Page 36 - DFCS NEWS MAGAZINE 2020-1

USAF Air Commandos in Vietnam (Cont’d.)
First to Fight in 1961 Flying T-28s, B-26s and C-47s By Lew Jennings
Single-seat A-1Hs “Sandy’s” escort an HH-53 Super Jolly Green Giant on a Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission.
In the early days, the C-47 transports provided flare drops to illuminate the hidden enemy positions in the shadows and at night. Their Special Forces counterparts lit a series of smudge pots to create an arrow pointing the direction to the enemy contact.
Later, many of the C-47s would be converted to gunships with massive firepower that could loiter for hours during the night to provide rapid response combat support to ground forces. These C-47 gunships were re-designated AC-47s with the nicknames “Spooky” or “Puff the Magic Dragon”. They were outfitted with three 7.62mm General Electric Miniguns on the left side of the aircraft that could fire up to 2,000 TO 6,000 rounds per minute each! They were much beloved by embattled ground troops and considered the scourge of enemy insurgent forces.
As Air Commando operations escalated, unfortunately so did casualties. In the first 18 months, 16 crewmen were killed. However, not all the casualties were due to enemy action. The vintage equipment also played a part too as the high-g load maneuvers during combat stressed the vintage B-26s and T-28s to the breaking point with several breaking apart in flight. In 1964, the Douglas A-1 Skyraider started replacing the B-26s and T-28s as the primary Air Commando attack aircraft.
Besides attack aircraft, the A-1s gained fame as “Sandy” Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) helicopter escorts out of Udorn, Thailand, rescuing downed pilots in North Vietnam and Laos. The 1st Air Commando Squadron rotated flights from Bien Hoa to Udorn to perform these life-saving missions.
As Air Commando crews gained experience, they developed innovative tactics, procedures and equipment to perform their missions.
Special Operations C-47 Skytrains converted to AC-47 Gunships known as “Spooky” or “Puff the Magic Dragon”. Equipped with a trio of General Electric 7.62mm six-barreled Miniguns on the left side that fired 2,000 to 6,000 rounds per minute
each, these AC-47 Gunships could loiter for hours providing devastating firepower when and where needed.
36 / DFCS News Magazine / SUMMER 2020