09 Lockheed AC-130E Pave Spectre
The original AC-130As' old airframes had durability issues, so a new program evolved using low-time C-130E airframes. Eleven C-130E were converted with the same equipment and armament as the Pave Pronto, becoming the AC-130E Pave Spectre. The first aircraft, affectionately known as the “Cadillac” gunship, arrived in Ubon on 25 October 1971 and operated with the 16th Special Operations Squadron (16th SOS) their entire operational life.
On 17 February 1972, the first 105 mm cannon arrived for service with Spectre and was installed on gunship 69-6570 “The Hussy” and then moved to gunship 69-6571 “Bad Co” and used until 30 March 1972 when the aircraft was shot down in Laos. After the Vietnam Peace Accord was passed on 28 January 1973, Spectre operations in Vietnam ended. The Spectres were re-tasked to Laos and Cambodia. AC-130s flew in Operation Eagle Pull and Operation Frequent Wind during the evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, respectively.
In 1973, some aircraft began arriving at Ubon in a new overall flat black scheme instead of the old gloss black and camouflage scheme. This is AC-130E Pace Spectre (serial number: 69-6573), nicknamed “Heavy Metal,” sits on the apron in the new flat black camouflage and flew with the 16th SOS. There are SUU-42A/A ejector pods mounted under the wings, with starboard pods for flares and port pods for chaff. “Heavy Metal” served in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Somalia, and Afghanistan. On 13 May 1972, the aircraft was struck by an SA-7 SAM through the tail above the ramp on the port side, but only one crew member was injured, and the aircraft returned safely to base. The aircraft was retired in 2015 and is displayed at Davis Monthan AFB (the “Boneyard”) in Tucson, Arizona.
09 Lockheed AC-130E Pave Spectre
The original AC-130As' old airframes had durability issues, so a new program evolved using low-time C-130E airframes. Eleven C-130E were converted with the same equipment and armament as the Pave Pronto, becoming the AC-130E Pave Spectre. The first aircraft, affectionately known as the “Cadillac” gunship, arrived in Ubon on 25 October 1971 and operated with the 16th Special Operations Squadron (16th SOS) their entire operational life.
On 17 February 1972, the first 105 mm cannon arrived for service with Spectre and was installed on gunship 69-6570 “The Hussy” and then moved to gunship 69-6571 “Bad Co” and used until 30 March 1972 when the aircraft was shot down in Laos. After the Vietnam Peace Accord was passed on 28 January 1973, Spectre operations in Vietnam ended. The Spectres were re-tasked to Laos and Cambodia. AC-130s flew in Operation Eagle Pull and Operation Frequent Wind during the evacuation of Phnom Penh and Saigon, respectively.
In 1973, some aircraft began arriving at Ubon in a new overall flat black scheme instead of the old gloss black and camouflage scheme. This is AC-130E Pace Spectre (serial number: 69-6573), nicknamed “Heavy Metal,” sits on the apron in the new flat black camouflage and flew with the 16th SOS. There are SUU-42A/A ejector pods mounted under the wings, with starboard pods for flares and port pods for chaff. “Heavy Metal” served in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, El Salvador, Grenada, Panama, Bosnia, Somalia, and Afghanistan. On 13 May 1972, the aircraft was struck by an SA-7 SAM through the tail above the ramp on the port side, but only one crew member was injured, and the aircraft returned safely to base. The aircraft was retired in 2015 and is displayed at Davis Monthan AFB (the “Boneyard”) in Tucson, Arizona.