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The Douglas AC-47 ("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. It was designed to provide more firepower than light and medium ground-attack aircraft in certain situations when ground forces called for close air support .
Douglas AC-47 Spooky of the United States Air Force 13 December: Douglas AC-47D Spooky 43-49274 of the United States Air Force collided in mid-air with North American Rockwell OV-10 Bronco 67-14627 whilst both aircraft were on a night-time combat operation at Truc Giang.
Several larger aircraft were outfitted with miniguns specifically for close air support: the Cessna A-37 Dragonfly with an internal gun and with pods on wing hardpoints; and the Douglas A-1 Skyraider, also with pods on wing hardpoints. Other famous gunship airplanes are the Douglas AC-47 Spooky, the Fairchild AC-119, and the Lockheed AC-130. [8]
The Fairchild AC-119G Shadow and AC-119K Stinger were twin-engine piston-powered gunships developed by the United States during the Vietnam War. They replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky and operated alongside the early versions of the AC-130 Spectre gunship.
The Douglas AC-47 Spooky, the Fairchild AC-119, [13] and the AC-130 Spectre/Spooky, [14] were vulnerable, and meant to operate only after achieving air superiority. [2] Smaller gunship designs such as the Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker and the Helio AU-24 Stallion were also designed by the United States during the Vietnam War.
Douglas AC-47 Spooky: Ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship: Douglas Aircraft Company: Developed from the Douglas C-47 Skytrain, it itself developed from the acclaimed Douglas DC-3. Succeeded by the Fairchild AC-119 & the Lockheed AC-130. [8] First deployed over Vietnam in 1964. [9] 1964 [10] 1965 53 Bell AH-1 Cobra: Attack ...
English: A U.S. Air Force Douglas AC-47D Spooky gunship (s/n 43-49010) of the 4th Special Operations Squadron at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base, in June 1970. The 4th SOS had the tail code "EN" at Nha Trang Air Base, Vietnam.
Later, during the Vietnam era, the 14th Air Commando Squadron, flew Douglas AC-47 Spooky gunships between 1967 and 1968. The 14th flew out of Nha Trang Air Base , Phan Rang Air Base , Bien Hoa Air Base , and Binh Thuy Air Base , providing fire support in defense of US air bases, special forces camps, Republic of Vietnam Army outposts, and South ...