Portraits in Courage

Spooky 43 consisted of 14 AC-130U gunship crewmembers. The aircrew conducted 19 “danger close” attacks, consistently placing lethal fires to within 10 meters of the severely wounded and outgunned friendly force. The firepower exceeded cooling requirements on the 105mm Howitzer cannon, risking potential detonation inside the aircraft. The crew managed the temperature of the Howitzer while continuing the firefight with the 40mm cannon, despite multiple weapon malfunctions. Expert coordination enabled the crew to manually fire rounds to defeat the enemy. In the end, the crew saved 50 lives and was awarded the MacKay Trophy. (Courtesy photo)

PHOTO BY: Courtesy photo

VIRIN: 170804-F-XX000-109.JPG

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