The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Mid-late 70's USAF revolver?

rodfac · April 7, 2010, 10:24 PM

I was a Forward Air Controller flying O-1E Bird dogs in Vietnam 69-70 (my first tour) and was issued a S&W M-15 .38 Special when I arrived in-country. Ours had the skinny useless stocks, not the target models. (and part of the reason that I carried a Colt .45 instead.) Prior to that, as a range officer at the Air Force Academy from 66-68, we trained new cadets with the same guns. Much earlier cadets (in the 64-65) era were trained with a 2" barreled S&W .38 Special.

All of the fighter types flying out of Bien Hoa AB, in S. Vietnam while I was there carried the Model 15 Smith as well, tho they turned theirs in after each flight to the personal equipment guys. As a FAC flying up country out of An Loc in lll Corps, we were armed 24/7, with both the hand gun and a Car 15 version of the M-16. For the bulk of my tour I left the Smith in the bunker and carried the previously mentioned, 1911A1 provided by my hosts... 5th Special Forces Berets in camp B-334. They thought highly of the green as grass shave-tail Lt. that provided their top cover while in the bush.

The Smith was well made and in good condition, but the Colt did a far better job and was better suited to the mud of slit trenches and fighting positions than any revolver. I wore it in a somewhat modified "tanker's" holster across my chest out of the way of the lap belt and shoulder harness in the bird, but instantly accessible if I needed to make a run for it. On the ground in the camp, it stayed pretty much out of the mud and glop in the bunkers and I was very religious about cleaning it each night.

Later, flying out of Thailand, in 72-72, I was issued the same type of Smith for in-flight carry. We turned them in each night as the base was considered secure....(Korat, and Takli).

JHMO, Rodfac

April 7, 2010, 10:24 PM	#20
rodfac Senior Member Join Date: January 22, 2005 Location: Kentucky Posts: 3,656	I was a Forward Air Controller flying O-1E Bird dogs in Vietnam 69-70 (my first tour) and was issued a S&W M-15 .38 Special when I arrived in-country. Ours had the skinny useless stocks, not the target models. (and part of the reason that I carried a Colt .45 instead.) Prior to that, as a range officer at the Air Force Academy from 66-68, we trained new cadets with the same guns. Much earlier cadets (in the 64-65) era were trained with a 2" barreled S&W .38 Special. All of the fighter types flying out of Bien Hoa AB, in S. Vietnam while I was there carried the Model 15 Smith as well, tho they turned theirs in after each flight to the personal equipment guys. As a FAC flying up country out of An Loc in lll Corps, we were armed 24/7, with both the hand gun and a Car 15 version of the M-16. For the bulk of my tour I left the Smith in the bunker and carried the previously mentioned, 1911A1 provided by my hosts... 5th Special Forces Berets in camp B-334. They thought highly of the green as grass shave-tail Lt. that provided their top cover while in the bush. The Smith was well made and in good condition, but the Colt did a far better job and was better suited to the mud of slit trenches and fighting positions than any revolver. I wore it in a somewhat modified "tanker's" holster across my chest out of the way of the lap belt and shoulder harness in the bird, but instantly accessible if I needed to make a run for it. On the ground in the camp, it stayed pretty much out of the mud and glop in the bunkers and I was very religious about cleaning it each night. Later, flying out of Thailand, in 72-72, I was issued the same type of Smith for in-flight carry. We turned them in each night as the base was considered secure....(Korat, and Takli). JHMO, Rodfac __________________ Cherish our flag, honor it, defend it in word and deed, or get the hell out. Our Bill of Rights has been paid for by heros in uniform and shall not be diluted by misguided governmental social experiments. We owe this to our children, anything less is cowardice. USAF FAC, 5th Spl Forces, Vietnam Vet '69-'73. Last edited by rodfac; April 7, 2010 at 10:34 PM.