fixedwing gunship aircraft image pic1. The ac47 t fantasma, using the very same airframe as the iconic vietnam war aerial manhunters based on the c47, often dubbed spooky or puff the magic dragon. During the vietnam war the c hercules airframe was selected to replace the original gunship, the douglas ac47 spooky project gunship i. The douglas ac47 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. In vietnam, the gunships continued to prove their effectiveness. Apr 19, 2018 ac 47 spooky gunship vietnam patch afb dc 3 us air force puff the. Also less wellknown is the modern version of the ac47 gunship. By 1961, additional c47s had been supplied to the south vietnamese air. It was designed to provide more firepower than light and medium. The douglas ac47 spooky was the first in a series of fixed wing gunships developed by the united states air force during the vietnam war. Terry selected an ancient airplane, the douglas c 47.
The spooky was briefly known as the fc47 before being redesignated ac47. Here is image of our photo walk around of the douglas ac47 spooky gunship. The days of the ac47 spooky gunship lasted for long, even in 2015, they were still flying on patrols over colombia. Air force during the vietnam wars early days and featured in log of the leper july 2017 aviation history. On 15 may 1966 an ac47 gunship, call sign spooky 10 tail number 4349546, departed ubon rtafb, thailand, on an armed reconnaissance flight in central laos. Image used to illustrate the details of the douglas ac47 spooky fixedwing gunship aircraft pic1 douglas ac47 spooky fixedwing gunship aircraft image pic1 image. No outpost or village under gunship protection was ever lost to the enemy. 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.
The ac47d spooky gunship was on a flare mission, flying a normal orbit off the coast of near cam rahn bay when it was observed to crash into the sea and explode. Build your own douglas ac47 spooky gunship dick smith revell of germany is the only manufacturer to date that has released a 148thscale kit of the douglas ac47d gunship used by the u. Douglas ac47d spooky gunship aka puff the magic dragon. Douglas ac47 spooky fixedwing gunship aircraft military factory. In april, spooky 23 helped defend special forces detachment 41s base camp near the cambodian border. Ac47 spooky gunship hat patch us air force puff the magic dragon vietnam war. The douglas dc3 entered the hall of fame already long before wwii. Ac 47 spooky gunship vietnam patch afb dc 3 us air. Media in category douglas ac47 spooky the following 36 files are in this category, out of 36 total. The douglas ac47 spooky puff the magic dragon, vietnam era gunship with 3 gau2 miniguns. The 11th annual spooky reunion held in colorado springs, co. More firepower than could be provided by light and medium groundattack aircraft was thought to be needed in some. Due to global pandemic, usps delivery may be temporarily delayed. Douglas ac47d spooky gunship aka puff the magic dragon finley arlo.
The douglas ac47 spooky also nicknamed puff, the magic dragon was the first in a series of gunships developed by the united states air force during. Vietnam conflict ac47d spooky gunship aircrew losses. The douglas ac47 spooky was the first in a series of gunships developed by the united states air force during the vietnam war. An ac47d, sn 4348499 of the 4 sos during the late 1960s gunships. Find great deals on ebay for ac47 gunship when you shop the largest online selection at. Gallery featuring usaf vietnam era douglas ac47a spooky gunship in 172 scale.
They fired over 97 million rounds and killed over 5,300 enemy soldiers. Ac 47 spooky gunship vietnam patch afb dc 3 us air force. The ac47 spooky also nicknamed as puff the magic dragon after a 1963 song of the same name is a modified c47 skytrain built by douglas aircraft. Armour collection usaf douglas ac47 spooky gunship. Us air force douglas ac47 spooky vietnam war patch ebay. This timelapse photo shows a douglas ac47 spooky at work on the outskirts of saigon. Douglas ac47 spooky gunship photo walk around image. From world war i and world war ii airplanes to the fastest fighter jets, youll find detailed aircraft information about ww1, ww2, and postwar airplanes. Spookyac47 in a combat role, 80 years after the dc3s. Air force douglas ac47d gunship that was known as the dragonship, puff, the magic dragon and spooky. What donald douglas had designed as a basic passenger airplane evolved into a highly efficient gunship, designated the ac47. These molds were also the basis for monograms ac47 vietnamera gunship kit, first released in the 1980s. As always thank you to all those who attended, you are what made this and all the other reunions great. Douglas ac47 spooky gunship photo walk around image 12.
They laid down the foundations for the ac spectre gunship and a10 warthog, the. Vietnam war patch, us air force douglas ac47 gunship. At 1745 hours spooky 10 established radio contact with the airborne command and control aircraft giving their status and position. It was designed to provide more firepower than light and medium groundattack aircraft in certain situations when ground forces called for close air support.
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