Night Hunters: The AC-130s and Their Role in US Airpower

Preface

ix O ver the past decade I have written three accounts of fixed-wing gunships. The first, on the AC-47, appeared as an article in a scholarly military history journal. The second, on the AC-119G/Ks, was published in 2007 by Texas A&M University Press. Both were long, exhausting projects that left me ready to move on to something besides gunships . Then, in January 2008, I was honored to be invited by the 4th and 16th Special Operations Squadrons (4th SOS and 16th SOS), then both stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida, to fly training missions with them. Although severe weather prevented or shortened the three missions I was scheduled to fly, I got to know the excellent young people who operate Air Force Special Operations Command’s (AFSOC’s) AC-130Hs and Us. It was following this enriching experience, and some initial research undertaken at Herb Mason’s AFSOC History Office and Archives at Hurlburt Field, that I felt compelled, by respect for all those who have flown or continue to fly gunships, to complete the trilogy of the major US fixed-wing gunship models built by this nation since 1965. I should mention that some information on the AC-47 and AC-119 gunships has been essentially repeated from my previous works and placed in the early chapters of this book. I did this in an effort to introduce the AC-130s and to make this text capable of standing alone as a general study of all American gunships. In this way readers will not have to have read my previous works in order to know how I got to this point. This seems only logical, since the AC-130U are currently the last reality of a long progression of new concepts and ideas begun by remarkable airmen such as Ron Terry beginning in the early 1960s. No one completes a study of this magnitude without a lot of support, and I am no exception. Among the many who I need to thank are Herb Mason and Randy Bergeron of the AFSOC History Office; Lt. Gen. Tom Owen (then WR-ALC commander), who arranged my trip to Hurlburt Field; Maj. Gen. Clay T. McCutchan, USAF Reserve retired, chief of the Air Armament Center History Office (AAC HO); and Gen. Mike Wilson, who provided me with an extensive interview about the history of the AC-130s. These men are not only experts on the aircraft and how to use them, but General McCutchan is also a historian for the USAF. Of equal importance, he provided valuable editing and sage advice. Preface X | PREFACE Among those who spent hours editing this beast were my long-suffering wife Randee and General McCutchan’s colleague at AAC HO, Michael A. Klausutis, who spent weeks working on the manuscript to be sure it was factually correct. If I got it right, it was because of Mike. As always, Randee has done great work. Others who provided important edits and advice included my friend Dave Mets, my longtime colleague and associate Diane Truluck, and my friend Dennis Mills. The cover painting was executed by renowned military aviation artist James Balletto, who was gracious enough to provide it to the author specifically for this book on the AC-130. It is an interpretation of a photograph of an AC-130 firing 25mm rounds at night targets during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Working from Blue Heron Studios in Warner Robins, Georgia, Jim has for many years produced important works of military aviation art and numerous other forms of artistic expression. I am honored by his willingness to produce such a stunning painting for this work. Last, but not least, I want to thank SSgt. Keith Dormar, SMSgt. John O’Dell, and all the other men and women of the 16th SOS and 4th SOS who spent precious hours taking me around to see what I needed to see and explaining to me the important parts and functions of their unit and its weapon systems. Hats off to all of you and to anyone I forgot to mention. ...