Watch out for the Stinger! - the Fairchild AC-119G/K Gunships 

The search light on the AC119's was so bright I could read a Map without any difficulty at more than a mile away. It gave me a good feeling knowing someone was have the worse day of their short life.

My dad seemed to enjoy the Spooky's showing up very much. He was very descriptive of their sound, appearance, and effects on the enemy. My grandfather flew C-119's among other types of aircraft. I believe he said he lost engine power and couldn't get over some Alaskan mountains, so he landed on an island. Fortunately, the island's sole inhabitant was a former Luftwaffe Messerschmidt pilot, who took a hose from his tractor and helped my grandfather fix his engine so he could get back to base.

For some unusual reason, I’ve always been drawn toward the C-119 as one of my favorite “why do I like this thing so much” planes. The gunship Boxcar is probably my favorite over all of the gunships the USAF has used over the years.

My Father-in-Law was a flight engineer on these and the AC-130 during Vietnam supporting MAC-V SOG in Laos and Cambodia. He later adopted several Cambodian kids in the 90’s (one of them is my wife) as penance for his involvement in the “shadow war”. Another not well known Vietnam era gunship that would make a good video would be the Fairchild AU-23 Peacemaker.

Didnt know about the AC119. Maybe because the AC47 was first and the AC130 is the current and more famous aircraft. Thnx for making this video Ed! Great as always

Looks like a p38 after too many roast dinners

Outstanding information and History My uncle worked in C-119’s and C-123’s during the vietnam war…he mentioned to me that the 119’s had wear issues in the booms that required constant attention and inspection If you’re ever in the USA you can see 119’s on display in Tucson, AZ…and I also believe in Dayton, Ohio at the Wright Patterson US Air Force Mueseum

My father was a crew chief on a 119G and K between 71-72 for the 18th S.O.S., he told me that after they ran out of ammo they would strap in and open the back and let all the casings rain down on the target area as a last Screw you. Including some of those larger shells! He still has a Special forces flag but had to leave the AK he got from a SF group they provided cover for. 2 days later those SF guys showed up and the bases bar and ask who the Crew was, and they bought them drinks for the entire night gave them flags and AK's they got from the dead VC's who were surrounding them leading up the 119 Support. He would also say that when all the guns we firring you could feel the gunship move the opposite way. I wish I could ask him more about the 119's but he has Alzheimers and is past the point of answering long questions.

It’s one past midnight I can’t fall asleep thanks Ed for keeping me entertained until my body starts cooperating

My Dad took one of the first AC119 sqdns to VN in 1969 (LTC Richard Knie). Your video does a great job of telling their story. As a 12 year old at the time, I had no idea of the back-story, only that he volunteered to go to war again (WWII/Korea/VN) and my Mom was not happy with him.... As a career Special Forces officer myself, I am proud that my Dad flew overhead those VN-era Green Berets he supported and was able to provide close and continuous fire support. DOL

As a member of air force special ops of the 1980s I served as a weapons mechanic on AC- 130 H model gunships!!! I was aware of the history of the gunships program and it's variants it is good to see actual footage of the AC-119 in action!!! My time in the 1st Special Operations Wing was hands down the best years of my life!!! I didn't realize it then but later realized it!!!

One of my AFROTC instructors was a pilot on the AC-119 in Vietnam in the early 70's. He commissioned me to build a plastic model of his aircraft while I was still a student in 1975. Interesting guy with lots of war stories to convey!

Interesringly, C47s with turboprops, known as Baseler BT67, serve with the Colombian airforce as gunships(AC47T).

My dad received his airborne wings jumping out of a C 119. Have a great day everyone.

"F*** the F-4's!" Haha, love it! Great video and history!

Always loved the Boxcar its such a unique shape for a transport. Kind of reminds one of a P-38 but bigger in every way

My father was an FE on the AC-119/Shadow 69/70, based out of Phu Cat Flt.C. He has passed on as of now, left me some mementoes including his flight records with combat hrs. 17th. SOS, DENY HIM THE DARK came from an old original radio program during the late 1940s & on into the 50s.

Thank you, my father was in the 18th SOS from 70-71. Always nice to see this brought out as these planes seem to not get the recognition they deserve.

My uncle was a gunner on the C119 in Vietnam, his home base stateside was Lockbourne AAF near Columbus Ohio at the time. There's actually a story of my uncle crew on the internet about how they destroyed 50 truck on the Ho Chi Minh trail in one night.

They had a turbine aux power unit, in the fuselage, that powered the guns and electronics. We had a training unit on base. One lost an engine on takeoff and looped back and land downwind. Everyone thought that this couldn't be done. They could either carry a full load of fuel or a full load of amunition hut not both. Weight was critical on this plane.

As a side note; it could be debated as to whether the AC-47 was first. The Junkers-Larsen JL-12, pitched to the USAAC in 1923 for a similar role, mounted 28 downward firing drum fed Thompson SMGs in the fuselage, for laying down a carpet of fire in support of ground troops. This was during the era in which US marines were involved in interventions in Central America and the Caribbean, and means of fire support were being considered. 8,400 rounds were carried, the initial load and 2 reloads for each gun. The Thompson's tendency to jam when the 100 round drum magazines were used was an obvious problem, and the Army did not accept the aircraft. Late in the Second World War the Soviet Union experimented with a rack that could be loaded into a Tu-2 bomb bay that had 88 SMGs, though the war ended before it saw service. The AC-47 can lay claim to being the first gunship to see combat service.

Was expecting you to talk about them avoiding stinger missiles, didn't know they used boxcar gunships

I never knew about this type of gunship .thank you for the information .

Interesting. And so nice to see an accurate commentary with relevant images. This is how it should be done! I don't know if you're aware, but the flare dispensing shown with the C-130 isn't actually how flares are used as decoys. They are in fact just clearing all the magazines because a) the armourers don't like unloading them post flight and b) it looks pretty!

10:17 I was in the Air Force, spent my last year with a SPECOP engineer squadron. I heard this same story, and I was told it was a Marine platoon leader who said that. To me, a Marine calling in support from an Air Commando gunship is an ultimate compliment! 🤣

The AC119 looks like a big, angry insect from head on. Great video!

Great looking machine. When I visited Tan son Nhat a few years ago, there was still an AC-119 parked there. It was often known as a 'Dollar-Nineteen' in service.

Another unsung hero, nice work. Can’t wait to see what’s in store for the next episode.

Our Belgian Air Force was equipped with the C119 Flying Boxcar, and, as a kid, I remember them flying out of a base near our vacation place at the sea. What I remember most is that they were very very noisy. The base also operated F104 at the time, which were even much louder, obviously. I guess the noise was intended to signal the enemy to start running for shelter.

Well done Ed. I was a gunner on the first deployment of the Shadows in Dec 69.

Another one I’ve never heard of, great stuff Ed!

Thanks Ed. Another great piece of history !

A very well put together look into the forefathers of the AC -130. Great job mate 👏

My grandfather was on a C-130 Hercules. I had no idea he served in the air force until my aunt told my dad before his funeral. I had no idea what he did on it. I don't even know if he piloted the aircraft or if he was the jumpmaster since a guy with an 82nd airborne jacket came to pay his respects

Another great video Ed, and some really good comments. I've only ever read about these aircraft but they must have been a very welcome addition to a situation, depending on who's side you are on....

"What was needed was a surplus fleet of cargo aircraft which could be turned into gunships." *Team America theme begins*

Really enjoy the content. Keep up the good work. 👍

Learned one more lesson from Ed - THANK YOU !!! LIKE

"Let's deny the enemy use of where they are!" AC119: "What enemy..."

Good stuff as usual Ed

love that last sound bite. At the very very end. Just ffing excellent, that is.

Great video as usual...

Amazing Display of AC History Incredible Work for a Simple Little Flying Boxtruck Thank You

Thanks as always, Ed. I knew about the Dakota and Hercules versions but not this one. I'm wondering if any other airforce tried similar fixed wing gunships? Or if any have been improvised in insurgency operations?

In Columbus Georgia, while learning to fly in the late 1970's, I met a fellow who had been a AC119 pilot. Very formidable weapon.

Great story as always

I didn't realize that there were AC-130s before the AC-119s. Sweet planes.

They had some of these in Greenville, TX at Majors Field. Maybe LTV at the time. They would fly over our neighborhoods testing the lights.

I was stationed at Hurlburt Field Fla and they had a bunch of these parked at the entrance.

Ed has seen the AC130 in combat personally, and knows its devastating firepower.

The ending is great. :)

I am lucky to have seen the C-119 Flying Boxcar flying a few times long ago. The sound of those type of engines were soothing. At the time I only knew about Puff the Magic Dragon from the movie The Green Berets.

Great video ………… again.

excellent ending!

Thank you for this. I am not sure I had heard of C-199's for this role. But you forgot to mention the time they used B-52's for gunship raids. These were called 'Operation Anonymous Destruction'. This was the use of retired from front-line service, B-52B's These 3 planes were not utilized for the 'B' to 'C' model upgrades carried out under 'Project Sunflower'. And where not the 27 others turned into RB-52B's (recon birds). In between the US Chief of Staff 'reign's of John P. McConnell and John D. Ryan. There was a 69 day period where a G.P. Aesano was CSAF. He was known for his intense resentment of having any of his precious aircraft utilized for Army close-support missions. And, thusly, he was dead set against ANY Air Force aircraft converted for these roles. Thus, when he took command, he authorized 3 B-52B's to carry out what he called 'Silent Death' raids on known masses of Vietcong/North Vietnamese troops...under the name of Operation Anonymous Destruction. During the one night that this mission took place? The 3 B-52's would fly from bases in Laos and drop huge loads of small arms fire on enemy formations below. With the General flying the lead aircraft and being directly responsible for the timing of the ordinance release from all three aircraft. However, since these missions took place at 20,000+ feet. Using automatic weapons was deemed useless. So, Aesano insisted that tens of thousands of loose .50 inch and 5.56mm shells be simply dropped from the bomb bays of these aircraft. And then free fall to the ground...causing immense destruction - in theory. However, the reality was that once these B-52B's - flying at over 400 knots - would drop their 'ordinance'? The drift that these shells undertook often took them far off course of their intended targets. This resulted in tremendous death and destruction to numerous, South Vietnamese villages. Resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 innocent civilians. Not to mention, the death of General Aesano's estranged wife (Greta). Whom was making an official tour of the South Vietnamese Hairdresser's School and birth control pill, storage facilities on the very night of the raid. The fact that the General and his wife had - at the time of her death - been in the middle of what many said was a 'vicious' and 'ugly' custody fight for their collection of artificially-enhanced, racing cockroaches? The General insisted this in no way had anything to do with the choice of targets. After a quiet and quick, internal investigation? The General was relieved of his command and Operation 'Anonymous Destruction' ended...quietly. Later, the General left the Air Force, married one of his cockroaches named - oddly - 'Greta'. And went on to a storied, auto racing career under his full name 'Goggles Paesano'.

Never knew that "cabbie" from PFnR was based on the c119 boxcar until recently, so i removed all of its decals (the decals were rotting and tearing anyway) and replaced it with RCAF decals

After basic and technical training in the USAF, my first assignment was to the squadron that trained the crews headed for Viet Nam. Now if one had the unfortunate luck to be training in winter, in Ohio, with the doors gone from the cargo bay, Viet Nam might have started sounding pretty good.

Check out Hagerstown Air Museum web sight .Many Fairchild aircraft had there final assembly and first flights here at this airport C119s being one of many And their last aircraft there was The A 10 and everyone knows about that plane. Great video!!

retrieving a shadow from the ( Vietnam war) shadows , and educating war story hungry folk like myself in the process !!

There was a group of AC-119s training on my base in Central Ohio. (1969) They could not take off with a full load of fuel and a full load of amunition. Had to cut back on one or the other. They had a heavy auxiliary power unit inside the fuselage to power the guns. Just flying them must have been hard enough even when someone wasn't shooting at you.

haha, those last 2 seconds

I know this 119 from DomiNations, thanks DomiNations for Informative Historical Game

Thanks Ed👍👀....An thanks for all of your excellent research as well😃....Ed l remember all of these planes....So fu** the F-4's lol that was fine for me.....✈

I like the idea of a quick exix

Gunships should be feared as much as A-10's. The 119 was a great aircraft.

Ed how about the army efforts, UH1D/H 'Nighthawk' ;-)

Know this versions from Lou Drendel`s Book "Gunships", AC-119`s are my favorite Gunships Plz the Armys JOV-1A Mohawk i know its not gunship but not much info around about Army Planes from Vietnam Era

It's remarkable how long the C-119 served in Vietnam - from the French involvement right through to the end of the conflict. The only two Americans killed in the French Indo-China war were James B. McGovern Jr and Wallace Buford - pilot and copilot respectively of a C-119 shot down while dropping supplies to the besieged garrison at Dien Bien Phu. Two French nationals also died in the crash, with another dying later from his injuries.

Nice office.

Please do the YOV-10 NOGS next.

Right On Go Army!

The goony bird that son-of-a-gun I think they flew them in world war one A cargo bird that should be through Now that dang ol' thing is a fighter bomber too (As it says in the song.)

Ah, the Flying Boxcar, also made famous by 'The Flight of the Phoenix' with Jimmy Stewart.

Well done, Ed....as usual.

I wonder if we should look into bringing back this aircraft as a "poor man's" gunship. With modern engines and weapons - including Hellfire missiles - this plane could really be a force multiplier in combat close air support roles.

the "F" right at the end lol

Make a video about the A1Skyraider please.

FWIW: I am somewhat surprised the Air Force did not try to re-engine the C-119s with turboprops to improve their performance. It would have allowed more C-130s to continue hauling cargo.

Great

C119 was known as the flying coffin. My dad use to jump from that plane. I follow in his foot step C130.

Wonder why the v22 hasnt been modded for this role. Vtol in to a secured patch and be on call for flying support forward. By the time the V 22 ran dry the A 10 should be overhead with the hyper typwriter.

All my respect to Vietnam Veterans ⭐

​@EdNashsMilitaryMatters >>> 👍👍

My father flew the AC-119K with the jets. There's one sitting at the Saigon airport I'd like to bring it home to the USA where it belongs. The planes were based at Phang Rang air base.

Not a bad epitaph at all!

There's a story about the first one missing its public debut because it had too much armor on it.

Love to see to ov-10 bronco convert to gunship use by philippines

I want to see an AC-17.

With the comment regarding the Shadows being originally called the Creeps i would have had a laugh if the AC-47's would have been called Spook/s instead of Spooky

Whats that Moe? We called it "The Stinger". The USAF don't let you use 'em no more.

Hm, wonder what particular country the one dislike is from? 🤣

On AC119K there is a GTPU that produces electric power for aircraft while doing the duty . . Please explain what’s the acronyms GTPU stands for . Thank you

What was the designation of the C-123’s converted for Operation Ranch Hand?

PLEASE do a ac-130 vid

Be sure to listen until the VERY end! lol

2:15 Bomb racks? That I didn't expect.

Oddly enough a great looking aircraft, for a box with a fork.

Ed you've outdone your self. From the C 47, 130-123 the need for a loitering, reliable infantry support aircraft is always a big plus on any ground operation. Would you make a video on the A-10?

I seen many of these in Vietnam , puff the magic dragon

Classic example of killing ants with a sledge hammer… it’s a shame we never learn as demonstrated in Afghanistan and Iraq…