Attack Cobra & Guns A Go-Go 'Birth Control'

Via Quan Nguyen Thanh

 

 Cobra. Vĩnh Long 1968-69. Photos by William Baker 20th Engineer Brigade.


 

1966, Vũng Tàu Airfield. An ACH-47A Chinook (Chinook gunship, also known as Guns A Go-Go) from the 53rd Aviation Detachment, United States Army, which operated from Vũng Tàu in 1966. This aircraft is 64-13154, named 'Birth Control' and it is armed with six Browning .50 calibre machine guns (two each side and two fitted on the cargo ramp to cover the rear). Two 20mm cannons and two 19 tube, 2.75 inch rocket pods are mounted on weapon pylons fitted to each side of the fuselage, plus a 40mm automatic grenade launcher, mounted under the nose. 

M-134 miniguns and other types of rocket pods could also be fitted to the weapon pylons. The stencilled name in white, is clearly visible, as are the two crossed .50 calibre machine guns (other photographs of this aircraft show it marked with a red kangaroo, which was a favourite pass time of many Australians known as tagging). In February 1968, 'Birth Control' was forced down by enemy gunfire, the crew were evacuated but the aircraft was destroyed by enemy mortar fire.

Note that by 1968, only one gunship remained, and logistical concerns prevented more conversions. It was returned to the United States, and the program stopped.

Photo by Gee, Robin Frederick, via AWM