Corgi AA31306 Lockheed Martin AC-130H Hercules United States Air Force Named Spectre Gunship 16th SOS, Hurlburt Fd, FL, 1990

This item is not a limited edition, so does not come with a certificate

The first mission of a C-130 Hercules transport modified to serve as a fixed-wing gunship was on 27th September 1967, a role that would eventually be nicknamed 'Spectre'. For the Vietnam War, the first aircraft type to be converted was the C-47 Dakota, which became the gun-armed AC-47 'Spooky', which was followed by the C-119 Flying Boxcar, which became the AC-119K 'Stinger'. Then came the turn of the C-130A Hercules, which was fitted with four 7.62 mm General Electric GAU-2/A miniguns and four 20 mm Vulcan cannons protruding from the left side of the fuselage. To assist the gunship crew with locating and lining up on its target, the aircraft was also equipped with a night observation infra-red sensor, a target-tracking computer and a 20kw searchlight. These systems were upgraded as C-103E and C-103H transports were converted to this role and the two 20mm Vulcan cannons were replaced by four 40 mm Bofors guns. Delivered to the United States Air Force in July 1969, Lockheed Hercules, 69-6568 was built as a C-103E transport and served with the 61st Tactical Airlift squadron at Stewart Air Force Base, Tennessee. In September 1972, it was one of ten upgraded to an AC-130H variant, relinquishing its camouflage for an overall grey paint finish by June 1975. In October 1978, this Aircraft was transferred to the 16th Special Operations Squadron and continues in service to date, alongside 13 Hercules further upgraded and designated AC-130U.