Aircraft
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AC-47D Spooky Gunships Aircraft |
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4th SOS Spooky Gunship Waiting the Call - Danang AB
Circa 1969
Taxiway to the left, Fire Department to the right
| NOTE: This information was derived from various sources, including websites and photos. There may be errors, and if anyone spots any glaring mistakes, omissions, or has additional information, please let me know. ~ Donald Luke | |||
| SERIAL NUMBER |
MANUFACTURER'S SERIAL NUMBER (MSN) |
HISTORY / DISPOSITION | INFORMATION SOURCE(S) |
| 43-16065 | 20531 | LOG Miami AC-47D conversion - May 13, 1966. Bien Hoa Airbase, Republic of Vietnam (RVN), 3 TFW. June 23, 1966. 14 Air Commando Wing (ACW) - May 31, 1967. Binh Thuy Airbase, RVN - August 11, 1967.Bien Hoa Airbase, RVN - September 13, 1967. Nha Trang Airbase, RVN - June 16, 1968. 14 Special Operations Wing (SOW) - August 16, 1968. Military Assistance Program (MAP)transfer to the South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) on July 15, 1969 |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-16133 | 20599 | AC-47D S/N 43-16133 was one of three Spooky Gunships that were provisionally reassigned from the 4th SOS to Udorn on 10 December 1969 and designated as Det. 1, 56 SOW, identified by the tail code, 'OS'. Personnel from the 432nd FMS performed maintenance on the three aircraft. The final sortie performed by the detachment with these aircraft took place on 29 May 1970. Aircraft were flown to Vientiane, Laos and transferred to the Royal Laotian Air Force (RLAF). Above information derived from August 2015 issue of the Air Force Association's Air Force Magazine |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (Pilot's Log Entry) |
| 43-16159 | 20625 | LOG Miami AIIMF - May 11, 1966, AC-47 Conversion - June 9, 1966, PAF Bien Hoa Airbase, RVN - 3 Tactical Fighter Wing (TFW) - June 24, 1966, Danang Airbase, RVN, 4th ACS/14th ACW - May 14, 1967, Binh Thuy Airbase, RVN - August 6, 1967, Phu Cat Airbase, RVN - September 11, 1967, Nha Trang Airbase, RVN - October 19, 1967, Pleiku Airbase, RVN - April 27, 1968. On May 4,1968, 43-16159 was one of two AC-47D gunships shot down within minutes of each other. All six on board 43-16159 were killed. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-16368 | 20834 | Transferred to South Vietnam Air Force December 31, 1969 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 43-48263 | 14079/25524 | Initially transferred to South Vietnam Air Force December 24, 1969. Later transferred to the Royal Laotian Air Force (RLAF) as O-43263/43-263 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 43-48356 | 14172/25617 | On 23 March 1967, an AC-47 gunship was launced from Bien Hoa to drop flares at a local outpost. As the aircraft was departing, it was struck by 30 caliber machine gun fire near the base perimiter.
The aircraft crashed near the airfield and the seven crew members were rescued by US and South Vietnamese troops. Survivors listed are Capt C. A. Boatwright, Capt E. H. Vettergren and 5 crew members (names not known) |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-48466 | 14282/25727 | LOG Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ - June 23, 1963. AIIMF Miami - August 12, 1965, FC-47D Conversion - September 7, 1965, Tactical Air Command (TAC)Eglin AFB, FL, 1 Air Commando Wing (ACW) - October 24, 1966, redesignated AC-47D - January 4, 1966, England AFB, LA, 4412 Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) - January 18, 1967, 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW) - September 13, 1967, 1 Air Commando Wing (ACW) - October 24, 1967, 1 Special Operations Wing (SOW) - July 7, 1968, 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW) - July 14, 1969, 4410 Special Operations Group (SOG) - September 15, 1970, LOG Robins AFB, GA WRAMA - June 13, 1972, MAP July 20, 1972, disposition uncertain, possibly #348466 with South Vietnam Air Force (VNAF). |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-48501 | xxxxx/yyyyy | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
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| 43-48591 | 14407/25852 | Shot down during a daylight mission over Hue 2 October 1967. 7 crewmwmbers killed. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 43-48686 | 14502/25947 | Transferred to South Vietnam Air Force, July 30, 1969 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-48701 | 14517/25962 | Transferred to South Vietnam AF (1969). Written off. Damaged Sep 17, 1971 at Da Nang, SVN | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 43-48801 | 14617/26062 | LOG Miami, AIIMF - July 21, 1965, FC-47D Conversion - September 7, 1965, Tactical Air Command (TAC) Eglin Air Force Base, FL, 1 Air Commando Wing(ACW) - September 22, 1965, Pacific Air Forces (PAF)Tan Son Nhut Airbase, RVN - November 15, 1965, Redesignated AC-47D - February 28, 1966, Pleiku Airbase, RVN - March 12, 1966, Danang Airbase, RVN - January 13, 1967, Phu Cat Airbase, RVN - May 31, 1967, Nha Trang Airbase, RVN - September 7, 1967, Phu Cat Airbase, RVN - November 2, 1967, Danang Airbase, RVN - February 4, 1968, Nha Trang Airbase, RVN, 14 Special Operations Wing (SOW) - August 27, 1968, Bien Hoa Airbase, RVN - December29, 1968, Nha Trang Airbase, RVN - April 25, 1969, Military Assistance Program (MAP) transfer to South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) as number 348801 - June 30, 1969. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-48916 | 14732/26177 | LOG Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ - June 24, 1964. AIIMF Miami - August 11, 1965, FC-47D Conversion - September 7, 1965, Tactical Air Command (TAC)Eglin AFB, FL, 1 Air Commando Wing (ACW) - October 24, 1966, redesignated AC-47D - February 28, 1966, England AFB, LA, 4412 Combat Crew Training Squadron (CCTS) - January 25, 1967, 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW) - July 14, 1967, 4410 Special Operations Group (SOG) - sSeptember 17, 1970, 4410 Special Operations Training Group (SOTG) - August 17, 1971, LOG Robins AFB, GA WRAMA - June 13, 1972, MAP July 31, 1972, disposition uncertain, possibly as number 448916 to South Vietnam Air Force (VNAF). |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-48921 | 14737/26182 | Two sources provide the following information. From the Joe Baugher Vietnam Air Losses book: The AC-47D Spooky gunship was on a flare mission, flying a normal orbit off the coast of near Cam Rahn Bay when it was observed to crash into the sea and explode. All on board were killed. Cause of crash undetermined. Aviation Safety Network website states: AC-47D gunship was orbiting off the coast of Cam Ranh, dropping flares. Dove into the sea following onboard flare explosion. Source of flare explosion comment has no reference stated. All 7 flight crew members on board were killed. ************************************ Additional information posted on the Virtual Wall page for Maj Bruce Williams: Air International had overhauled and modified the aircraft under an Air Force contract in 1966, replacing both elevators and removing, repairing and replacing the wings. The work was done in Florida. The craft was assigned to Vietnam duty on January 13, 1967, and, after the crash, some three months later, investigation indicated that the right elevator had failed, and that its failure had caused the right wing to separate from the aircraft. Originally, it was believed the aircraft went down due to a flare exploding inside the aircraft. The posted comments do not quote a source for the accident information with respect to the structural failure. |
Flight Safety Foundation - Aviation Safety Network |
| 43-48925 | 14741/26186 | Flying out of Ubon RTAFB, Thailand, on 3 June 1966 AC-47 tail number 43-48925 departed on a night armed reconnaissance mission along the Ho Chi Minh Trail. At about 9:25 PM the AC-47 was operating under FAC control along Route 912 some 20 miles southwest of the Ban Karai Pass, a major entry point from NVN into Laos. About 10 miles east of the town of Ban Pha Philang, as the gunship was firing on a target, it burst into flames. The AC-47 pilot ordered his crew to bail out from the aircraft, a radio call heard by the controlling FAC. Shortly after the bail-out call, the FAC pilot saw the AC-47 roll into a steep descent and crash. The FAC reported he saw no ground fire directed at the AC-47, saw no parachutes, and heard no emergency radio beepers. Although search and rescue forces located the wreckage, there was no sign of the aircrew. The six men were classed as Missing in Action. On 13 January 1979, the crews' status was changed from "Missing in Action" to "Died while Missing", a presumptive finding of death. |
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force |
| 43-48929 | 14745/26191 | Transferred to the South Vietnamese Air Forces |
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force |
| 43-49010 | 14826/26271 | AC-47D S/N 43-49010 was one of three Spooky Gunships that were provisionally reassigned from the 4th SOS to Udorn on 10 December 1969 and designated as Det. 1, 56 SOW, identified by the tail code, 'OS'. Personnel from the 432nd FMS performed maintenance on the three aircraft. The final sortie performed by the detachment with these aircraft took place on 29 May 1970. Aircraft were flown to Vientiane, Laos and transferred to the RLAF. Above information derived from August 2015 issue of the Air Force Association's Air Force Magazine Later transferred to Khymer Air Force.(no date given) Escaped to Thai AF from Khymer Air Force as L2-46/18 on or about Nov 11, 1975. SOC (Struck from the records) Apr 23, 1991. Derelict at Don Mueang Airport, Thailand by 1995. Displayed at Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Museum, Surasri Army Camp, Kanchanaburi, Thailand. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49021 | 26282/14837 | Lost Sep 1, 1969, Long Khanh Province, SVN. Was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Sqdn, 14 SOW, and was attached to the 4th SOS's unit at Bien Hoa Air Base. Launched from Bien Hoa 1 on a night patrol mission and was directed to assist friendly troops who were under enemy attack about 20 miles east of Bien Hoa. 43-49021 arrived at the scene and started firing- it was subsequently hit in the starboard wing and engine by ground fire and crashed about 900 feet up on the side of Nui Loc Su mountain (a small volcanic cone about 18 miles east of Bien Hoa). The entire USAF crew of 8 were KIA. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49124 | 14940/26385 | The AC-47D gunship operated on a night time mission for a target near Duc Pho, Vietnam. Closing in on the target, the airplane was hit by ground fire. A fire erupted. The pilot could not maintain control and the airplane crashed. 7 flight members killed. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49211 | 15027/26472 | 16 Dec 67, Nha Trang AB, RVN, 14 ACW, 17 Jan 68, AC-47D, 21 Jun 68, Phu Cat AB, RVN,11 Aug 68, 14 SOW, 15 Aug 68, Nha Trang AB, RVN, 23 Dec 68, Danang AB, RVN, 10 Nov 69,Phan Rang AB, RVN, 30 Dec 69, MAP #349211,, Transferred to South Vietnam Air Force(VNAF). Damaged Jun 9, 1973, Quang Ngai, SVN, presumed scrapped. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49268 | 26529/15084 | The AC-47 gunship was operating on an armed reconnaissance mission along Route 92 west of Da Nang on March 13, 1966. Radio contact was lost some 45 miles southwest of Da Nang. The airplane was never found. It was considered likely that the airplane was shot down. 7 Fatalities | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49274 | 15090/26535 | On Dec 13, 1968, collided with OV-10A 67-14627 6 m SE of Truc Giang, SVN. Was assigned to 3rd SOS/14th SOW. Crash landed at Bien Hoa AB and written off. Both OV-10 aircrew members were killed, all AC-47d aircrew members survived. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49330 | 15146/26591 | Damaged beyond repair at Binh Thuy Airbase in a Viet Cong attack on March 12, 1968 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49339 | 15155/26600 | Miami, AC-47D Conversion - 31 Oct. 66; TAC England AFB, LA, 317 ACS - 31 Oct. 66; 1 ACW - 16 Nov. 66; PAF Nha Trang Airbase, RVN, 14 ACW - 11 April 68; Binh Thuy Airbase, RVN, 14 SOW - 15 Dec 68; Nha Trang Airbase, RVN, 2 January 69; Military Assistance Program (MAP) transfer to South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) as Number 349339 - 30 Jul 69 |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49421 | 15237/26682 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
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| 43-49423 | 15239/26684 | Transferred to South Vietnam Air Force, Dec 1969 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49492 | 15308/26753 | Major Abbot was the pilot of an AC-47 with the 4th Air Commando Squadron (ACS), 6250th Combat Support Group, 13th Air Force, Tan Son Nhut, AB.
The 4th Air Commando Squadron lost their first aircraft, AC-47D on a courier flight between Tan Son Nhut and Phan Rang on 17 Dec 1965.
The wreckage was located on 23 December and the bodies of the nine men (four 4th ACS flight crew members and 5 passengers) on board the aircraft were recovered. Indications at the crash site were that the aircraft had been brought down by ground fire | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49499 | 26760 | Damaged beyond repair at Binh Thuy Airbase in a Viet Cong attack on Sep 29, 1968 | National Museum of the U.S. Air Force |
| 43-49503 | 15319/26764 | Miami AIIMF - July 20, 1965, FC-47D Conversion - September 7, 1965,Tactical Air Command (TAC) Eglin AFB, FL. - 1 Air Commando Wing (ACW)September 27, 1965, Pacific Air Force (PAF)Tan Son Nhut Airbase, RVN - November 1, 1965, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, AC-47D - February 28, 1966, Binh Thuy Airbase, RVN - March 31, 1966, 14 Air Commando Wing (ACW) - May 31, 1967, Nha Trang Airbase, RVN - August 12, 1967, Binh Thuy Airbase, RVN - October 31, 1967, Nha Trang Airbase, RVN - February 16, 1968, 14 Special Operations Wing (SOW) - August 16, 1968, Military Assistance Program (MAP) transfer to South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) as number 349503 - July 15, 1969. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49516 | 26777 | Transferred to Vietnam AF (1969). Transferred to Khmer AF (KAF)May 1974. Escaped to Thailand Apr 1975, to Royal Thai AF Sep 9, 1975. Noted at the Royal Thai Police Museum, Bangkok, mounted above the gate house and marked as �219789�. Last noted 2012. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49517 | 15333/26778 | Miami AIIMF, August 1, 1966 - AC-47D Conversion, August 30, 1966 - Pacific Air Forces (PAF)Clark AFB, PI, 6200 MATW, October 26, 1966 - Nha Trang Airbase, RVN, 14 Air Commando Wing (ACW), January 3, 1967 - Danang Airbase, RVN, February 28, 1968 - 14 Special Operatins Wing (SOW), July 31, 1968 - Bien Hoa Airbase, RVN, January 8, 1969 - Nha Trang Airbase, RVN, July 25, 1969 - Military Assistance Program (MAP) transfer to South Vietnamese Air Force (VNAF) as number 349517, July 30, 1969. /TD> | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49546 | 15362/26807 | On May 15,1966, a Douglas AC-47D gunship, call sign "Spooky 10," departed Ubon RTAFB on an armed reconnaissance flight in central Laos.
It was shot down by a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) with 8 casualties. The wreckage was not found until August 1994 |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49770 | 15586/27031 | Damaged in flight by mortar round Feb 24, 1969. Medal of Honor awarded to John L. Levitow. Transferred to South Vietnam AF (1969) | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 43-49859 | 15675/27120 | On February 14,1968, a Douglas AC-47D gunship, departed Phan Rang Air Base (PHA) on a close air support mission. The airplane was shot down just five miles south of the air base. 8 Fatalities | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 44-76207 | 15791/32539 | On May 4,1968, 44-76207 was one of two AC-47D gunships shot down within minutes of each other. Three crewmembers on board 44-76207 were killed, five crewmwmbers survived. NOTE: Sources report the serial number of this aircraft as 43-76207. It is actually 44-76207. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 44-76290 | 15874/32622 | On March 8,1966, a Douglas AC-47D gunship, call sign "Spooky 70," departed Da Nang Airbase (DAD) on a close air support mission for the A Shau Special Forces Camp, Thua Thien Province, South Vietnam.
When the gunship was approximately 2 miles south of the Special Forces Camp, the pilot initiated a left hand turn to position the aircraft for a firing pass. At the same time the Vietcong forces opened up with anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) fire and hit the aircraft several times in the right engine. The pilot made a forced landing and all crew members survived. Subsequently three crew were killed in a firefight with Vietcong. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 44-76354 | 15938/32686 | Transferred to South Vietnam AF (1969). | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 44-76370 | 15954/32702 | Transferred to South Vietnam AF (1969). Transferred to Royal Laotian AF | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 44-76394 | 15978/32726 | Joe Baugher's Military Serial Number Website does not state this aircraft was converted to an AC-47D gunship It does state it was transferred to the South Vietnam Air Force, which was the fate of many U. S. Air Force AC-47 aircraft during 1969. It was then transferred to the Philippine Air Force, date unknown. On Chris Smithson's website, there is an entry in his father's pilot's log stating 44-76394 was flown by his father on 4/10/69 out of Pleiku Airbase as Spooky 22 on CAP and then H&I |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (Pilot's Log) |
| 44-76534 | 16118/32866 | The AC-47D gunship was operating on a mission near Hoi An, protecting an outpost at night. While orbiting the outpost, it was hit by automatic weapons fire and subsequently crashed. 7 Fatalities | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 44-76542 | 16126/32874 | Damaged beyond repair during landing accident at Binh Thuy, 18 February 1967. No casualties. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 44-76593 | 16177/32925 | Photo appears in "Airpower In Review", Vol. 4 (Spring 2002). Color photo appears on page 112 Final disposition unknown. |
AirPower In Review |
| 44-76606 | 16190/32938 | Transferred to South Vietnam AF (1969). Written off following crash at Binh Thuy Sep 5,1969 (Pilot Error?) | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (photo) |
| 44-76625 | 16209/32957 | AC-47D S/N 44-76625 was one of three Spooky Gunships that were provisionally reassigned from the 4th SOS to Udorn on 10 December 1969 and designated as Det. 1, 56 SOW, identified by tail code, 'OS'. Personnel from the 432nd FMS performed maintenance on the three aircraft. The final sortie performed by the detachment with these aircraft took place on 29 May 1970. Aircraft were flown to Vientiane, Laos and transferred to the RLAF. Above information derived from August 2015 issue of the Air Force Association's Air Force Magazine |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website Chris Smithson's Website (Photo) |
| 44-76722 | 16306/33054 | Transferred to ?? | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 44-77263 | 16847/33595 |
From the books, DC-1, DC-2, DC-3, The First Seventy Years, published by Air-Britain Publications 7 Sept 65 - FC-47D, 26 Oct 65 - Eglin AFB, FL 1st Air Commando Wing (ACW), 4 Jan 66 - AC-47D, 14 Jan 66 - England AFB, LA, 7 July 68 - 1st Special Opertions Wing (SOW), 14 June 69 - 4410 Combat Crew Training Wing (CCTW), 23 July 72 - Military Assistance Program (MAP) From a now defunct website, www.vnaf.net, the following information was listed. AC-47D 44-77263 817th AS, written off 11-May-73, Phan Rang |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 45-0919 | 16922/34180 | Transferred to South Vietnam AF. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 45-0927 | 16930/34188 | 14 May 66, AC-47D, 9 Jun 66, England AFB, LA, 1 ACW, 2 Jul 66, 317ACS, 31 Oct 66, 1 ACW, 16 Nov 66, Nha Trang, RVN, 14 ACW, 25 Apr 68, Danang RVN, 14 SOW, 1 Aug 68, Pleiku RVN, 30 Dec 68, Nha Trang RVN, 13 Feb 69, Phan Rang RVN, 30 Oct 69, MAP, 01 Jan 70. Transferred to South Vietnam AF. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 45-1047 | 17050/34317 | converted to AC-47. To South Vietnam AF, later to Royal Laotian AF. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 45-1057 | 17060/34327 | Transferred to South Vietnam AF. Written off following crash on Nov 24, 1972. 2 fatalities. | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 45-1117 | 17120/34387 | Transferred to Royal Laotian Air Force (RLAF) Dec. 1969 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 45-1120 | 17123/34390 | On December 24,1965, at 07:28 hours, a Douglas AC-47D gunship, call sign "Spooky 21," departed Da Nang Airbase (DAD) on an armed reconnaissance/strike mission over Laos. The gunship was due to return to base at approximately 13:30 hours. Mayday calls were received at 10:50. A search and rescue mission failed to find the airplane or crew. The crew was declared Missing In Action. ************************************************************************* In 1995, a joint U.S.-Laotian search team was led to the crash site by a local farmer who had found aircraft wreckage in a nearby field. The site was recommended for follow-up visits, but no human remains were found in four subsequent visits between 1999 and 2001. Additional searches at the crash site in 2010 and 2011 led to the recovery of human remains, personal items, and military equipment. |
Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website |
| 45-1121 | 17124/34391 | Possibly transferred to South Vietnam Air Force January 5, 1970 | Joe Baugher Military Aircraft Serial Numbers Website | >
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