Gooney Bird III. [Conclusion.]

This is coolbert:

The concept is called "big sky, little bullet".

American combat aircraft, providing close air support [CAS] for engaged U.S. ground forces, can fly through a battle zone in relative security, the chances of being hit by an indirect fire round [hostile or friendly], being relatively slim.

Here is an instance of where the concept failed.

An AC-47, flying CAS for embattled U.S. forces in Vietnam, taking a hit from a DOWN-WARD PLUNGING Viet Cong [VC] mortar round.

A hit [on a wing] the shrapnel of which wounding the flight-crew servicing the 7.62mm miniguns. A perilous situation that would have resulted in the AC-47 being blown out of the sky.

IF NOT FOR THE HEROICS OF A SEVERELY WOUNDED CREW MEMBER!! JOHN LEVITOW. Heroics for which John was awarded the Medal of Honor [MoH].

Such was the robustness of the "gooney bird", that EVEN WHEN MORTALLY WOUNDED, THE "BIRD" STILL MAINTAINED AIR-WORTHINESS AND WAS FLOWN TO GROUND SAFELY, IN LARGE PART THANKS TO THE COURAGEOUS BEHAVIOR OF JOHN LEVITOW!!

[Levitow passed away recently, AND IS THE LOWEST RANKING MEMBER OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE TO HAVE BEEN AWARDED THE MoH.]

Sixty years and going. The "gooney bird". Again, with a remarkable robustness!!

coolbert.

Gooney Bird II.

This is coolbert:

Am watching last Sunday the TV program "Sixty Minutes"

The organization RAM [Remote Area Medical] is being profiled.

Provides high-technology medical care to remote areas of the world. People who have NEVER seen a doctor are able to get a medical examination, see a dentist, get examined for glasses, etc.

An organization, RAM, headed by an outstanding human being. Stan Brock. One of the MOST REMARKABLE PERSONS ALIVE!! An autodidact who has led one of the most profound and accomplished lives you can imagine.

"Brock is an Airline Transport Pilot with Flight Instructor certificates, a skilled writer on a variety of subjects; published author of five books in hard-cover and numerous articles in Reader's Digest and other publications, and a physical fitness expert.; 1st Cho Dan Black Belt Tae Kwon Do Karate."

A South American cowboy, naturalist [associated with the famous Marlin Perkins], and now humanitarian going good work the world over.

Also a man of imposing physical abilities. A tribute to good-living [hard living at that] and adherence to a most strict physical regimen. A minimum of two hours running, high repetition calisthenics, and stretching per day [a day beginning no later than 5 A.M too]. Pretty good for a man sixty-nine [69] years old!!!

ALSO, A PILOT WHO FLIES HIS OWN C-47 ON MISSIONS FOR RAM!! AIR-DROPPING SUPPLIES AND EQUIPMENT FROM A C-47 THAT FLEW DURING THE NORMANDY INVASION [1944].



[please note the logo for RAM. A parachute dropping medical supplies! Ala' World War Two missions!]

Sixty years and going. The "gooney bird" is remarkable, IS IT NOT!!!

coolbert.

Gooney Bird I.

This is coolbert:

From Suvorov:

I adore weapons. Of every sort . . . One day I shall open a small museum, and the first exhibit which shall buy for my museum will be an American jeep.. This is a real miracle weapon . . . how many types of tanks guns, aircraft, rockets have come and gone in the time of the jeep? . . . But they have gone and the jeep is still there."

Here is ANOTHER WEAPON OF WAR THAT SHOULD BE ADDED TO THE THE MUSEUM OF SUVOROV:

The world-famous C-47 [and in all the variants thereof]

"The Douglas C-47 Skytrain or Dakota is a military transport that was developed from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. It was used extensively by the Allies during World War II and remained in front line operations through the 1950s with a few remaining in operation to this day."

A few in operation to this day. In the transport AND THE COMBAT MODE.

The AC-47 for instance. "Puff the Magic Dragon" from Vietnam fame.

A modified C-47, sporting three 7.62mm mini-guns, carrying a minimum of 20,000 rounds per mission for use in combat.


A weapons system that had an unexpected usefulness in Vietnam. When the AC [attack cargo] version of the C-47 was proposed, I don't think anyone would have believed the "gooney bird" was going to have the dramatic impact it did?

From the comments of Rich Silva to the blog:

"I used to fly on the original Spectre gunships [this I assume is the AC-130] before we had TV and big guns and stuff. The 'A' models were all retired in the early or mid 90s. Now there are the 'E' and 'U' models flying." [the A models of the AC-130 are now retired, all the while the AC-47 IS STILL GOING!!]

And, SOME OF THOSE AC-47 ARE STILL IN USE. Being flown right now, as we speak, by the Colombian air force, used in the COIN [COunter-INsurgency] role once again!!

"Retrofitted AC-47s are still in use in Colombia, where they are known by civilians as Avion fantasma (ghost planes). They are successfully operated by the local airforce in COIN operations"

Bang-bang, shoot em' up, your dead!!

Over sixty years and counting. The "gooney bird".

coolbert.