Aircraft N2805J Data

This aircraft was delivered to USAAF August 1944 as C-47B 43-16369. In Aug. 1954 modified to C-47D standard. In 1966, still with USAF, was registered as N2805J and believed to be personal transport for US Air Attache. In 1971 went to Dept. of Agriculture at Mission, TX. 2/13/80 registered to World Aircraft Museum, Inc.

Fifty-three Douglas DC-3C aircraft were converted to AC-47D (Attack-Cargo) side-firing gunship aircraft for use in Southeast Asia by the US Air Force during the Vietnam War. First tested in December, 1964, they were initially called FC-47Ds, for Fighter-Cargo. Their collective call sign was "Spooky", serving from headquarters base in Tan Son Nhut AB and in several forward Vietnam areas.

The Douglas DC-3 commercial airliner design with 24 sub-variants has been used in many wars since first military war use in WWII. Officially called the C-47 and C-117 "Skytrains" then, but affectionately called the "Gooney Bird" by our American troops, the British called their version "Dakota". Russia in WWII copied the Dakota design as the Ilyushin Li-2. Later Russian versions were the Ilyushin II-12 and II-14 with NATO code names "Coach" and "Crate", respectively. Japan also copied the DC-3 design during WWII.

N205J was an AC-47D "Spooky" gunship that served under the 14th Air Commando Wing in Vietnam. The AC-47Ds were initially equipped with three 7.62mm SUU-11A Gatling Miniguns; one each in two window ports on the aircraft's port side and one in the port-side open loading door. The SUU-11As were later replaced with 7.62mm MXU-470/A Gatling Miniguns made by General Electric. These guns delivered 6,000 rounds per minute.

Night gunship missions initially used MK-24 Mod 3 dropped magnesium flares of 750,000 candlepower. These were later replaced by MK-24 Mod 6 flares of two million candlepower each. The loadmaster would arm and drop a flare out the aircraft loading door upon a periodic flashing cargo compartment light signal from the aircraft's pilot.

Attack missions of typically just 120 knots indicated air speed at low levels left the gunships vulnerable to ground fire, and 15 "Spookies" were lost to enemy action. Our troops called them "Puff, the Magic Dragon" from the popular Peter, Paul and Mary 1960's song of the same name. That title had nothing to do with gunship aircraft, referring to, shall we say, an illegal smoked drug?

The venerable Douglas DC-3C/USAF AC-47D design received much favorable publicity in this anachronistic gunship role, and was a very effective attack gunship serving very specific roles perhaps better than more expensive, faster Cambodian-based or aircraft carrier-based attack jets of the era. These "Spooky" roles included close air support in defense of ground positions, pre-planned target strikes, escort and patrol and forward air-control for fighter/attack strikes.

At 1969's year close the AC-47D "Spookies" were replaced by larger, more capable and newer Lockheed AC-130A/E/H/U "Spectre/Spooky II" aircraft.

N2805K, a true warbird, was photographed on static display at the 2007 Naval Base Ventura County Airshow at NTD, Point Mugu, California.