![]() The gunship squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command and are all assigned to AFSOC at Hurlburt Field in Northwest Florida. Air Force Special Operations Command plans to install combat lasers on AC-130 gunships within a year. Force protection missions include defending air bases and other military facilities. The original and unofficial nickname for the AC-130 gunship was 'Puff the Magic Dragon' or 'Puff.' The AC-130H Spectre was introduced in 1969 and was used for 46 years in service the longest service time of any AC gunship. Air interdiction missions are conducted against planned targets and targets of opportunity. Close air support roles include supporting ground troops, escorting convoys, and flying urban operations. The US Air Force uses the AC-130 gunships for close air support, air interdiction, and force protection. It has a standard crew of twelve to thirteen Airmen, including five officers (two pilots, a navigator, an electronic warfare officer and a fire control officer) and enlisted personnel (flight engineer, electronics operators and aerial gunners). The AC-130 is powered by four turboprops and has an armament ranging from 20 mm Gatling guns to 105 mm howitzers. The first of its kind was put into action in 1967, with the U.S. The gunship's sole user is the United States Air Force, which uses AC-130H Spectre and AC-130U Spooky variants. An AC-130 in action Southern Laos circa 1970. The AC-130 Gunship II superseded the AC-47 Gunship I in Vietnam. It is a variant of the C-130 Hercules transport plane. The AC-130, having been derived from the armed AC-47 gunship series, saw extensive and successful action against enemy forces in the Vietnam War. The basic airframe is manufactured by Lockheed, and Boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. The AC-130 gunship is a heavily-armed ground attack airplane. AC-130 - Role The AC-130 is flown by USAF Special Operations, mostly in the close air support role. C 130 Spectre Search cheap flight tickets Lockheed AC-130 leaving behind flare Angels of Death Ac 130 spectre gunship The 16 fastest combat. The port side of the AC-130 houses firing ports for an array of cannons, howitzers and gatling guns. WARBIRDS RESOURCE GROUP > VIETNAM > AC-130 SPECTRE > PREVIOUS PAGE The Lockheed AC-130 is a C-130 cargo plane converted into a gunship.
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