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AC-119 on the East ramp at Cam Ranh Bay
AC-119K "Stinger" Gunship
The "K" model of the AC-119 gunship was
modified from the "G" with the addition of two J-85 jet engines and two 20mm gatling guns,
complementing the four 7.62 minis. It was named"Stinger"
In addition to the armament, and some radar
equipment, the old four-bladed Aeroproduct propellers were replaced with the
Hamilton Standard three-bladed props. The reason was for safety and
reliability. No Stinger with the three-bladed propeller was ever lost
due to propeller failure.
The "K" model was the final version
of the AC-119 gunship. They were turned over to the Vietnamese in l973.
The last USAF AC-119 gunship unit was the 18th
Special Operations Squadron. During "Vietnamization", about 40
USAF crewmembers were selected to train the VNAF on the Stinger gunship.
The program was named "Project Enhance Plus". Training was
abruptly ended in March 1973 and the USAF training crews were, for the most
part, returned to the States.
Lee Kyser
This is a photo of a USAF instructor flight crew
and VNAF students just prior to the first training flight during Project
Enhance Plus. (part of Vietnamization) 18 Dec 72. The aircraft is an
AC-119K "Stinger" gunship, S/N 53-7831.
The USAF crew, from left to right, are Maj Bob
Krueger (AC and Operations Officer), the instructor gunner (name unknown),
SSgt Bill Isham (Illuminator Operator), and MSgt Lee Kyser (Flight
Engineer and Detachment NCOIC)
The VNAF are Maj Nuoi Hoang (Pilot and VNAF Commander),
Capt Son Nguyen (Copilot and VNAF Operations Officer), MSgt Dinh Nguyen (Illuminator Operator),
and MSgt Tuan (Flight
Engineer).
Submitted by: Lee Kyser
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