This is my ac119k gunship from testor in 172 scale. Ac47 combat mission was flown on december 1, 1969, by the 4th special operations squadron formerly the 4th acs. Fairchild ac119 shadow stinger gunship closeair support cas aircraft the fairchild ac119 fixedwing gunship platform proved to be a successful conversion of the original fairchild c119 transport aircraft. The gunship concept of the first version ac47 had an arduous start back in 1964, with lots of initial reluctance, but soon proved to very effective in the close air. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross with oak leaf cluster and the air medal with eight clusters. Aircraft maker fairchild turned more than 50 c119 transports into combatready attackers. They replaced the inadequate ac47 spooky and supplemented the newer ac. During vietnam war,specially equipped ac47 spooky used as gunships.
Air commando, air america, special operations squadron, ac, ac119, ac 47. Default sorting, sort by popularity, sort by latest, sort by price. The usaf ac119k stinger was an improved version of the ac119g shadow and was the built as the second phase of the gunship iii program. The fairchild ac119g shadow and ac119k stinger were twinengine pistonpowered gunships developed. The last usaf ac119 gunship unit was the 18th special operations squadron. Usaf gunship project i encompassed conversion of c47 aircraft from a standard cargo. The two squadrons turned their aircraft over to the vietnamese and royal laotian air forces. Ac119k stinger with guns blazing vietnam 8x10 photo photo description. Gunship stickers featuring millions of original designs created by independent artists. See more ideas about ac, military aircraft and fighter jets.
The fairchild hiller plant in florida converted 26 of them to the ac119 stinger version, intentionally designed as a truck hunter. Initially it was requested that this aircraft be of wood construction and after a year was spent on the design and drawings the army ordered fairchild to redo the drawings for an all metal aircraft. The fairchild ac119g shadow and ac119k stinger were twinengine pistonpowered gunships developed by the united states during the vietnam war. Spooky gunship operations in the vietnam war historynet. Ac119 gunship association preserving history of all who flew.
Fairchilds answer to that requirement was their model 78. Fairchild corporation produced a winner in the postwar world with the introduction of the c119 flying boxcar. The fairchild ac119g gunship was a fixed highwing, twin boom. Although the resulting ac47d from gunship i was a success, it was clear that that the aircraft was of limited capability. Ac119 pictures ac119 references the us air force developed the ac119g shadow as a suitable replacement for the ac47d for providing close air support to troops in contact. The fairchild ac119 fixedwing gunship platform proved to be a successful conversion of the original fairchild c119 transport aircraft. The model was build straight from the box, but all the panels were rescribed and antennas were added. The douglas ac47 spooky also nicknamed puff, the magic dragon was the first in a series of fixed wing gunships developed by the united states air force during the vietnam war. I bought it some year ago,and i think it is one of the coolest designs that i have seen.
Ready availability of c119s in air force reserve units finally decided in favor of boxcars,at least as interim measure until sufficient aci30s could be brought on line. The fairchild ac119k stinger were twinengine pistonpowered gunships developed by the united states during the vietnam war. My interest in the ac119 comes from my service with the 317 field maintenance. What others are saying during vietnam war,specially equipped fairchild ac119 gunship shadow.
They replaced the douglas ac47 spooky and operated alongside the early versions of the ac spectre gunship. Usaf converted 53 c47s for use as gunships during the vietnam war. Usaf ac119k stinger with guns blazing vietnam 8x10 c119. The ac119k was developed under the name project gunship iii as a further development of the ac47 and the project gunship ii which was the ac hercules conversion. At the height of the vietnam war the us military had come to fully appreciate the role which could be played by socalled gun ships.
Stinger airmen soon created their squadron patch with the motto of. When one thinks of special operations gunships, the ac aircraft. Decorate your laptops, water bottles, notebooks and windows. Spectre ac gunship us air force military veteran biker patch. The fairchild c119 flying boxcar had its first flight on november 17th 1947. This addon is compatible with microsoft flight simulator x fsx and includes the fairchild c119 flying boxcar aircraft. Fairchild ac119k gunship stinger shadow 2 usafvietnam italeri 172 see more like this n 7 i a m x n 8 n q m roden 322 1144 fairchild ac119k stinger stinger plastic model american. Stinger stands for fairchild ac119k flying boxcar gunship.
However, the first c119 actually was a c82 modification. The ready availability of c119s in air force reserve units finally decided the issue in favor of the boxcars, at least as an interim. The ac119 gunship project was undertaken due to a shortage of cs at the time and the availability and larger cargo capacity of the c119 over the c47. It was used by the american military as a transport aircraft and was created from the ideas of the fairchild c82 packet. Mar 14, 2019 ac47, ac123,ac119,ac gunships fire from above. Manufacturing is a cooperation between boeing and lockheed. Fairchild c119 flying boxcar military transport gunship. The ac47 gunship was withdrawn from usaf service during 1969.
The fairchild ac119g gunship was a fixed high wing, twin boom. It was designed to provide more firepower than light and medium groundattack aircraft in certain situations when ground forces called for close air support. Force protection missions include air base defense and facilities defense. Fairchild ac119 gunship shadow during the vietnam war, specially equipped ac47 spooky were used as gunships. Air commando, air america, special operations squadron, ac, ac119, ac47. Dedicated to all who maintained, flew, and supported ac119g shadow and ac119k stinger gunships during the vietnam war.
Air interdiction missions are conducted against preplanned targets or targets of opportunity. Larry elton fletcher flew 177 combat missions as a pilot in ac119 shadow gunships during his tour of duty in vietnam from may 1970 to may 1971. An air to air view 8x10 photo of a united states air force fairchild ac119k stinger gunship with a guns blazing probably somewhere in vietnam. In 1968 project gunship iii was started using the fairchild c119 flying boxcar. A little bit more on the names packet and flying boxcar, from the book fairchild aircraft 19261987 by kent a. This page details the development and operational history of the fairchild ac119 shadow stinger gunship closeair support cas. This page details the development and operational history of the fairchild ac 119 shadow stinger gunship closeair support cas. The stinger version was developed from the ac119g shadow, a more basic version made for the electronic countermeasures. They were replaced in american service by the ac spectre and the ac119 gunship, and flew their final sortie on 30 november 1969. Due to global pandemic, usps delivery may be temporarily delayed. Italeris 172 scale c119c flying boxcar is available online from squadron. Training was abruptly ended in march 1973 and the usaf training crews were, for the most part, returned to the states. The ac47d spooky and ac119k stinger gunships at da nang.
At first we trained crews on the ac119s for familiarization on gunships. The fairchild ac119g shadow and ac119k stinger were twinengine piston powered gunships developed by the united states during the vietnam war. Alot of other people must have thought so too,as bidding was. Close air support missions include troops in contact, convoy escort and urban operations. The fairchild ac119g shadow and ac119k stinger were twinengine. Stinger is defined as fairchild ac119k flying boxcar gunship very rarely. The fairchild ac119gk is a fixedwing, sidefiring aerial gunship that provides close air support in defense of ground positions, armed reconnaissance and interdiction, and forward air controlling for fighter strikes. The basic airframe is manufactured by lockheed, boeing is responsible for the conversion into a gunship and for aircraft support. Here is a short video of me flying the old freeware fairchild ac119 stinger, a mod from mike stones old fs2004 fairchild c119 flying boxcar, out of and back into nakhon phanom air base. The lockheed achu is a fixedwing, sidefiring aerial gunship that provides close air support, air interdiction and force protection. The lockheed ac spectre is a heavilyarmed groundattack aircraft based on the hercules c created to replace the ac47 spooky. Basic ac47 gunship patch design, similar to a 4th acssos insignia. Fairchildrepublic a10 thunderbolt strategic air command.
How is fairchild ac119k flying boxcar gunship abbreviated. Fairchild ac119k stinger for an aviation museum display. It is named for the famous p47 thunderbolt, a fighter often used in a close air support role during the latter part of ww ii. The boxcar was derived from the c82 packet transport looking ever more like the identical to the final c119 production models though the c119 took several things further and would eventually earn its own designation, and an identifiable nickname that embodied the design. The primary missions of the united states air forces ach spectre and acu spooky gunships are close air support, air interdiction, and force protection. See more ideas about aircraft, vietnam and military aircraft. I was digging through my patch boxes recently and came across some patches that i had not seen for awhile. Fairchild c119 boxcar, usaf for fsx fly away simulation. In 1968 project gunship iii was started using the fairchild c119 flying boxcar transport two models were created and designated ac119g shadow and the ac119k stinger 26 x c119g models were converted by the fairchildhiller corporation by installing 4 x sixbarrel 7.
I already have ac119 aircraft, which one would u suggest. The first stinger version flew in december 1969 with 18th. Vintage original vietnam war incountry machineembroidered patch, size is 3. The ac119k had several major improvements incorporated into the design. Markings for fairchild ac119k stinger, usaf, sn 525910, 44th combat crew training squadron, 1st special operation wing, april 1969. Vietnam war era 18th sos patchwe hunt at night air. Ac119 gunship ac spectre a10 thunderbolt fairchild ac119 gunship shadow during the vietnam war, specially equipped ac47 spooky were used as gunships. Fairchild ac119 shadow stinger gunship closeair support. Fairchildrepublic a10 thunderbolt the a10 is the first usaf aircraft designed specifically for close air support of ground forces. Page 1 of 2 vietnam war era 18th sos patchwe hunt at night posted in air force usaaf is with army. The ac119 program project gunship iii came after the ac, not before.
This organization has not provided guidestar with a mission statement. The aircraft was designed to carry personnel, cargo, and other equipment. Contentsshow history the ac gunships primary missions are close air support, air interdiction and armed reconnaissance. The ac gunship is an armed variant of the c hercules.