The E and H Model Gunship Fleet

(Note: Unofficial aircraft names for some aircraft may have changed over the 
AC-130’s service period. The names listed here are either the longest used or 
best known)

 

Information for this section courtesy of Bill Walter (Thank You Bill!)

69-6567  Ghostrider

 

Major Operations: Eagle Claw, Grenada, 
El Salvador, Panama, Desert Storm

 

 

Shot down during the Battle of Khafji during Operation DESERT STORM on 31 January, 1991.

 

 

 All fourteen crewmen were lost.

     Maj Paul Weaver - Pilot
     Capt T.C. Bland - Co-Pilot
     Capt Dixon Walters - Electronic Warfare Officer
     Capt Art Galvan - Fire Control Officer
     Capt William Grimm - Navigator
     SMSgt Jim May - Gunner
     SMSgt Paul Buege - Sensor Operator
     TSgt John Oelschlager - Gunner
     TSgt Bob Hodges - Gunner
     SSgt Damon Kanuha - Flight Engineer
     SSgt John Blessinger - Sensor Operator
     SSgt Tim Harrison - Gunner
     SSgt Mark Schmauss - Illuminator Operator
     Sgt Barry Clark - Gunner



69-6576  Predator

Major Operations: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, El Salvador, Panama, Bosnia, Somalia




 

On March 14, 1994, while tweaking their guns near Milindi Kenya en route to Somalia, crew experienced a 105mm gun explosion. Unable to remain airborne due to heavy damage and fire, the aircraft contacted the Indian Ocean short of a nearby airport. Three crewmen survived bailout and the pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer survived ditching.

 

 Capt Anthony Stefanik, Fire Control Officer
 Capt David J. Melhlop, Navigator
 Capt Mark A. Quam, Electronic Warfare Officer
 MSgt Roy Duncan, Loadmaster
 TSgt Robert L. Daniel, Sensor Operator
 SSgt Mark E. Moser, Aerial Gunner
 SSgt Brian P. Barnes, Aerial Gunner
 SSgt William C. Eyler, Sensor Operator


 

69-6568  Night Stalker

 

 

Major Operations: 

 

El Salvador, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan

 

Retired to Davis Monthan AFB in 2015

69-6569  Excalibur

Major Operations: Eagle Claw, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan 

 

Retired to Davis Monthan AFB in 2015

69-6570  The Hussy

Major Operations: Eagle Claw, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan

 

Retired to Davis Monthan AFB in 2014

69-6571  The Destroyer

Major Operations: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia

 

Hit by 57mm AAA while on an interdiction mission over Laos, 30 March 1972. The entire crew bailed out before the aircraft crashed into the jungle. All crewmen were rescued; the largest Search and Rescue operation of the war in SEA.

 69-6572  Grave Digger

Major Operations: Eagle Claw, El Salvador, Grenada, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan

Retired in 2014. On display at Cannon Air Force Base

69-6573  Heavy Metal

Major Operations: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Somalia, Afghanistan

Retired to Davis Monthan AFB in 2015

69-6574  Iron Maiden

Major Cambodia, El Salvador, Grenada, Somalia, Bosnia, Afghanistan


Retired to Davis Monthan AFB in 2014

69-6575  Wicked Wanda

Major Operations: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Eagle Claw,El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Desert Storm, Bosnia, Afghanistan

Retired in 2015, placed on display at Hurlburt Fld Heritage Park in Feb 2016.



69-6577  Death Angel

Major Operations: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Eagle Claw, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Afghanistan

 Retired to Davis Monthan AFB in 2015

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