Shadow and Stinger

Shadow and Stinger PDF Author: William Pace Head
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 9781585445776
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 364

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Book Description
Nicknamed “the truck killer,” the AC-119K gunship and its counterpart, the AC-119G, were developed in the late 1960s in response to the needs of the U.S. military in Vietnam. This important book examines the evolution of these aircraft and their role within Vietnam, military policy, and geopolitical realities. Drawing on unpublished studies and a host of primary materials, William Head discusses the events that led to the birth of the AC-119, the planning and modification processes that followed, and its operational history. The G model, or “Shadow,” focused on air support and anti-personnel missions. “Stinger,” the K model, which could carry more cargo for longer distances, was suited for destruction of enemy vehicles. Though the AC-119 was only an interim asset, its descendants—the AC-130E, H, and U—have played an active role in the recent conflict in Iraq. A narrative of the crews and pilots who executed the missions and the engineers, designers, and the politicians responsible for the aircraft, Shadow and Stinger will be of interest to Vietnam veterans, historians, and scholars, as well as aviation enthusiasts.

Shadow and Stinger

Shadow and Stinger PDF Author: William Pace Head
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 9781585445776
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 364

Get Book Here

Book Description
Nicknamed “the truck killer,” the AC-119K gunship and its counterpart, the AC-119G, were developed in the late 1960s in response to the needs of the U.S. military in Vietnam. This important book examines the evolution of these aircraft and their role within Vietnam, military policy, and geopolitical realities. Drawing on unpublished studies and a host of primary materials, William Head discusses the events that led to the birth of the AC-119, the planning and modification processes that followed, and its operational history. The G model, or “Shadow,” focused on air support and anti-personnel missions. “Stinger,” the K model, which could carry more cargo for longer distances, was suited for destruction of enemy vehicles. Though the AC-119 was only an interim asset, its descendants—the AC-130E, H, and U—have played an active role in the recent conflict in Iraq. A narrative of the crews and pilots who executed the missions and the engineers, designers, and the politicians responsible for the aircraft, Shadow and Stinger will be of interest to Vietnam veterans, historians, and scholars, as well as aviation enthusiasts.

Gunships

Gunships PDF Author: Wayne Mutza
Publisher: Specialty Press (MN)
ISBN: 9781580071239
Category : AC-119 (Gunship)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
Gunships: The Story of Spooky, Shadow, Stinger, and Spectre tells the dramatic story of transforming military cargo transports into deadly ground-attack aircraft used by the U.S. and other countries in worldwide conflicts from the Vietnam War to the Middle East today. This comprehensive and detailed accounting of gunships begins with piston-powered, WWII-era C-47s and progresses to the four-engine turboprop C-130 Hercules, showing how gunships evolved from using 20mm miniguns to 105mm Howitzers with digital-age Battle Management Centers housed onboard. These highly effective airplanes made history by removing the safe haven of night operations from the enemy, and allowing strategic victory that might not have otherwise been possible. Author Wayne Mutza not only carefully researched all of these aircraft and their paths to reality, but also tells the tale of the brave and persevering men who believed in this unique weapon system and who saw its development through to the end. This book features a wealth of outstanding color photographs, many of which have never before been published, and also contains detailed appendices documenting gunship production data, combat units, and aircraft losses.

The Gunship Chronicles

The Gunship Chronicles PDF Author: Larry Barbee
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781088536520
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 157

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Book Description
This is the story of the AC-119K gunship and the Stinger 41 mission. Shadow and Stinger Pilot Roy Davis recently helped Larry publish his book titled "The Gunship Chronicles: Stinger 41". Larry is donating all the profits from the sale of the book to the Association.

Shadows of Saigon

Shadows of Saigon PDF Author: Elton Fletcher
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780738869308
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 514

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Book Description
Shadows of Saigon is a work of fiction based upon real people and factual events during the Vietnam War. The book covers the time period from the American Invasion of Cambodia in May 1970 to May 1971 when Vietnamization and U. S. troop withdrawals are well underway. During this time, the Vietnam War takes a major swing westward into the neighboring country of Cambodia. Shadows of Saigon is a compelling story of a young man who for various reasons leaves his chosen profession and the woman he loves to volunteer for service in the U. S. Air Force. The setting of the story revolves around Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon, Republic of Vietnam. Former teacher, Lieutenant Paul Knight is fresh from officer's school and pilot training in Texas. He volunteers for Air Commando duty in the AC-119 Shadow gunship. Reporting for duty with the 17th Special Operations Squadron in Vietnam, he is assigned to Fighting C Flight at Tan Son Nhut Air Base in Saigon. It is not long after American ground troops are withdrawn from Cambodia that Charlie Flight with its five fixed-wing gunships is assigned the task of providing twenty-four hour air support for the Cambodian Army. Flying antiquated, propeller-driven transport planes converted to attack-gunships, the Air Commandos are designated with the radio call sign "Shadow". The Shadows are accustomed to hiding in the darkness of night on combat missions, but now they must also operate during the day. The big black warplane becomes a most inviting target for enemy gunners as it flies low and slow to encircle the enemy with four side-firing Gatling guns that rain death. Knight and his fellow Air Commandos deal with the increased dangers of flying missions eye-to-eye with the enemy in broad daylight. Knight's chances of surviving his twelve-month tour of duty in Southeast Asia lessen with each combat mission. He soon learns that the gunship he pilots is not always reliable and that the monsoon season creates extremely hazardous combat flying conditions. No larger than the State of Missouri, Cambodia is a hotbed for U. S. air operations. Twenty-four hours a day, Shadow gunships from Saigon rotate every four hours to provide continual close fire support for the Cambodians. From the provincial capitals of Prey Veng, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and the ancient ruins of Angkor to the nation's capital city of Phnom Penh and the nation's major seaport at Kompong Som, Shadows of Saigon are hell-bent to provide uninterrupted direct air support for the newly formed Republic of Cambodia. Knight's world of war ranges from sheer boredom to stark terror. It constantly transitions back and forth between the relatively safe sanctum of Tan Son Nhut and the dangerous combat environment over hostile enemy territory in Cambodia and Laos. Laying his life on the line for an unpopular and seemingly never-ending war, Knight struggles with his convictions that motivated him to volunteer for service. He wrestles with fears of getting killed or captured. With the enticement of Saigon just outside the gates of Tan Son Nhut, Knight takes advantage of the city to escape the rigors of war. Knight meets and eventually falls in love with a Eurasian war correspondent from Paris. She hates the Americans and what they have done to Vietnam. Three of Knight's pilot training buddies are also stationed in Vietnam. Their paths cross frequently as they too face the realities of war and the possibility of never returning home alive. Killer Dameron pilots AC-119G Shadow gunships along with Knight at Tan Son Nhut. He rejects his past life to become a renegade obsessed with killing the enemy. Joseph Eric Thomas, better known as JET, flies AC-119K Stinger gunships that carry much greater firepower than its sister-ship, Shadow. Youngblood is stationed at Phan Rang where he flies F-100 fighter/bombe

Apollo's Warriors

Apollo's Warriors PDF Author: Michael E. Haas
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 9780788149832
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 388

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Book Description
Presenting a fascinating insider's view of U.S.A.F. special operations, this volume brings to life the critical contributions these forces have made to the exercise of air & space power. Focusing in particular on the period between the Korean War & the Indochina wars of 1950-1979, the accounts of numerous missions are profusely illustrated with photos & maps. Includes a discussion of AF operations in Europe during WWII, as well as profiles of Air Commandos who performed above & beyond the call of duty. Reflects on the need for financial & political support for restoration of the forces. Bibliography. Extensive photos & maps. Charts & tables.

The Stinger Wars

The Stinger Wars PDF Author: Joshua Goehmann
Publisher: Trafford Publishing
ISBN: 1490745459
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 78

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Book Description
Im Riken Shatter of the Stinger race which was almost brought to extinction I know no one has heard of us because four groups tried to erase us from history this is a story of those times. This is a fictional book about a fictional race that is trying to conquer every dimension and expand their power. Inferno the king of the Stingers isnt content with being king of the Stingers so he decides that he will ally with the Angels of Decay and he plans on taking over more starting with the Demons and after that his target is the Planet Sunexu a planet that has multiple races Humans, Elves, Orcs, Goblins, Ogres and so on.

Combat Talons in Vietnam

Combat Talons in Vietnam PDF Author: John Gargus
Publisher: Texas A&M University Press
ISBN: 1623495121
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 286

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Book Description
Combat Talons in Vietnam is a personal account of the first use of C-130s in the Vietnam War. It provides an insider’s view of crew training and classified missions for this technologically advanced aircraft. Many covert missions over North Vietnam were successful, but one night, John Gargus, a mission planner, oversaw an operation in which the aircraft—carrying eleven crewmembers—failed to return from a nighttime mission. For thirty years, a search for the missing aircraft remained in progress. In the late 1990s, the Combat Talon veteran community at Hurlburt Field in Florida, still uncertain of the full story, decided to dedicate a memorial to the lost crew. When wartime mission records were declassified, Gargus embarked on a long journey of inquiry, research, and puzzle-solving to reconstruct the events of that mission and the fate of its crew. He discovered that the wreckage of the plane had been found in 1992 and that the remains of the crew were being held in Hawaii. Through numerous Freedom of Information Act requests, interviews, and site visits, Gargus sought to answer the question of why it took so long to find the wreckage and, more importantly, why the special operations command units were left uninformed. By 2000, the remains were relocated to a common grave at Arlington National Cemetery at last providing a measure of closure to family, friends, and comrades.

True Faith and Allegiance

True Faith and Allegiance PDF Author: Mike McDermott
Publisher: University of Alabama Press
ISBN: 0817317554
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 207

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Book Description
An intimate and compelling account of the most brutal infantry warfare and is also a critique of the mishandling of America's departure from Indochina

Storms Over the Mekong

Storms Over the Mekong PDF Author: William P. Head
Publisher: Williams-Ford Texas A&M Univer
ISBN: 9781623498351
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
"From the defeat of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam at Ap Bac to the battles of the Ia Drang Valley, Khe Sanh, and more, "Storms over the Mekong" offers a reassessment of key turning points in the Vietnam War. Head not only reexamines these pivotal battles but also provides a new interpretation on the course of the war in Southeast Asia. A blow-by-blow account of the key military events, but beyond that, it is also a measured reconsideration of the battles and moments that Americans thought they already knew, adding up to a new history of the Vietnam War"--

From a Dark Sky

From a Dark Sky PDF Author: Orr Kelly
Publisher: Open Road Media
ISBN: 1497645662
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 337

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Book Description
A fascinating history of the most secretive and unsung branch of the US military’s Special Forces, from World War II through Desert Storm Very little is known about USAF Special Operations—yet their exploits have been as daring and their achievements as remarkable as anything accomplished by their brother warriors. Since World War II, these ultra-secretive “air commandos” have routinely performed the near-impossible, undertaking missions that typically carry them across enemy lines. From secretly inserting covert operatives into North Korea and participating in clandestine CIA operations in Vietnam and Cambodia to providing air support for partisans in Nazi-occupied France and rescuing dozens of downed fliers trapped deep in enemy territory, these courageous airmen have done the jobs that no one else could do, often in the most technologically advanced war machinery the Air Force has at its disposal. Sometimes called “ravens” or “carpetbaggers,” the air commandos have a history that has long been buried beneath layers of official cover stories, rumors, and deceptions—until now. An expert in military affairs, Orr Kelly has already written what many believe to be the definitive history of the US Navy SEALs (Brave Men, Dark Waters). Now, he turns his attention to this unsung branch of the military’s Special Forces, relating a true story of courage, skill, and commitment that spans decades. With uncompromising honesty, he explores both the triumphs (Project 9 in Burma) and the disasters (the failed rescue of hostages in Iran) of these incomparable heroes of the sky, who have never sought recognition or glory.