[BILLY D.]

HEY GD

THEY USED TO HAVE AN AC-119K AT THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM AT WRIGHT PAT IN DAYTON. IT HAD QUITE A HISTORY. ON A MISSION IN LAOS ONE NIGHT IT HAD 14 1/2 FOOT OF THE LEADING EDGE OF THE STARBOARD WING SHOT OFF.

WITH MUCH DIFFICULTY AND AIRMANSHIP THE CREW GOT BACK TO THEIR BASE AT NAKHON PHANOM THAILAND. IT WAS A REAL FEAT. THE AIRCRAFT TAIL # WAS 883. AFTER IT WAS REBUILT IT HAD THE BEST RECORD OF A TRUCK KILLER. IN DECEMBER OF 1970 WE SHOT 26 TRUCKS ONE NIGHT AND AS FAR AS I KNOW THAT IS STILL A RECORD FOR A STINGER. THE CREW OF THAT AIRCRAFT WON THE MCKAY TROPHY FOR THEIR OUTSTANDING AIRMANSHIP. A GREAT STORY.

YOU MENTIONED THE F-4. THE GUNPODS THAT WERE USED ON THE F-4 WERE SIMILAR TO THE ONES IN THE GUNSHIPS. ON THE STINGER THE DRUM SIMPLY STOOD UP NEXT TO THE FLOOR MOUNTED M-61 AND WAS BELT FED. ALL ELECTRIC. ON THE F-4 THE GUNPODS WERE WING MOUNTED BY USING A WING PYLON AND STANDARD 14" BOMB RACK. THE NOSE GUN ON THE F-4E WAS A VAST IMPROVEMENT. THE AIR FORCE GOT THE F-4 FROM THE NAVY AND THERE WERE NOT MANY WEAPONS IN THE INVENTORY IT COULD NOT CARRY. THE AIR FORCE TURNED IT INTO A FLYING SMORGASBORD LITERALLY. MULEDEER CAN TELL YOU ALL ABOUT THAT.

THE FIRST GUNSHIPS THAT FLEW SIMPLY HAD SUU GUNPODS MOUNTED ON TOP OF A BOMBRACK AND PLACED ON A STAND AND POKED OUT THE AIRCRAFT WINDOW. SIGHTING DEVICES WERE VERY CRUDE.

GO TO WRIGHT PAT SOMETIME AND CHECK OUT THE AIR FORCE MUSEUM. PLAN ON SPENDING SOME TIME THOUGH. THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS TO SEE. 3 DAYS WOULD BE ABOUT RIGHT.

I'M ORIGINALLY FROM DAYTON. WE MOVED THERE WHEN I WAS A LITTLE GUY, SO I SPENT THE BETTER PART OF MY EARLY LIFE THERE. WE LIVED ABOUT 3 MILES SOUTH OF WRIGHT PAT. WRIGHT FIELD AND PATTERSON FIELD USED TO BE TWO SEPARATE ENTITIES WITH US/OHIO RT 4 SEPARATING THEM. NOW THEY ARE ONE. DAYTON IS RICH IN AVIATION HISTORY. AND OTHER HISTORY AS WELL. NATIONAL CASH REGISTER AND GM USED TO OWN THE TOWN.

WELL GOT TO GIT. HAVE A GOOD ONE.