Shadow and Stinger: Developing the AC-119G/K Gunships in the Vietnam War

Illustrations

illuStrationS 1. Emblem of the 17th Special operations Squadron, which flew aC-119Gs in Vietnam (Photo courtesy raFB archives), 14. 2. Emblem of the 18th Special operations Squadron, which flew aC-119Gs in Vietnam (Photo courtesy raFB archives), 21. 3. View from under the left wing of an aC-119K, which shows the “business end” of the Stinger (Photo courtesy lee Kyser), 42. 4. Gunfire control system in the interior of an aC-119 gunship (Photo courtesy larry Fletcher), 59. 5. training for aC-119 crews at lockbourne aFB (Photo courtesy larry Fletcher; in fact, this is Fletcher’s class), 70. 6. Enemy antiaircraft gunners firing at U.S. aircraft (probably aC-119s), 82. 7. an aC-119G on display in 1969 at Fairchild’s facilities in Florida (Photo courtesy raFB archives), 91. 8. an aC-119G in flight, 106. 9. Ill-fated aC-119K (t/N 839), which was the last casualty of the war, when it crashed during a VNaF training flight (Photo courtesy lee Kyser), 118. 10. an aC-119K on display at Fairchild’s Facilities in Florida during an open house (Photo courtesy raFB archives), 125. 11. Side view of an aC-119K (t/N 911) (Photo courtesy lee Kyser), 132. 12. View of laU-74a flare launcher and spotlight on aC-119 (Photo courtesy larry Fletcher), 141. 13. General Electric 470 miniguns in the interior of the aC-119 (Photo courtesy larry Fletcher), 148. 14. Modification line for G models at Fairchild’s facilities in Florida in 1969 (Photo courtesy raFB archives), 159. 15. rear view of aC-119K. Note the FlIrS and the smoke-evacuation system (Photo courtesy lee Kyser), 171. 16. an aC-119G flying over Saigon (Photo courtesy larry Fletcher), 180. 17. Crew photograph of VNaF training flight of t/N 839 (Photo courtesy lee Kyser), 192. 18. Electronic warfare/NoS/illuminator/avionics officer working in the interior of an aC-119 during a mission (Photo courtesy larry Fletcher), 205. 19. Emblem of the 71st Special operations Squadron, the first unit to fly aC-119Gs (Photo courtesy raFB archives), 225. ...