In this Book
- Shadow and Stinger: Developing the AC-119G/K Gunships in the Vietnam War
- Book
- 2007
- Published by: Texas A&M University Press
summary
Nicknamed “the truck killer,” the AC-119K gunship and its counterpart, the AC-119G, were developed in the late 1960s in response to the needs of the U.S. military in Vietnam. This important book examines the evolution of these aircraft and their role within Vietnam, military policy, and geopolitical realities.
Drawing on unpublished studies and a host of primary materials, William Head discusses the events that led to the birth of the AC-119, the planning and modification processes that followed, and its operational history. The G model, or “Shadow,” focused on air support and anti-personnel missions. “Stinger,” the K model, which could carry more cargo for longer distances, was suited for destruction of enemy vehicles.
Though the AC-119 was only an interim asset, its descendants—the AC-130E, H, and U—have played an active role in the recent conflict in Iraq.
A narrative of the crews and pilots who executed the missions and the engineers, designers, and the politicians responsible for the aircraft, Shadow and Stinger will be of interest to Vietnam veterans, historians, and scholars, as well as aviation enthusiasts.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Illustrations
- pp. vii-viii
- 2. Project Combat Hornet
- pp. 32-50
- 6. The Smoke-Evacuation System and FLIRS
- pp. 114-127
- 7. Modification Program Revisions
- pp. 128-142
- 8. Technical Modifications
- pp. 143-165
- 10. U.S. Air Power in Vietnam
- pp. 185-212
- Conclusion: “Country Roads, Take Me Home”
- pp. 240-254
- Bibliography
- pp. 297-320
Additional Information
ISBN
9781603445078
Related ISBN(s)
9781585445776
MARC Record
OCLC
608512477
Pages
352
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No