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Posted: 3/4/2011 9:02:12 AM EDT
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a bit off topic but here it goes.
What was the name of the Vietnam era Gunship & what aircraft was it? Guy at the range is trying to tell me it was a DC-110 & the call sign was "Spooky", I think he's FOS. (C-123 or C-130 was Spooky) If memory serves me correct it was the DC-3 & the call sign was "Puff the Magic Dragon" I believe the current platform is the C-130 "Spectra Gun ship" |
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a bit off topic but here it goes. What was the name of the Vietnam era Gunship & what aircraft was it? Guy at the range is trying to tell me it was a DC-110 & the call sign was "Spooky", I think he's FOS. (C-123 or C-130 was Spooky) If memory serves me correct it was the DC-3 & the call sign was "Puff the Magic Dragon" I believe the current platform is the C-130 "Spectra Gun ship" It was a Douglas AC47 and Called Puff the ..... |
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GUNSHIP Development - from 1964 - 1973
AC-47 GUNSHIP I/ Call Sign - Spooky/Puff AC-119/G/K GUNSHIP III/ Call Sign - " Shadow" /K's were "Stinger" 16th SOS 17th SOS 18th SOS 20th SOS CH-3's and UH-1's 20th SOS - " Pony Express" CH-3's AC-130/A/E GUNSHIP II/ Call Sign - Spectre OP-2E U.S. Navy Gunships VO-67 http://airwarvietnam.com/gunship.htm |
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Official Names:
AC-47D - Spooky AC-119G - Shadow AC-119K - Stinger AC-123K - Provider AC-130A - Spectre AC-130E - Spectre AC-130H - Spectre AC-130U - Spooky AP-2H - Neptune There are a load of other names relating to various projects, subprojects, operational callsigns, and common parlance. |
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Here is a picture I took of "Spooky" aka "Puff the Magic Dragon" one night in 1969. That is not a death ray but tracer rounds. This was taken during an attack on Camp McDermott, Nha Trang. One of the few times I had a camera with me. http://images.photo1.walgreens.com/232323232%7Ffp43247%3Enu%3D325%3A%3E2%3B5%3E2%3A9%3EWSNRCG%3D32339%3A94%3A7%3A48nu0mrj Great picture, that's going in my "Keeper" file |
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Wow . Strange this topic was brought up today. My neighbor just passed away. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nwfdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=ellis-jean-vonhaven-bonzo&pid=149074185 
BTW: You left out "Ghostriders" |
| Spookie C130 had nose art of a skull riding a mini gun with a 1/4 moon in the back ground guns was blazing fire. had a chance to see one up close in 68 on the ramp at Saigon. I flew in to escort five KIA's and one day R and R. from our out fit and just happen up on it they were loading a cargo 130 right next to it so walk over and got a couple quick snap shots before anyone knew. Headed back to the chopper pad for for ride back dog patch and ,mud blood and the beer. |
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We're both right then, except for the C-110.
DC-3 & CH-47 are essential the same air frame with differing rolls. "Spooky & Puff" where both used in that era, so we are both correct on that. Now if I can just convince him the "Jolly Green Giant" is a CH-53, a.k.a. "Sea Stallion" ...but that's another story. |
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Wow . Strange this topic was brought up today. My neighbor just passed away. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nwfdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=ellis-jean-vonhaven-bonzo&pid=149074185 http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/aci30.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/1c1cb55e0.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/party2.jpg BTW: You left out "Ghostriders" "33,000 hours of flying"  One Hell of a Pilot!! you where lucky to have him as a neighbor.
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Quoted: Quoted: Wow . Strange this topic was brought up today. My neighbor just passed away. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nwfdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=ellis-jean-vonhaven-bonzo&pid=149074185 http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/aci30.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/1c1cb55e0.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/party2.jpg BTW: You left out "Ghostriders" "33,000 hours of flying" One Hell of a Pilot!! you where lucky to have him as a neighbor." In 1973, he was personally selected to participate in the Operation Homecoming mission to bring home the first POWs back home from Hanoi." RIP Col vonHaven |
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Now if I can just convince him the "Jolly Green Giant" is a CH-53, a.k.a. "Sea Stallion" ...but that's another story. Again, official names: CH-3C - Sea King CH-3E - Sea King HH-3E - Jolly Green Giant CH-53A - Sea Stallion HH-53B - Super Jolly HH-53C - Super Jolly CH-53D - Sea Stallion |
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Now if I can just convince him the "Jolly Green Giant" is a CH-53, a.k.a. "Sea Stallion" ...but that's another story. Again, official names: CH-3C - Sea King CH-3E - Sea King HH-3E - Jolly Green Giant CH-53A - Sea Stallion HH-53B - Super Jolly HH-53C - Super Jolly CH-53D - Sea Stallion 
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Wow, I've had a few brews with two of the gents in that pic! Sorry about your neighbor... 
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Wow, I've had a few brews with two of the gents in that pic! Sorry about your neighbor...
Bonzo was a great person, did some badass shit for his country. His son and I are best friends. This has hit the family hard. |
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My stepfather was at Ubon and Tan Son Nhut 68-73 among other places and stationed out of Hurlburt. He was a 130 mechanic. He passed long before I could pump him for any detailed historic info. Most all of his buddies were AC-130 or Stinger crew.
I don't know the gentlemen in the pic. It's part of a picture collection I started years ago of gunship history. My neighborhood is a retired community with every other home a USAF legend of some sorts. It's pretty amazing that Ellis also delivered the first 130 "The First Lady" in 1955. That plane is now on display at the Eglin Armament Museum. My deepest regards go out to Ellis's family
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| They brought the AC130 Gunships to Naha Okinawa for 374 th TAW to do the phase inspections on them in 1968. I was the OIC of the Phase Inspection and got a close look at them. We also flew the Blind Bat Misson out of Ubon and worked them and fast movers over the trail at night. |
| Another Spectre patch given to me from someone who worked on the GE134/ C47/ C130 setups for many years. http://oi53.tinypic.com/2rfynf9.jpg |
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John Thomas, were you a 462 or 2W1, or were the gunners something else in the 90's? I started life as a 462, but by the time I was a gunner the switch to 2W1 had been made by the Air Force. Shortly after I left Hurlburt Field, Aerial Gunners got their own career field (1A7X1) This was primarily so gunners wouldn't have to be developed from volunteer Armament Technicians. With the new AFSC, they could start them out fresh from tech school. For the record, I'm a 21A now. John Thomas |
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John Thomas, were you a 462 or 2W1, or were the gunners something else in the 90's? I started life as a 462, but by the time I was a gunner the switch to 2W1 had been made by the Air Force. Shortly after I left Hurlburt Field, Aerial Gunners got their own career field (1A7X1) This was primarily so gunners wouldn't have to be developed from volunteer Armament Technicians. With the new AFSC, they could start them out fresh from tech school. For the record, I'm a 21A now. John Thomas Cool. |
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Very cool. I started life as a 461, now 2W0, then after eight years became a 4054, now 21A. For a brief period we were 21Ws; the switch to 21A was good because all those aircraft guys who never had a remote went right to the top of the deployment list!
I did 23 years and had a great time, got to see Europe, learned lots, and met a lot of great people. |
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We're both right then, except for the C-110. DC-3 & CH-47 are essential the same air frame with differing rolls. "Spooky & Puff" where both used in that era, so we are both correct on that. Now if I can just convince him the "Jolly Green Giant" is a CH-53, a.k.a. "Sea Stallion" ...but that's another story. OK. I had to weigh in on this one. I hope I don't come across as a GD clown. DC-3's and CH-47's are two completely different aircraft. I'm positive you meant C-47. CH-47 is a helicopter, and a damn fine one if I do say so myself. I really enjoy maintaining them and flying in them.  Uniquely enough, Boeing manufactured 5 gunship airframes during Vietnam. The ACH-47A.
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You are correct sir, apologizes for the SNAFU http://www.combatreform.org/ach47aeasymoneyondisplayinhuntsville.jpg looks like that pear... 
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Wow . Strange this topic was brought up today. My neighbor just passed away. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nwfdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=ellis-jean-vonhaven-bonzo&pid=149074185 http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/aci30.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/1c1cb55e0.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/party2.jpg BTW: You left out "Ghostriders" "33,000 hours of flying" One Hell of a Pilot!! you where lucky to have him as a neighbor.That's almost 4 years flying. WOW |
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You are correct sir, apologizes for the SNAFU http://www.combatreform.org/ach47aeasymoneyondisplayinhuntsville.jpg Now I've got to ask: Where was that picture taken!?  I didn't think any of them were still on display, and I would love to be able to get a few photos of a real one.
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Wow . Strange this topic was brought up today. My neighbor just passed away. http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/nwfdailynews/obituary.aspx?n=ellis-jean-vonhaven-bonzo&pid=149074185 http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/aci30.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/1c1cb55e0.jpg http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj149/halpark/party2.jpg BTW: You left out "Ghostriders" "33,000 hours of flying" One Hell of a Pilot!! you where lucky to have him as a neighbor.That's almost 4 years flying. WOW And he could tell Epic Stories. He could pull you into his world. RIP. |
| Driving past the Eglin AFB reservation was a blast during yhe Vietnam era. The AC 47 and AC 130 gunships used ammo without the tracer pulled so it looked like liquid fire coming down. In recent years when they were still shooting the Vulcan 20mm they did away with the tracer but having an AC130 in a pylon turn over your head lighting up targets only about two miles away is awesome! The Spectre crews told us they often would use the big unit letters on the roof of our cruisers to sync the fire control system. Working nights around the reservation and you see some wild shit over the years not to mention getting buzzed by HH53 PaveLows below tree level! I had to check my shorts after that one! The 130 s have come in handy looking for missing children and such over the years. One night three of us, 5 range control and a platoon of SEALS chased two poachers until the Herk's had to land for fuel. |
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