Death from above

[jhetley]

Saw a news item that the AC-130 gunships are going back to Iraq. For those who may not recognize the species, think dragons. Large, flying, firebreathing dragons.

Comments

[wcg.livejournal.com]

*Puff*

[edschweppe.livejournal.com]

*Puff*
No, no, no. "Puff the Magic Dragon" was the Vietnam-era AC-47. The AC-130s are the latest incarnation of the concept.

[wcg.livejournal.com]

I think the name is used colloquially by ground troops for any side-firing converted cargo plane.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

The patches on display out at the airport/airbase say "Spooky". Mean fucking shit, anyway, just to use some precise military jargon.

And they _look_ like dragons, when they light up a target.

[rdeck.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, they will kill far more than the occasional virgin.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

No, they don't check. "Kill 'em all, let God sort 'em out."

[tsjafo.livejournal.com]

There are some infrared videos floating around the internet purportedly showing an AC-130 "Spectre" gunship hunting down and killing individuals one at a time.

[jhetley.livejournal.com]

My personal experience was with the AC-47 version, not the most discriminating of weapons.