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AC-47D Parked

  Spooky AC-47D Gunships
a.k.a. "The Dragonship", "Puff, the Magic Dragon"
The People, the Places, The Mission  

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During the tenure of the AC-47D in Southeast Asia, many had a part in the various fields that kept the old Goonie flying and protecting those in harms way. On this page will be listed those who have provided their information for the 3rd ACS, 3rd SOS, 4th ACS, 4th SOS and the 432nd.
If you wish to be included on the list, send email to oerm2133 "@" aol "." com (remove quotation marks) .


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Front Row: unknown, A1C Peterson(?), A1C Thomas Zaverousky, Lt. Col. Wallace McKenzie(Sq. Cmdr.), SMsgt. John Ornelas (Maint. Chief.),
A1C Kenneth Dent, A1C Kyle Sproles, and our "Gun Plumber" A1C Jim "Sandy" Saunders
Second Row: SSgt Riley Besaw (Maint. Supv), Sgt Harvey Wasserman (Gunner), A1C Donald Eschenbauch Jr., A1C Andrew P Robbins (Engine Maintenance),
Sgt Gary B Palker (Engine Maintenance), unknown, TSgt Donald Shamberger, and end of the second row is A1C Donald Luke.
Third Row: SSgt Jackie Walker, MSgt Wayne Pinoli, unknown, unknown, unknown, A1C Charles Graham
If you have information on the identity of anyone in the picture, please contact me."


AC47 Gunship Personnel

NAME RANK(s) POSITION / JOB TITLE SQUADRON BASE(s) / FOL DATE(s) SERVED CURRENT LOCATION
Aaron, Dennis. **** **** 4th SOS Danang AB 1969 Nevada
Abel, David R. Capt (O-3) **** 4th SOS Nha Trang AB **** ****
Aber, William L. Capt (O-3) AC47 Navigator 3rd SOS **** **** ****
Achey, Jerry M. SSgt (E-5) AC47 Aerial Gunner 4th SOS Tan Son Nhut AB,
Pleiku AB
Binh Thuy AB,
Ubon RTAFB
**** ****
Acosta, Michael Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Flight Engineer 3rd SOS, 4th SOS Nha Trng AB, Binh Thuy AB **** Illinois
Adams, James C. Capt (O-3) AC-47D Flight Engineer 3rd SOS, 4th SOS Nha Trng AB, Binh Thuy AB **** ****
Adams, Roger C. SSgt (E-5) AC-47D Loadmaster 4th SOS **** **** ****
Allen, Floyd W. Lt. Col. (O-4) AC-47D Navigator 4th SOS **** **** ****
Allen, Kenneth M. TSgt (E-6) AC-47D Aerial Gunner 3rd SOS **** **** ****
Anderson, Bobby H. SSgt (E-5) AC-47D Flight Engineer 4th SOS **** **** ****
Anderson, James H. TSgt (E-6) **** 4th SOS Binh Thuy AB **** ****
Anderson, Robert. Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Flight Engineer 3rd SOS, 4th SOS Binh Thuy AB **** Missouri
Anderson, Wendell Y. SSgt AC-47D Aerial Gunner 4th SOS Pleiku AB **** ****
Andrews, Merle 1st Lt (O-2), Capt (O-3) AC-47D Navigator / Pilot 4th SOS Pleiku AB, Bien Hoa AB,
Danang AB
x - 1969 Florida
Andrews, Willi R. A2C AC-47D Aerial Gunner 4th *** **** **** ****
Anduss, Larry Capt (O-3) AC-47D Navigator / Instuctor 4th ACS Pleiku AB May 1965 - May 1966 Oklahoma
Anthony, Shelton J. Lt. Col. (O-4) AC-47D Pilot 3rd *** **** **** ****
Arai, Chosaburo SSgt (E-5) **** 4th *** Nha Trang AB **** ****
Arend, Phillip L. TSgt (E-6) AC-47D Aerial Gunner 3rd *** **** **** ****
Armstrong, Ben I. Lt. Col. (O-4) AC-47D Pilot 4th *** Phu Cat AB **** ****
Armstrong, Lloyd R. Lt. Col.(O-4) AC-47D Pilot 4th *** Binh Thuy AB **** ****
Arnold, Lonnie SSgt (E-5) AC-47D Aerial Gunner 4th *** Nha Trang AB **** ****
Arnold, Richard A. A1C **** 4th *** Binh Thuy AB **** Florida
Clark, Billy SSgt (E-5) AC-47D Flight Engineer 3rd ACS/SOS
(Jan 69 - Mar 69)
4th SOS
(Mar 69 - Dec 69)
Nha Trang AB
(Jan 69 - Mar 69)
Phan Rang AB, Udorn RTAFB
(Mar 69 - Dec 69)
1969 Oklahoma
Eschenbauch, II ,
Donald "Joe"
[*Deceased*]
Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Maintenance
(1969)
4th SOS
(1969)
Danang AB
(1969)
1969 Wisconsin
Faulkner, Curtis C.
[*Deceased*]
[*2012*]
SMSgt (E-8) Maintenance Chief,
Aircraft Maintenance
4th SOS
(1969)
Danang AB
(1969)
1969 Washington
Frishcosy, John A1C (E-4) AC-47D Engine Maintenance 4th ACS Pleiku AB, RVN 1965 - 1966 Arizona
Graves, Fred
[*Deceased*]
[*2002*]
Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Loadmaster 4th ACS Nha Trang AB 1967 - 1968 California
Harkins, Dennis Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Minigun Maintenance 3rd SOS Sept 68 - July 69
4th SOS Aug 69 - Sept 69
Binh Thuy AB, Sept 68 - July 69
Udorn RTAFB, Aug 69 - Sept 69
Sept 68 - Sept 69 Washington
Herring, John S. SSgt (E-5) AC-47D Acft Maintenance
Crew Chief
3rd SOS Bien Hoa AB Aug 68 - Aug 69 Texas
Huntley, Bob SSgt (E-5) AC-47D Aircraft Maintenance 4th SOS Pleiku AB, Udorn RTAFB,
Phan Rang AB
Mar 69 - Mar 70 Massachusetts
Kent Jr., Nacey

RIP - May 1, 2004
Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Flight Engineer 4th ACS Pleiku AB, RVN 1968 Idaho
Kinney, Jack Sgt (E-4) Aero Repair/Crash Recovery 14th FMS Nha Trang AB Mar 68 - Mar 69 Florida
Kotzur, Walt A1C (E-4) AC47 Aerial Gunner 4th ACS Tan Son Nhut AB,
Plieku AB,
Binh Thuy AB,
Bien Hoa AB
1965 - 1966 New York
Lechien, Jerry Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Aerial Gunner
(1968 - 1969)
UH-1P Door Gunner
(1969 - 1970)
3rd SOS
(1968 - 1969)
20th SOS
(1969 - 1970)
Bien Hoa AB,
Udorn RTAFB
(1968 - 1969)
Nha Trang AB, Tuoy Hoa AB,
Ban Me Tuot
(1969 - 1970)
1968 - 1969 (AC-47D)
1969 - 1970 (UH-1P)
Oregon
Luke, Donald A1C (E-3), Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Acft Maintenance
Crew Chief
Acft (EN 211) /
Night Load Crew
4th SOS Nha Trang AB (1968),
Danang AB (1968 - 1969)
Nov 68 - Nov 69 Arizona
Mahach, Tom **** **** 4th ACS Forbes AFB, Kansas 1965 ****
McGarry, Robert SSgt (E-5) AC-47DD Aerial Gunner
AC-119G (Shadow) Aerial Gunner
3rd SOS, 4th SOS, Spooky,
17th SOS, Shadow
(1969)
3rd SOS, Binh Thuy AB, RVN
4th SOS, Nha Trang AB, Danang AB, Udorn, Thailand
(1970)
17th SOS, Thuy Hoa AB
1969 - 1970 Massachusetts
Florida
McKenzie, Wallace J.
[*Deceased*]
[*2014*]
Lt. Col (O-5) AC-47D Flight Commander
Pilot
4th SOS Danang AB 1968 - 1969 Texas
Parnell, Walter
[*Deceased*]
Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Acft Maintenance
Crew Chief
**** **** 1966 ****
Prinzi, Gary A1C (E-3) AC-47D Phase Maintenance 4th SOS Nha Trang AB 1968 - 1969 Pennsylvania
Reese, Danny xxxx yyyy zzzz aaaa bbbb Nebraska
Remington, Mel Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Aerial Gunner 4th SOS Nha Trang AB,
Udorn RTAFB (TDY)
Oct 68 - Oct 69 Pennsylvania
Skinner, Junior Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Acft Maintenance
Crew Chief
Acft (EN 499)
3rd SOS, 4th SOS Bien Hoa AB 1968 - 1969 Oklahoma
Sledzinski, Frank "Ski" A1C (E-3) AC-47D Aerial Gunner 4th SOS Phan Rang AB 1969 California
Smithson, Michael
[*Deceased*]
1st Lt (O-2) AC-47D Pilot 4th SOS Pleiku AB, Udorn RTAFB (TDY) Aug 68 - Jul 69 ****
Sproles, Kyle A1C (E-3) AC-47D Aircraft Maintenance 4th SOS Nha Trang AB (1968),
Danang AB (1968 - 1969)
Sept 68 - Sept 69 unknown
Trahan, Mike Capt (O-3) AC-47D Aircraft Commander /
Instructor Pilot,
D Flt Commander
4th SOS Nha Trang AB,
Phan Rang AB
Pleiku AB (EC-47)
Apr 69 - Apr 70 Texas
Walker, Jackie L. SSgt (E-5) AC-47D Flight Chief,
Aircraft Maintenance
4th SOS Nha Trang AB (1968),
Danang AB (1968 - 1969)
Nov 68 - Nov 69 unknown
Wasserman, Harvey Sgt (E-4), SSgt (E-5) Weapons Tech (01/68 - 10/68)
AC-47D Aerial Gunner (10/68 - 4/69)
366th CSG, 4th SOS Danang AB, Long Binh,
Nha Trang AB, Danang AB
01/68 - 04/69 Conneticutt
Weeden Jr, George Sgt (E-4) AC47 Aerial Gunner 3rd SOS Bien Hoa AB (1968-1969)
� Udorn RTAFB 1969
1968 - 1969 Indiana
Wilson, Donald Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Acft Maintenance
Crew Chief
4th SOS
(01/69 - 10/69)
9th SOS
(10/69 - 01/70)
Binh Thuy
(01/69 - 10/69)
Thuy Hoa
(10/69 - 01/70)
Jan 69 - Oct 69 (AC-47D)
Oct 69 - Jan 70 (C-47)
Florida
Zaverousky, Thomas J. A1C (E-3), Sgt (E-4) AC-47D Acft Maintenance 4th SOS Nha Trang AB (1968),
Danang AB (1968 - 1969)
Nov 68 - Nov 69 Wisconsin

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AC-47D Gunships Website   �   Donald Luke
Photos for personal use only. All rights reserved by original owner of image.
Reproduction or redistribution in any form without express written permission is prohibited.

Last updated 02/12/2026

To contact web site creator, send email to oerm2133 "@" aol "." com (remove quotation marks) .