Specialty Press

Gunships: The Story of Spooky, Shadow, Stinger, and Spectre

by Wayne Mutza

Reviewed By Rob Folden, IPMS #45545

MSRP: $34.95 ISBN: 978-1-58007-123-9 Hardback 204 pages 101 b/w photos and 245 color photos Website: www.specialtypress.com The AC-47 Spooky, the AC-119G Shadow, the AC-119K Stinger, and the AC-130 Spectre… No matter the designation or nickname, they are all defined by one word…GUNSHIP. Military cargo planes destined to become the worlds most feared aircraft. Raining down firepower from the heavens and obliterating anything unlucky enough to be caught in the crosshairs. Since the Vietnam War, the gunship has been immortalized in military history, and Gunships chronicles that history. Now, let me first say that I am a huge fan of the gunships. I have built models of both the AC-47 and AC-130 [A-U], and still have more to be built. I've seen them in action and witnessed the awesome power then wield. So when this book came out, I was ecstatic. When I first got my copy, I did what most military modelers do…I flipped through to see what the reference photos were like. And let me tell you, I was beyond impressed. Gunships features over 300 photos, showcasing all of the gunship platforms, including the testing planes such as the Cherokee Six and AU-23A Peacemaker. The pictures are invaluable as references, and also offer a glimpse into the history and development of the aerial weapons platform. The book is broken down chronologically, starting with the original gunship, the AC-47 Spooky. AC-47 SPOOKY Vietnam. A war like none other. Thick jungle terrain and guerrilla tactics made for unorthodox methods. The US found itself struggling to stop the Viet Cong supply line known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Night bombing with US B-52's was proving ineffective due to the inability to concentrate fire on specific sections of the trail at night, when the trail was used the most. Enter the gunship. The US Air Force began experimenting with side-firing weapons mounted in cargo planes. Targeting was made possible by old WWII era gun sights, mounted in the side of the cockpit. The first tests were carried out using a C-131B, however the Air Force eventually changed over to the venerable C-47 Goony Bird. The first AC-47 wore the standard white over light grey scheme. It wasn't until the AC-47 finally arrived in Vietnam, that the planes were repainted to their familiar SEA camo. The first AC-47's were armed with 10 .50 Cal guns mounted along the fuselage. The evaluation period was a success, and the -47's were eventually re-armed with 3 7.62mm SUU-11A/A minigun pods. These pods were first tested out using aircraft such as the AU-23A and the Cherokee Six. These pods were upgraded to the MXU-470/A minigun systems. Now known as Gunship, Spooky, Puff the Magic Dragon, or Dragon Ship [the ladder due to the immense sound and flame produced by the firing of the miniguns], the AC-47's were so effective, that the US Air Force began extending the program to include other cargo planes. AC-119G SHADOW / AC-119K STINGER Now officially known as the Gunship program, the Air Force's next test bed was the Korean War vet, the C-119 Flying Boxcar. Both the –G and –K variants were used for the Gunship program. The AC-119 featured an additional minigun mount. The AC-119 also featured a 20kw illuminator and a night observation sight. Although the AC-119 was used side by side with the AC-47 along the Ho Chi Minh Trail, they mostly saw action over Cambodia as the "Laotian Highway Patrol". The -119 was eventually upgraded to the AC-119K Stinger, which featured a new 1.5 million candle-power light, as well as upgraded targeting systems including side-looking radar. The Stinger also carried more firepower, adding two M61A1 20mm cannons to the four minigun systems. The Stinger also featured two small jet engines added to increase the plane's ability to escape from harm. The author really did his homework in this section. Gunships features what could possibly be the best collection of AC-119 information published to date. Dozen of photos and TONS of information about two of the lesser known gunships add to the appeal of the book. AC-130 SPECTRE With exception to the AC-47, no other gunship is as world-famous as the AC-130 Spectre. Beginning with the AC-130A, the Spectre served from Vietnam straight through to the present day. Undergoing upgrades from –A to the –H, and finally to the –U model, the Spectre has gone from miniguns to carrying the largest and most powerful airborne cannon ever, the 105mm howitzer. Officially known as Gunship II, the Spectre won out above all other gunships to become the US Air Force's premier tool for "fire from above". The author detailed the development of the AC-130, from the first prototype with the stub nose through to the –U, including the newest Spectre which features dual 30mm Bushmaster chainguns. The AC-130 is probably most unique for its use of the 105mm side-firing howitzer, capable of hitting targets from miles away. With upgraded avionics and targeting systems, the AC-130U is now capable of striking multiple targets simultaneously. AC-47T Spooky JR This was hands down my favorite section of the book. The author found a gunship variant I never would have guessed existed. The AC-47T is the newest addition to the gunship family, or maybe the oldest. I'm not quite sure yet. In the early 1990's, Warren Basler decided to resurrect the AC-47, upgrading it for the modern battlefield. Buying up C-47's from the civilian market, Basler stretched the fuselage, upgraded everything, and powered the -47 with two PT6A-67R turboprop engines. Officially designated by the US Air Force as the AC-47T, Basler's gunships feature a three-barreled .50 cal GAU-19A Gatling cannon. The AC-47T's now fly in for El Salvador and Columbia in drug interdiction roles. The US Air Force also uses one AC-47T in civilian markings with the 6th Special Operations Squadron. Known as Goon 76, the AC-47T holds a special place in gunship history as the oldest gunship still fighting. Wayne Mutza has a grand slam home run with the book Gunships. An amazing collection of information and photographs, the book details ever variant of the gunship, as well as the test beds for the weapons and sighting systems. I have never encountered a more comprehensive collection of gunship information before reading this book. I had considered myself to be somewhat of an expert when it came to the gunships, however after reading this book; I realize just how little I knew. I highly recommend this book to all gunship fans, as well as fans of those select aircraft that had the privilege to serve as the most feared and respected aerial weapons platforms of the 20th and 21st centuries. This book is highly recommended. My sincere thanks go to Specialty Press for the chance to review it.