Posted on 10/16/2001 7:19:27 AM PDT by Dirk McQuickly
Pic of a AC-47 gunship aka "Puff".
My service in the USAF special ops was a bit after the Vietnam war. A few of the old sergeants I worked with related how the mere mention of Puff on the radio sent the VC scurrying out of the area. Sometimes they even simulated a call to Puff to get the same effect when no Puff was available.
The 105MM cannon fires both the M-1, 32.5 pound high explosive (HE) and the M-60, 34.2 pound white phosphorous (WP) projectile. The fuzes available for the HE round are the super quick M-557,selectable to point detonate (PD) or a 0.05 second delay, the hardened FMU-153B, with PD or 0.007 second delay, and the M-732 proximity fuze, which detonates at approximately 7 meters above the ground, or point detonates if the proximity function is not set or fails.
The M-1 HE projectile with the M-557 fuze in the PD mode is effective against personnel and light vehicles. The M-1 HE projectile with M-557 fuze in delay is effective against light structures and personnel under heavy foliage or cover as the round penetrates prior to detonation. This combination does not work as well against concrete or hardened structures as the fuze and projectile may break up on impact, causing the round to not function. With the FMU-153B fuze in delay mode, the M-1 HE projectile has hardened target penetration capability. The M-732 also makes the M1 HE round an effective personnel physical suppression weapon, as the air burst enables the fragmentation to impact prone or entrenched troops.
For effective area coverage it may be necessary to fire several rounds at least 20 degrees apart, aiming approximately 2 mils high of the central point. The M-732 fuze may function based on the height of the highest obstacle in the area. The M-60 WP round, used only with the M-557 fuze, is an effective smoke round with limited incendiary effect.
This REMF has only seen one at an air show. They actually let us walk through it. An amazin' machine!
Here's another pretty piece of eye candy I haven't seen on FR before:
Here's another one, over Vietnam perhaps?
Anyone know? . . . What is the difference between Puff the Magic Dragon and Spooky?
83.
The former's an AC-47, the latter's an AC-130.
130-47=83 ;-)
A merry tune sung by the gunship crews. It is sung to the tune of "Ghost Riders in the Sky", an old country/western tune.
Fly high you mighty Spectre, you ship of blazing fools
Deal death around the table, and never play by rules
Lift up your wings at suns last ray, and silent like the night
Fly East to where your target lies, and start your deadly fight
Your foes will not suspect you're near, until they feel your sting
Spit forth a flame that points at death, and make your bullets sing
Though flak explode around you, stay on your circled path
Bathe the bad in bloody steel, make them feel your wrath
When all is quiet down below, and flames reach for the sky
Speed home you battle-weary ship, for soon the dark will fly
Speed home you mighty Spectre, touch down at sun's first ray
You've flown to hell for battle, but shun the light of day
Rest, rest you awesome Spectre, lick your battle wounds
And fill your side with deadly store for night is coming soon.
I saw this and my first thought was: "HOW THE F do you get a howitzer in a plane?"
This is Puff:
More information can be found at this website.
Actually, the official Air Force name was "Spooky." I saw many while I was in Nam. It was interesting to see them work out at night. All we could see, was a steady stream of tracers raining down from the sky.
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