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Hey skeet
Don't knock the C-119. I flew 182 Combat Missions in the AC-119K and never NEVER had to walk home once. I wish I could say the same for choppers. I loved that Aircraft. She was tough and fullfilled a lot of different missions.
We flew mainly truck interdiction routes from South of the Mu Ghia Pass in the North down the Ho Chi Minh Trail through Laos and Cambodia. Due to a superior Aircraft and superior Airmanship we were able to dodge AAA and kill trucks.
This Aircraft also was a welcome sight to Grunts, Army and Marines when they were confronted and outnumbered buy a superior force on the ground. The sight of Stinger, AC-119K moving into the area with her 6 Gatlings was truly comforting. Ask the troops at Fire Support Base Vandergrift in Quang Tri Provence on 17 Aug. 1971 how they regard the AC-119K Gunships with their 4 Mini's and 2 20MM Gatlings and 2 million Candlepower White Light. When they called and we responded they were being over-run by the NVA. When the dust settled the estimated body count of 800 souls who gave their lives for the NVA cause was made. Their were no losses for our side, just wounded troops. Med EVAC choppers got them out and to Da Nang. Loved those Army Chopper guys. They don't make them with any bigger testicles than them and FORWARD AIR CONTROLERS, cough, cough, Rocky. You wouldn't believe what those guys flew through. Rocky may not have achieved MACH 2 but he did something much more important than that. SALUTE. Yes, I'm an enlisted puke.
So skeet, don't ever downgrade a 119 in front of me or I'll give you a ration full. I love that bird. She was a great one.
Bill
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