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Fairchild AC-119

April 28, 2024

The Fairchild AC-119G Shadow and AC-119K Stinger were twin-engine piston-powered gunships developed by the United States during the Vietnam War. They replaced the Douglas AC-47 Spooky and operated alongside the early versions of the AC-130 Spectre gunship.

AC-119G Shadow
AC-119K Stinger
An AC-119G gunship over Tan Son Nhut Air Base
Role Ground-attack aircraft and close air support gunship
Manufacturer Fairchild Aircraft
Introduction November 1968
Retired USAF: 1971
Republic of Vietnam Air Force: 1975
Primary users United States Air Force
Republic of Vietnam Air Force
Number built 52
Developed from Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar

Design and development edit

By late 1967, the idea of the fixed-wing gunship had been proven so successful, the United States Air Force was having a difficult time keeping up with demand. The newer AC-130s that had been created under Project Gunship II were effective, but were being mostly used for armed reconnaissance and interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. Furthermore, the C-130 airframe was in active service as a transport, vital to the war effort in Southeast Asia. The Air Force desperately needed a new gunship to replace the vulnerable and underpowered AC-47 in the close air support role, as well as supplementing the AC-130 in attacking targets on the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar presented an obvious choice, having been phased out of front-line service in favor of the C-123 and C-130, and with the stock of available airframes in U.S. Air Force Reserve being sufficient. In February 1968, under the USAF program Project Gunship III, 26 C-119Gs were converted to AC-119G standard, initially taking on the name "Creep", but later assigned the callsign "Shadow".[1]

In addition, Fairchild-Hiller, which was contracted for all the conversions, converted another 26 C-119Gs into AC-119Ks, primarily for the "truck hunter" role over the Ho Chi Minh Trail. These aircraft were called "Stingers" primarily in reference to the two M61 Vulcan 20-mm cannons they carried in addition to the AC-119G's four GAU-2/A miniguns. The AC-119K could be visually distinguished by the addition of two General Electric J85 turbojet engines in underwing pods. The conversions were completed at Fairchild-Hiller's facility in St. Augustine, Florida.

Project Gunship III, being a follow-on to the success of the AC-130 series, meant that the AC-119 was a more advanced aircraft in both its iterations than the AC-47. Even the TIC AC-119G featured some of the most up-to-date electronic countermeasures and radar equipment, as well as more basic technology, including an AVQ-8 xenon light, a night observation sight, and an LAU-74/A flare launcher.

The AC-119K, designed to hit trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail, was more advanced. Included in the conversion was the AN/APN-147 Doppler navigation radar, AN/AAD-4 forward looking infrared, AN/APQ-133 side-looking beacon tracking radar and AN/APQ-136 search radar.

The armament scheme for both aircraft was simpler than that of the AC-130. The AC-119G had a total of four GAU-2A/A miniguns in SUU-11A/A pods, all on mounts similar to those used on early AC-47s. Like late-model AC-47s, these were soon changed to the purpose-built MXU-470/A minigun modules. The AC-119K, needing a more powerful and longer range "punch" to take out vehicles, featured two M61 20-mm cannons in addition to the four miniguns of the AC-119G.

Operational history edit

 
One of the J85 turbojet engines added to later models of the AC-119 is visible below the wing on the right in this photo

By November 1968, the aircraft had deployed to Vietnam and joined the 14th Special Operations Wing at Nha Trang Air Base. The AC-119Gs were placed in the 71st Special Operations Squadron which was formed from the activated 71st Troop Carrier Squadron, of the Air Force Reserve located at Bakalar Air Force Base in Columbus, Indiana. When the 71 SOS returned to continental USA in 1969, the gunships were taken over by the newly formed 17 SOS.

Earlier on November 8th, the 4413th Combat Crew Training Squadron received its first AC-119K.[2]

 
U.S. Air Force Fairchild AC-119K Stinger of the 18th Special Operations Squadron fires one of its 7.62mm miniguns, circa in 1970. The AC-119 were used to attack the North Vietnamese trucks on Ho Chi Minh trail.[2]

The AC-119Ks were placed in the 18th Special Operations Squadron. With the addition of the two types, the 14 SOW for a time in 1968 was flying eight different aircraft from ten different bases in South Vietnam. The 14 SOW was inactivated in 1971. Limited numbers continued to be operated out of Thailand as late as the fall of 1972, but the AC-119 was phased out shortly after from the US Air Force. The AC-119G and 119K continued to serve with the Republic of Vietnam Air Force (RVNAF) until the Fall of Saigon in 1975. During the Vietnam War, only five AC-119 Gunship IIIs were lost to all causes.[3]

Operators edit

 
A Republic of Vietnam Air Force AC-119K, in April 1975.
  South Vietnam

Republic of Vietnam Air Force

  United States

United States Air Force

17th Special Operations Squadron 1969–1971
18th Special Operations Squadron 1969–1971
71st Special Operations Squadron 1968–1969
(Detachments at Tan San Nhut, Phan Rang and Phu Cat AB)
18th Special Operations Squadron 1971–1972

Surviving example edit

Specifications (AC-119G) edit

Data from [citation needed]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 6 (day), 8 (night)
  • Length: 86 ft 5.75 in (26.3589 m)
  • Wingspan: 109 ft 3.25 in (33.3058 m)
  • Height: 26 ft 7.75 in (8.1217 m)
  • Wing area: 1,400 sq ft (130 m2)
  • Airfoil: root: NACA 2418; tip: NACA 4409[5]
  • Empty weight: 40,125 lb (18,200 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 62,000 lb (28,123 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-3350-85 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,500 hp (1,900 kW) each for take-off
  • Propellers: 4-bladed constant-speed fully-feathering reversible-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 180 kn (210 mph, 330 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 130 kn (150 mph, 240 km/h)
  • Range: 1,680 nmi (1,930 mi, 3,110 km)
  • Service ceiling: 23,300 ft (7,100 m)

Armament

Gallery edit

  •  
    Armament layout of AC-119G Shadow.
  •  
    MXU-470 installed on a AC-47.
  •  
    Armament layout of AC-119K Stinger.
  •  
    SUU-11A/A components.

See also edit

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild AC-119 Stinger.

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

References edit

Notes edit

  1. ^ "Fairchild AC-119 Gunship 'Shadow'." strategic-air-command. Retrieved: 8 May 2012.
  2. ^ a b "AC-119 Shadow". Hurlburt Field. Retrieved 2024-04-26.
  3. ^ Hobson 2001
  4. ^ "Hurlburt Field: AC-119 Shadow". 2011-09-29 at the Wayback Machine. United States Air Force, 7 July 2008. Retrieved: 8 May 2012.
  5. ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.

Bibliography edit

  • Hobson, Chris. Vietnam Air Losses, USAF/USN/USMC, Fixed-Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia, 1961–1973. North Branch, Minnesota: Specialty Press, 2001. ISBN 1-85780-115-6.
  • Petrie, Bill. . AC-119 Gunship Association, updated: 12 January 2006.Retrieved: 11 April 2007.
  • Petrie, Bill. . AC-119 Gunship Association, updated: 27 February 2006. Retrieved: 11 April 2007.
  • Project CHECO. Contemporary Historical Evaluation of Combat Operations: Fixed Wing Gunships in Southeast Asia, Retrieved: 22 November 2012.

External links edit

  • AC-119 Gunship Association web site
  • – National Museum of the United States Air Force
  • C-119 on display at Former Atterbury AAF/Bakalar AFB/Columbus Municipal Airport, Columbus Indiana www.IndianaMilitary.org

April 28, 2024
fairchild, shadow, 119k, stinger, were, twin, engine, piston, powered, gunships, developed, united, states, during, vietnam, they, replaced, douglas, spooky, operated, alongside, early, versions, spectre, gunship, 119g, shadow, 119k, stinger, 119g, gunship, ov. The Fairchild AC 119G Shadow and AC 119K Stinger were twin engine piston powered gunships developed by the United States during the Vietnam War They replaced the Douglas AC 47 Spooky and operated alongside the early versions of the AC 130 Spectre gunship AC 119G Shadow AC 119K Stinger An AC 119G gunship over Tan Son Nhut Air Base Role Ground attack aircraft and close air support gunship Manufacturer Fairchild Aircraft Introduction November 1968 Retired USAF 1971Republic of Vietnam Air Force 1975 Primary users United States Air ForceRepublic of Vietnam Air Force Number built 52 Developed from Fairchild C 119 Flying Boxcar Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Surviving example 5 Specifications AC 119G 6 Gallery 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Notes 8 2 Bibliography 9 External linksDesign and development editBy late 1967 the idea of the fixed wing gunship had been proven so successful the United States Air Force was having a difficult time keeping up with demand The newer AC 130s that had been created under Project Gunship II were effective but were being mostly used for armed reconnaissance and interdiction of the Ho Chi Minh Trail Furthermore the C 130 airframe was in active service as a transport vital to the war effort in Southeast Asia The Air Force desperately needed a new gunship to replace the vulnerable and underpowered AC 47 in the close air support role as well as supplementing the AC 130 in attacking targets on the Ho Chi Minh Trail The Fairchild C 119 Flying Boxcar presented an obvious choice having been phased out of front line service in favor of the C 123 and C 130 and with the stock of available airframes in U S Air Force Reserve being sufficient In February 1968 under the USAF program Project Gunship III 26 C 119Gs were converted to AC 119G standard initially taking on the name Creep but later assigned the callsign Shadow 1 In addition Fairchild Hiller which was contracted for all the conversions converted another 26 C 119Gs into AC 119Ks primarily for the truck hunter role over the Ho Chi Minh Trail These aircraft were called Stingers primarily in reference to the two M61 Vulcan 20 mm cannons they carried in addition to the AC 119G s four GAU 2 A miniguns The AC 119K could be visually distinguished by the addition of two General Electric J85 turbojet engines in underwing pods The conversions were completed at Fairchild Hiller s facility in St Augustine Florida Project Gunship III being a follow on to the success of the AC 130 series meant that the AC 119 was a more advanced aircraft in both its iterations than the AC 47 Even the TIC AC 119G featured some of the most up to date electronic countermeasures and radar equipment as well as more basic technology including an AVQ 8 xenon light a night observation sight and an LAU 74 A flare launcher The AC 119K designed to hit trucks on the Ho Chi Minh Trail was more advanced Included in the conversion was the AN APN 147 Doppler navigation radar AN AAD 4 forward looking infrared AN APQ 133 side looking beacon tracking radar and AN APQ 136 search radar The armament scheme for both aircraft was simpler than that of the AC 130 The AC 119G had a total of four GAU 2A A miniguns in SUU 11A A pods all on mounts similar to those used on early AC 47s Like late model AC 47s these were soon changed to the purpose built MXU 470 A minigun modules The AC 119K needing a more powerful and longer range punch to take out vehicles featured two M61 20 mm cannons in addition to the four miniguns of the AC 119G Operational history edit nbsp One of the J85 turbojet engines added to later models of the AC 119 is visible below the wing on the right in this photo By November 1968 the aircraft had deployed to Vietnam and joined the 14th Special Operations Wing at Nha Trang Air Base The AC 119Gs were placed in the 71st Special Operations Squadron which was formed from the activated 71st Troop Carrier Squadron of the Air Force Reserve located at Bakalar Air Force Base in Columbus Indiana When the 71 SOS returned to continental USA in 1969 the gunships were taken over by the newly formed 17 SOS Earlier on November 8th the 4413th Combat Crew Training Squadron received its first AC 119K 2 nbsp U S Air Force Fairchild AC 119K Stinger of the 18th Special Operations Squadron fires one of its 7 62mm miniguns circa in 1970 The AC 119 were used to attack the North Vietnamese trucks on Ho Chi Minh trail 2 The AC 119Ks were placed in the 18th Special Operations Squadron With the addition of the two types the 14 SOW for a time in 1968 was flying eight different aircraft from ten different bases in South Vietnam The 14 SOW was inactivated in 1971 Limited numbers continued to be operated out of Thailand as late as the fall of 1972 but the AC 119 was phased out shortly after from the US Air Force The AC 119G and 119K continued to serve with the Republic of Vietnam Air Force RVNAF until the Fall of Saigon in 1975 During the Vietnam War only five AC 119 Gunship IIIs were lost to all causes 3 Operators edit nbsp A Republic of Vietnam Air Force AC 119K in April 1975 nbsp South Vietnam Republic of Vietnam Air Force nbsp United States United States Air Force 14th Special Operations Wing Nha Trang Air Base South Vietnam 17th Special Operations Squadron 1969 1971 18th Special Operations Squadron 1969 1971 71st Special Operations Squadron 1968 1969 Detachments at Tan San Nhut Phan Rang and Phu Cat AB dd 56th Special Operations Wing Nakhon Phanom Air Base Thailand 18th Special Operations Squadron 1971 1972 dd Surviving example editAC 119G Shadow AF Ser No 53 3144 is on display at the Air Commando Heritage Park at Hurlburt Field Florida 4 Specifications AC 119G editData from citation needed General characteristicsCrew 6 day 8 night Length 86 ft 5 75 in 26 3589 m Wingspan 109 ft 3 25 in 33 3058 m Height 26 ft 7 75 in 8 1217 m Wing area 1 400 sq ft 130 m2 Airfoil root NACA 2418 tip NACA 4409 5 Empty weight 40 125 lb 18 200 kg Max takeoff weight 62 000 lb 28 123 kg Powerplant 2 Wright R 3350 85 Duplex Cyclone 18 cylinder air cooled radial piston engines 2 500 hp 1 900 kW each for take off Propellers 4 bladed constant speed fully feathering reversible pitch propellers Performance Maximum speed 180 kn 210 mph 330 km h Cruise speed 130 kn 150 mph 240 km h Range 1 680 nmi 1 930 mi 3 110 km Service ceiling 23 300 ft 7 100 m Armament 4 GAU 2 A 7 62 mm 0 30 in miniguns 1 500 rounds gun 2 M61 Vulcan 20 mm 0 787 in 6 barreled Gatling cannon AC 119K variant only 60 Mk 24 flares in a LAU 74 A flare launcherGallery edit nbsp Armament layout of AC 119G Shadow nbsp MXU 470 installed on a AC 47 nbsp Armament layout of AC 119K Stinger nbsp SUU 11A A components See also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Fairchild AC 119 Stinger Related development Fairchild C 119 Flying Boxcar Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Alenia AC 27J Douglas AC 47 Spooky Lockheed AC 130References editNotes edit Fairchild AC 119 Gunship Shadow strategic air command Retrieved 8 May 2012 a b AC 119 Shadow Hurlburt Field Retrieved 2024 04 26 Hobson 2001 Hurlburt Field AC 119 Shadow Archived 2011 09 29 at the Wayback Machine United States Air Force 7 July 2008 Retrieved 8 May 2012 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography edit Hobson Chris Vietnam Air Losses USAF USN USMC Fixed Wing Aircraft Losses in Southeast Asia 1961 1973 North Branch Minnesota Specialty Press 2001 ISBN 1 85780 115 6 Petrie Bill AC 119G Shadow USAF AC 119 Gunships AC 119 Gunship Association updated 12 January 2006 Retrieved 11 April 2007 Petrie Bill AC 119K Stinger USAF AC 119 Gunships AC 119 Gunship Association updated 27 February 2006 Retrieved 11 April 2007 Project CHECO Contemporary Historical Evaluation of Combat Operations Fixed Wing Gunships in Southeast Asia Retrieved 22 November 2012 External links editAC 119 Gunship Association web site Fairchild AC 119K National Museum of the United States Air Force C 119 on display at Former Atterbury AAF Bakalar AFB Columbus Municipal Airport Columbus Indiana www IndianaMilitary org Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Fairchild AC 119 amp oldid 1220810007, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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