there is no joy and there is no better word than love, as for the spooky it is awesome, as 4 the day i played my guitar in the barracks while we looked at the floor...when the spirit found me naked i was already with leather and ready to ride again...dear Earl take me home.
My friends dad was in Vietnam and he called in "Spooky" and he said when it started firing, all you could see was a continuous red line coming out of the sky
My father was in country 67-68. He dosen't talk much about Vitenam unless asked and only if he's in the right mood. But he's told me a couple times, "son you wouldn't be here today if it weren't for Puff and a couple of Cobra gunships". If you we're the pilot of puff on that night that his LZ was overrun, you may very well have saved his life, and mine too.
My grandpa served in koria im not shure what platoon he was in but i know he and all of the veteran"s of previous wars all helped fight for amaricas freedom and in proud for that
What a contrast: The joy of music by Mozart´s overture on one hand and the sight of one of the deadliest weapons of the vietnam war on the other.......! But anyway: My deepest respect to a vietnam veteran!
God bless you. Don't ever think we don't care and appreciate the sacrifices made by you and your men. Growing up my dad talked about vietnam all the time and cursed it. I had no idea what was going on, just that it lasted so long. I watch these videos and tell my kids what it takes to be free.
The video is ok but as an original member of the 4th and the soul surviver of spooky 38 I was a little put out with all the references to I. On spooky 38 we were a team- with major Jensen it would have been WE. RJL ssgt
Tree-hugger I may be, but respect for Vietnam veterans I definitely have. And this is coming from the grandson of a WWII marine vet. To all U.S. veterans out there, may God bless you. I respect and admire your courage. I simply wish that your average tree-hugger would crack open a book and learn what they are talking about.
I was in an Infantry unit that got stuck out in a rice paddy for the night surronded by NVA. A Spooky , several probably, circled our location all night long with flares and surpressing fire. Saved all our lives for sure... it was around May 13th 1969 in I Corps. I was in the Americal Division, 196th LIB, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry. Would be neat to find out if any of the Crew of one of those planes is still aroung... any ideas of how I would find them?
@grandyclark I was a crew chief on AC-47D Spooky gunship at Danang, AB, RVN during 1968 and 1969 until they were turned over to the VNAF. My aircraft was tail number EN 211. Crew chiefs weren't part of the flight crews and didn't fly with the aircraft on missions, just made darn sure they were always ready to fly at night. I used to have contact information for one of the pilots but have not been able to contact him recently.
my father flew in one of those during vietnam but they werent ac-130s then they were c-47s and were later developed into ac-130s the origonal puff had 8 miniguns, nuthin else. each one capible of 50 rounds a sec not 300 that would be 18000 rounds a minute which miniguns cant even do today, they do 3000-5000 rpm depending on which kind of efp and size battery for barrel spin you have.
@thatguyyoudontknow27 My dad said there were 8 miniguns on the Puff that covered his base... I wonder if your dad flew it? hahaha! He never talked much about it... but I wonder if there were two types? Or maybe one unique plane where they tried to just shove as many guns out the sides as they could? Everything I've read online has said there were 3 guns, but your post corroberates my dad's story of 8. A minor detail to be sure, but interesting.
@tyb0rggoat The AC-47 had 3 miniguns on the left side. Early AC-47 gunships had 2 miniguns poking out side windows with the third poking out the cargo door. These were a pod configuration. Later, they were replaced with 3 miniguns mounted on stands for the ammo. A hole was cut in the fuselage between the cargo door and the last window and the third minigun set there, leaving the cargo door clear. There were early FC-47 gunships that had 10 50 cal machine guns temporarily
@thatguyyoudontknow27 The AC-47 Spooky configuration was three 7.62 miniguns. The fire rate was selectable for 3000 rounds per minute or 6000 rounds per minute. Normal mission procedure was to fire one gun at a time. Once fire support started, when the first gun went dry, the second would be put on line and the first would be reloaded. Once the second went dry, #3 came on line and #2 was reloaded. Unless there was an emergency, three guns would never be fired together.
Artillery has one purpose support!There is one place where I think artillery belongs,the air!There is nothing more intimidating than an aircraft with guns.I watched a video and for an example once a A-10Thunderbolt is heard by the bad guys they temporarily stop the fire lol! I think they pick it back up the fire is because they know they're gone,just finished.
Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you too for uploading this footage. My father was onboard one of the first four Puffs, the un-camouflaged ones with the 30 cal machine guns. Looks like there were about ten guns mounted. (I have many of my father's photos). One gunship was shot down, lost a wing, but apparently landed safely.
my grandad. Lt. Col. W.W. Crandell flew one of these exact planes in Vietnam. He had a lot of seat time in a C47 in Korea, and he was deployed to fly these planes. He told stories about running out of ammo...but they would just keep flying and dropping flares..the VC was so scared of the plane they wouldn't advance if they heard it overhead...
my grandad. Lt. Col. W.W. Crandell flew one of these exact planes in Vietnam. He had a lot of seat time in a C47 in Korea so they called him up to train the younger pilots and fly combat missions. He has since passed away but he showed me some of his photos/footage of the guns firing.. amazing.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
hahahahahahaha its funny cause the US's "No one gets left behind" ethos is what looses them the wars they start. They won WWII because when their experts predicted 250,000 casualties, they simply deployed half a million men. Last serious attemp at warfare they had...........
These fighter were the best. I was withe the 25th Inf. Division--and we used to call for "Puff" in Tay Ninh--especially in the area by Nui Ba Den Mountain..When defending the top of that monster back in the Fall '68--
Puff" would saturate the Mountain with machine gun fire--the VC / NVA never could make a real run at overrunning the base camp on top...
The rats from garbage overflows had better success at times!
My father used to talk about spooky. Another name they use to use was "puff" like "puff the magic dragon." I remember he use to say he was always glad to see you guys around Cu Chi especially at night. He took a picture of you guys on night flight you probably seen in pictures were your red tongue hits the earth. Good to know my Dad had angels looking over him and his buddies. Son of a Vietnam Veteran. Out
My dad used to talk about your plane, "Spooky" and how it basically killed everything within a certain area, so that nothing left alive (including Vietcong) was left. He also used to tell me about how those two engines used to make an "oscillating sound" before the miniguns would go off like a buzzsaw. My dad was part of MACV, First Field Force.
mayhaps we will b involved in ww3 so in that case I know i will b there 4 u and everyone else with a spirit of love
CaptainDuke71 3 weeks ago
there is no joy and there is no better word than love, as for the spooky it is awesome, as 4 the day i played my guitar in the barracks while we looked at the floor...when the spirit found me naked i was already with leather and ready to ride again...dear Earl take me home.
CaptainDuke71 3 weeks ago
My friends dad was in Vietnam and he called in "Spooky" and he said when it started firing, all you could see was a continuous red line coming out of the sky
HA10T1G3R 2 months ago
much respect to the men who fought and layed down there lives may they rest in peace.
ThePoonraker 4 months ago
You saved my ass at Duc Lap August 26, 27, 1968 RVN. Thanks from me, the 5th & 2nd Mike Forces, and Special Forces!
E.L.Woody
A-503 B-55
5th Mobile Strike Force
5th SFG
kingpaparazzi 5 months ago 9
@kingpaparazzi
All of us were glad to do it.....helping you guys made the whole thing worth all the crap!
spooky047 5 months ago 5
U didn't fly Jack shit
BannerHammer 6 months ago
My father was in country 67-68. He dosen't talk much about Vitenam unless asked and only if he's in the right mood. But he's told me a couple times, "son you wouldn't be here today if it weren't for Puff and a couple of Cobra gunships". If you we're the pilot of puff on that night that his LZ was overrun, you may very well have saved his life, and mine too.
460mudder 6 months ago
He was in the army I'm pretty shure platoon isn't the right word for it so I'll just say group
howitzer920 6 months ago
My grandpa served in koria im not shure what platoon he was in but i know he and all of the veteran"s of previous wars all helped fight for amaricas freedom and in proud for that
howitzer920 6 months ago
@stupidrider53 thank you
spooky047 7 months ago
What a contrast: The joy of music by Mozart´s overture on one hand and the sight of one of the deadliest weapons of the vietnam war on the other.......! But anyway: My deepest respect to a vietnam veteran!
CPfromGermany 7 months ago
@CPfromGermany thank you!
spooky047 7 months ago
God bless you. Don't ever think we don't care and appreciate the sacrifices made by you and your men. Growing up my dad talked about vietnam all the time and cursed it. I had no idea what was going on, just that it lasted so long. I watch these videos and tell my kids what it takes to be free.
privsman 7 months ago
@privsman
spooky047 7 months ago
@privsman Thank You
spooky047 7 months ago
wow speechless
Rettungsliegerfan 7 months ago
The video is ok but as an original member of the 4th and the soul surviver of spooky 38 I was a little put out with all the references to I. On spooky 38 we were a team- with major Jensen it would have been WE. RJL ssgt
ktnluse 8 months ago
@ktnluse sorry you feel that way...
spooky047 7 months ago
Tree-hugger I may be, but respect for Vietnam veterans I definitely have. And this is coming from the grandson of a WWII marine vet. To all U.S. veterans out there, may God bless you. I respect and admire your courage. I simply wish that your average tree-hugger would crack open a book and learn what they are talking about.
YonKitoTaoshibe 9 months ago 3
@YonKitoTaoshibe Thank You
spooky047 7 months ago
@stupidrider53 thanks for the thought....attitudes about our service men have sure changed over forty years. B.
spooky047 10 months ago 2
I was in an Infantry unit that got stuck out in a rice paddy for the night surronded by NVA. A Spooky , several probably, circled our location all night long with flares and surpressing fire. Saved all our lives for sure... it was around May 13th 1969 in I Corps. I was in the Americal Division, 196th LIB, Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry. Would be neat to find out if any of the Crew of one of those planes is still aroung... any ideas of how I would find them?
grandyclark 10 months ago
@grandyclark I was a crew chief on AC-47D Spooky gunship at Danang, AB, RVN during 1968 and 1969 until they were turned over to the VNAF. My aircraft was tail number EN 211. Crew chiefs weren't part of the flight crews and didn't fly with the aircraft on missions, just made darn sure they were always ready to fly at night. I used to have contact information for one of the pilots but have not been able to contact him recently.
SpookyEN211 2 months ago
my father flew in one of those during vietnam but they werent ac-130s then they were c-47s and were later developed into ac-130s the origonal puff had 8 miniguns, nuthin else. each one capible of 50 rounds a sec not 300 that would be 18000 rounds a minute which miniguns cant even do today, they do 3000-5000 rpm depending on which kind of efp and size battery for barrel spin you have.
thatguyyoudontknow27 1 year ago
@thatguyyoudontknow27 My dad said there were 8 miniguns on the Puff that covered his base... I wonder if your dad flew it? hahaha! He never talked much about it... but I wonder if there were two types? Or maybe one unique plane where they tried to just shove as many guns out the sides as they could? Everything I've read online has said there were 3 guns, but your post corroberates my dad's story of 8. A minor detail to be sure, but interesting.
tyb0rggoat 7 months ago
@tyb0rggoat The AC-47 had 3 miniguns on the left side. Early AC-47 gunships had 2 miniguns poking out side windows with the third poking out the cargo door. These were a pod configuration. Later, they were replaced with 3 miniguns mounted on stands for the ammo. A hole was cut in the fuselage between the cargo door and the last window and the third minigun set there, leaving the cargo door clear. There were early FC-47 gunships that had 10 50 cal machine guns temporarily
SpookyEN211 2 months ago
@thatguyyoudontknow27 The AC-47 Spooky configuration was three 7.62 miniguns. The fire rate was selectable for 3000 rounds per minute or 6000 rounds per minute. Normal mission procedure was to fire one gun at a time. Once fire support started, when the first gun went dry, the second would be put on line and the first would be reloaded. Once the second went dry, #3 came on line and #2 was reloaded. Unless there was an emergency, three guns would never be fired together.
SpookyEN211 2 months ago
Artillery has one purpose support!There is one place where I think artillery belongs,the air!There is nothing more intimidating than an aircraft with guns.I watched a video and for an example once a A-10Thunderbolt is heard by the bad guys they temporarily stop the fire lol! I think they pick it back up the fire is because they know they're gone,just finished.
TheBillybomb 1 year ago
thank you for your service
it is amazing some of the gunships these days such as
ac-130's and i forget the names but planes that have huge guns and bullets and can blow up a tank or truck in a half second burst
mastachief117spartan 1 year ago
@mastachief117spartan
Your talking about the AC-130 Spectras and Spookys... Those things are tanks with wings.
insylem 1 year ago
@insylem yeah spooky's thats one i saw in some video, ac-130's are nasty too
mastachief117spartan 1 year ago
Thank You and a big shout of Respect to those who served.
Yert1331 1 year ago
Thank you for your service to our country. Thank you too for uploading this footage. My father was onboard one of the first four Puffs, the un-camouflaged ones with the 30 cal machine guns. Looks like there were about ten guns mounted. (I have many of my father's photos). One gunship was shot down, lost a wing, but apparently landed safely.
DavesTrumpet 1 year ago
my grandad. Lt. Col. W.W. Crandell flew one of these exact planes in Vietnam. He had a lot of seat time in a C47 in Korea, and he was deployed to fly these planes. He told stories about running out of ammo...but they would just keep flying and dropping flares..the VC was so scared of the plane they wouldn't advance if they heard it overhead...
23109VC 1 year ago
@23109VC
that is great
being able to do a lot with out any ammo
the VC had a right to be scared
ha, these days they wouldn't even hear it over head, just have a huge softball sized wound in them
bless his soul
if you havent already seen them i will show you some videos of these astonishing gunships
mastachief117spartan 1 year ago
@mastachief117spartan i dont know why it double spaces wheni hit enter
mastachief117spartan 1 year ago
my grandad. Lt. Col. W.W. Crandell flew one of these exact planes in Vietnam. He had a lot of seat time in a C47 in Korea so they called him up to train the younger pilots and fly combat missions. He has since passed away but he showed me some of his photos/footage of the guns firing.. amazing.
23109VC 1 year ago
@23109VC He was a brave man
RIP
heythereitsmehans 1 year ago
Saved our bacon more than once, usually halted a rocket attack as soon as it arrived, DMZ, Dong Ha area 1966 1967, THANKS, 1st BN 40th Artillary.
jimmoser45 1 year ago
Did you keep her in tip top shape? What was her name? And what was her picture?
OperationAnime262 1 year ago
is the AC-130 better???????????
788JTH788 1 year ago
@788JTH788 precursor to the C130
jimmymc1234 1 year ago
@788JTH788 this aircraft was made in veitnam the C-47 was made in WW2 what do you think
Deadsmile100 1 year ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Nice plane indeed. Nice crew .Nice guns .But who won the war ?
miguelmouta 2 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
hahahahahahaha its funny cause the US's "No one gets left behind" ethos is what looses them the wars they start. They won WWII because when their experts predicted 250,000 casualties, they simply deployed half a million men. Last serious attemp at warfare they had...........
bigblindguy 1 year ago
And who could level a city with only 3 guns and an airplane?
Magnuspire 1 year ago
Comment removed
miguelmouta 1 year ago
Comment removed
miguelmouta 1 year ago
These fighter were the best. I was withe the 25th Inf. Division--and we used to call for "Puff" in Tay Ninh--especially in the area by Nui Ba Den Mountain..When defending the top of that monster back in the Fall '68--
Puff" would saturate the Mountain with machine gun fire--the VC / NVA never could make a real run at overrunning the base camp on top...
The rats from garbage overflows had better success at times!
BIG THANKS to the guys on AC-47s and AC-130s!
km2711 2 years ago
My father was a Spooky pilot with the 4th AC/SOS stationed at Bien Hoa (I believe) in 68-69. He was later stationed at England AB.
markiegreg 2 years ago
My father used to talk about spooky. Another name they use to use was "puff" like "puff the magic dragon." I remember he use to say he was always glad to see you guys around Cu Chi especially at night. He took a picture of you guys on night flight you probably seen in pictures were your red tongue hits the earth. Good to know my Dad had angels looking over him and his buddies. Son of a Vietnam Veteran. Out
maximouni 2 years ago 2
Awesome footage man. Thanks for the interesting video! I bet that the machine made a wonderful sound when flying.
RockaChrillie 2 years ago
good footage and excellent choice of music!
Ive just started to build the Italeri 1:72 AC-47. When she's finished she'l be part of my (slowly lol) growing Vietnam aircraft collection.
ste309w 2 years ago
My dad used to talk about your plane, "Spooky" and how it basically killed everything within a certain area, so that nothing left alive (including Vietcong) was left. He also used to tell me about how those two engines used to make an "oscillating sound" before the miniguns would go off like a buzzsaw. My dad was part of MACV, First Field Force.
catman351 2 years ago